Blackburn pub could be the latest in East Lancashire to shut for good

Developers want to convert the West View Hotel, on Revidge Road, into a home.

The pub dates back to at least 1848.

Historical body the Cotton Town Project believes it was built at the same time as the handloom weavers’ cottages were erected at West View Place early in the 19th century.

The property was up for sale for £190,000 but it is set to join a host of drinking dens in the area that have called last orders for the final time.

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The Woodlands on Preston New Road, the Dog Inn higher up on Revidge Road, and the Sportsman, at the junction with Shear Brow have all served their last pint.

The West View Hotel shut its doors last year when the signs and fittings were removed from the Thwaites pub, which sold real ales and hosted snooker and darts teams.

At the time, Cllr Arshid Mahmood, who still represents the Corporation Park ward, said: “This is another pub that is not used that well and the community has changed.

“That’s the same scenario across town.

“A whole host of pubs in the area, apart from one, have closed now.

“It’s a shame to see another community asset, and a place where people could meet, gone.”

A Facebook group set to up track closing pubs in the town, called Closed Pubs of Blackburn, takes a nostalgic look at the town’s lost watering holes.

Ian Knowles has posted: “The demise of pubs in Blackburn and Darwen is awful.”

And Richard Carr added: “Pubs are too expensive a hobby now to be a regular anywhere like the last generation could afford to be.”

Its fate will be sealed this evening when the matter is due to be discussed at a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen’s planning committee.