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It’s the end of an era after the last shop to leave Crompton Place closed its doors at the start of the month. The old shopping centre is now set to be the latest space in the town centre to redeveloped, with ambitious plans in the works. But after the closure of TimePiece, the last shop in Crompton Place, The Bolton News asked shoppers and businesses their views on the future of the town centre.
Julie, 71, has lived in Bolton all her life but prefers to shop in Bury. She said: “I was never out of Bolton when the kids were little." Inside Market Place Shopping Centre (Image: Newsquest) Julie believes the future prosperity of Bolton’s shopping district depends on the actions of developers and the town hall.
She also thinks transport links between Bolton and surrounding towns and villages need to be improved. She added: “I hope they don’t ruin Bury like they have done with Bolton.” Hotel Chocolat in the Market Place (Image: Newsquest) Miyah, 33, does not feel particularly inspired by the retail options in Bolton but enjoys taking her young children to the museum and library.
Miyah said: “There are pockets of hope. “I hope that with enough investment, my children will see a very different Bolton when they grow up.” Crompton Place, due to be demolished later in the year, was purchased for £14.
8m by the council in 2018. Many locals will miss the shopping centre, which was built in 1971. Bolton’s Market Place, which opened in 1989, is still a popular shopping destination for locals.
Muffin Break is a popular outlet (Image: Newsquest) Greater Manchester’s biggest town also offers Bolton Central Library, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, The Light cinema, and food and drink venue The Vaults. There is no doubt that the town centre and consumer habits have changed. According to the International Trade Administration, consumers are increasingly opting to shop online for the best deals, which is driving the amount of money spent online.
One key trend highlighted is that people visit a shop in-person to see or try on an item, and then return home to make the purchase online at a better price. Online sales success is in stark contrast to that of brick-and-mortar retailers who are frequently falling into administration or bankruptcy. It is therefore not surprising that Bolton’s town centre is evolving.
But what do people at local businesses have to say about the town centre? Iman, 40, works at Muffin Break, a café in Bolton which opened in December 2024. He said that despite a quiet start, sales are gradually picking up. But, on the whole, Iman has observed a general decrease in footfall in the Muffin Break franchises over the past five years.
Muffin Break is a popular go-to (Image: Newsquest) He said this is because consumers are increasingly making purchases online and not stopping for a refreshment while shopping as they did previously. Iman thinks food delivery services like UberEats could help to boost sales within hospitality. Hotel Chocolat sales assistant, Nicole, 23, explains that a number of shops nearby have closed down, namely Flannels.
Staff tend to see customers visit in person (Image: Newsquest) She said that most Hotel Chocolat customers tend to purchase goods in-person, with a minority opting for the Click and Collect service. Nicole thinks that Hotel Chocolat has benefited from Primark opening in the Market Place as there are more passers-by. Baba, 54, manager of YMCA charity shop, said footfall was quiet when the shop first opened in March 2024, but has since picked up as more and more people became aware of the shop.
He said charity shops are becoming increasingly popular in Bolton due to customers facing economic difficulties and not having the money to afford high-end clothing items. The YMCA charity shop in the town centre (Image: Newsquest) Michael, 34, is the assistant manager of independent record shop X Records. He said: “Since I’ve been here, half of the shops in town have closed.
“I think they missed a lot of council funding so there’s a lot less support.” Michael suggested that his customers are now shopping in neighbouring Bury or Manchester. He does not believe that the move to online consumerism is negatively affecting their sales as their clientele don’t tend to shop online.
However, he does think the closure of Marks and Spencer damaged their business because it means less people are coming into the town centre altogether. He added: “We need a big renovation of the town centre. “You’ve got the main road and all it is is vape shops, charity shops and bookies.
” Council leader Cllr Nick Peel explained that the housing-led regeneration scheme will comprise of high-quality housing , retail and offices . ALSO READ: Final store closes as Crompton Place to shut for good ALSO READ: Concerns over 'derelict' site left in town centre after shopping centre demolition ALSO READ: Demolished shopping centre could be 'play area' or 'mini village' before new works Discussions with potential investors are underway. The demolition of Crompton Place is not expected to take place until later this year, following asset-stripping and asbestos checks.
This timeframe is changeable and dependent on circumstances. Cllr Peel said: “We want to ensure vitality and business remains in that area." He said that the development aims to cause minimal disruption and will not be boarded off completely.
Cllr Peel added that “meanwhile use” will ensure a safe and secure designated route between Victoria Square and Bradshawgate, a pocket park facing Victoria Square, and temporary retail opportunities..
