THE Last Drop Village is on the verge of being sold for £3 million.

Commercial property specialists Frank Knight said yesterday that an offer had been made on the hotel.

The London-based property agents told The Bolton News a deal for the popular 128-bedroom hotel, spa and wedding venue was imminent.

It is understood that Mercure will continue to run the business.

Business owners of small shops based at complex in Bromley Cross said they had been told by Mercure that it was being sold — but not the identity of any buyer.

Bromley Cross councillors met with hotel bosses this summer to discuss the implications of the sale.

Cllr David Greenhalgh said: “We were told that it was a question of the property being sold but that Mercure would continue to run the venue as it is now.

“The management made us an assurance that they were not expecting anything to change — other than the name of the landlord.

“Whether that is still the case, I don’t know.”

An owner of a business at the complex, who asked not to be named, said: “I was told it was up for sale, but that Mercure would carry on running it and selling it to someone. I don’t know anything other than that.”

The Last Drop is a popular wedding venue — but couples with bookings have been reassured by management that their special day is not at risk.

Bookings for weddings were still being taken yesterday.

Ellen Simmons and Brett Jones have a ceremony and reception booked in August next year and have handed over a £1,200 deposit.

Ms Simmons, aged 27, of Tonge Moor, said: “We have been told by staff there that it is up for sale and the general manager has told us not to worry.

“But we are worried because there is no information coming out of The Last Drop. We want to know what is happening.”

The cost of the wedding is £3,500 and a further instalment of £600 is due in January.

She added: “Until I know what is happening, I don’t want to hand over any more money.”

Cllr Norman Critchley said Bolton Council and local councillors had always had a good relationship with The Last Drop — and that he hoped this would continue.

He added: “We hope it continues to trade as it is now because we think they have been making great progress and it is one of the town’s major attractions.

“It has a fine reputation and is located in among some lovely green belt. It is an ideal spot for tourism.

“When you see it in the evening and see the number of coaches that are there, it is clear there are a lot of people using it.”

General manager of The Last Drop, Iain Waite, and representatives of Mercure were unavailable for comment.

50 YEARS OF HISTORY

  • 1964: Orrell Fold Farm — a collection of derelict moorland farm buildings — forms the nucleus of a restaurant and hotel project by entrepreneur Carton Walker.
  • 1966: An Austrian-style hotel starts to take shape at the Last Drop as an extension to the thriving restaurant.
  • 1975: Plans to extend the village to make it like iconic Welsh tourist spot Portmeirion — famous for 60s episodes of The Prisoner — face opposition from Bolton councillors.
  • 1977: New owners Associated Leisure buy The Last Drop and invest more than £500,000 in bedrooms, conference facilities and craft shops.
  • 1984: A new leisure complex comprising a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, saunas, solariums and a gym together with a lounge bar and restaurant are added to The Last Drop. Ownership of the village transferred to Pleasurama in a £64 million deal.
  • 1988: Members of an 800-year-old family dynasty gather at The Last Drop to celebrate their heritage. The 50 members of the Orrell Family Association, were all descendants of 12th Century Knight, Sir Richard de Orrell.
  • 1990: The Last Drop Hotel is put up for sale along with nearby Egerton House by owners Mecca Leisure, which is itself later acquired by the Rank organisation.
  • 1992: Buyers are still being sought by Rank.
  • 1997: The Last Drop is set for a £2 million expansion, including a 500-seater function suite and a 42-bedroom extension.
  • 2005: The complex is up for sale again — this time for £20 million.
  • 2006: Owner Macdonald Hotels invests £1.1 million on a refurbishment to lure a buyer.
  • 2007: Macdonald sells 24 of its venues — including the Last Drop — to investment firm Moorfield Group in a deal worth more than £400million. Mercure later takes over the running of the hotel.
  • 2014: The hotel is up for sale again — this time for £3 million.