Astoria Palais De Danse (Bolton)

One of the most cherished historical locations is the Astoria Palais de Danse — Bolton's first club — which opened its doors on October 19, 1928.

Better known to locals at The Palais, the non-licensed dance hall with its ornate ceramic tiled exterior was situated at the corner of Bridge Street and St George's Road. 

The venue was created by local builder Thomas Bolton, a Christian teetotal, who developed the site as somewhere that parents could safely allow their daughters to attend. The dance hall's vast floor space, covering an area of more than 6,300sqft, could hold approximately 600 dancers. Pre- and post- Second World War, most of the local mills held their dances at The Palais.

hese were eventually stopped in 1968, however, because the functions upset regulars.

The iconic building attracted thousands of ballroom dancers until July 1966 when a fire broke out, causing losses in the region of £1 million. It was just three months after owners Mecca Leisure had forked out for a £300,000 refurbishment. It wasn't until two years later that the building reopened, this time as a bingo hall and basement disco venue called Cinderella Rockerfellas — a music hall for the over 20s.

Info:  https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17567554.remember-bolton-clubs-bygone-days/