ONE of Bolton town centre’s most iconic buildings is up for sale for close to £2 million.

The Swan Hotel in Churchgate on the market for £1.75 million on property website Jeremy Rubin Co.

The same firm has also listed another landmark town centre pub — the Flying Flute in Bradshawgate — for just short of £1 million.

They are joined by another historic town centre pub, The Brass Cat, which has been on the market for £295,000 since October.

It is understood no acceptable offers have so far been made the Brass Cat, which is one of the town centre’s oldest buildings.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby recalls visiting the pub and said he would be very sad to see it change use.

He said: “The Swan and the rest of that area of the town centre has an enormous amount of history.

“We really need to defend the best parts of our town centre and preserve that history and that building is certainly part of that.

“I would be very, very sad to see it change from being a pub — we need a really good mix of establishments in the town centre and The Swan should be one of them.”

Heaton and Lostock Councillor Bob Allen also has fond memories of The Swan. He said: “I would be very sad to see it go.

“Being a member of the planning committee, all too often we are now seeing pubs close down and that is a shame.

“Thankfully this building is Grade II listed which means that many of its original features must remain — but I hope it can stay as a pub.

“The Swan itself has very much been one of the iconic entrances to the town centre and has previously been a big meeting place for people.”

The Swan Hotel is a Grade II listed, three-storey building that was originally built as a coaching inn.

Built in late Georgian style in around 1800, in red brick with slate roofs, the grand building has often been seen as one of the more recognisable landmarks for people coming into the town centre.

The building — which achieved Grade II listed status in 1952 — has had a variety of different owners since the 1900s including the Crown brewery, Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton and Burtonwood Brewery.

In 1990, Burtonwood Brewery applied to knock the building down and replace it with an office block, wine bar and shopping units.

The brewers later scrapped those plans, instead refurbishing and reopening in 1992 as Swannies Bar for the 18-30s, the Malt and Hops Bar for real ale lovers and the Buttery Bar for diners.

Malt and Hops Bar later became Barristers, which is still open today.

The main building meanwhile only opens at weekends.

Barristers has been praised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which described it as “tastefully decorated to successfully recreate a traditional pub atmosphere”.

A spokesman for CAMRA said: “It is a popular venue for those in the town centre that enjoy quality cask ale and has the relaxed atmosphere of a local.”

To view the listings for the pubs visit jeremyrubin.co.uk