Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 28th March, 2024)

nice looking hotel but if you took the photo just to the right what a ....................... people who live close will no

Was only wondering yesterday when driving past what will become of the Bellingham

Is it closed? Is it open?
Not the best pad. Looking at it it's closed down like many other pubs around Wigan and the uk.

I have only ever been in there once, about 35 years ago, for a meal on a memorable Mothering Sunday, when I fell and broke my toe and ended and up across the road in Casualty! I remember when it featured on "The Hotel Inspector". It belonged to the Silcock family at the time, who had the travelling fair, and they had named the restaurant "The Speedway Restaurant" after the fairground ride. I remember Alex Polizzi looking completely puzzled by the name and the decor pertaining to it, but I don't think anyone had explained to her why it was so-called. It was so frustrating, seeing her puzzled expression on the tv screen.

I hope it’s true that the NHS is purchasing the building. I have very fond memories of my daughter’s wedding reception here 24 years ago. It was a wonderful day. The venue was excellent and the staff couldn’t do enough for the day to go really well. The gardens around the back were glorious. It’s a pity it didn’t carry on in the same way. The interior and decor were lovely.
( Glad to say there was no fighting so we didn’t need Casualty!)

I went to a wedding there quite a few years ago and even then it was very scruffy looking inside. And what was a nice little garden at the back was a rubbish tip. I hope it gets used well as a new venture.

Worked here in the 80s, when it was owned by Bob Randall and his partner. Working there was like a night out. It was packed with regulars, and often big parties of nurses from across the road, and big groups who were starting pub crawls down Wigan Lane into town. Head barmaid was a force of nature called Terri, she was a lovely woman, but would put up with no nonsense....This was my first proper job, and I thought all jobs would be as enjoyable....soon found out otherwise when the place was sold to some soulless business man who had a Uriah Heap type henchman manager who managed to kill the place within about 6 months..they knew a lot about spreadsheets, and nothing about dealing with people. Not uncommon I suppose..

Why do people say things like "It belonged to the Silcock family at the time, who had the travelling fair" when they know very little, if anything at all, about a place.

Is this where quite a few of us Wigan Worlders went for a lovely night out and a meet up..it's a few years ago...I joined Wigan World in 2008 and it wasn't that long after that we had the meet up.

it was bought by nhs but nothing yet done

Quite right Bruce, why should anyone contribute what knowledge they have, unless they know every aspect and minute detail of a place's history ,???Especially on a general chat forum...

What a scruff hole!

Arthur Silcock acquired the place around 2000 or thereabouts and owned it up until the onset of Covid when it was purchased by Wigan council for a rumoured seven figure sum .

The council had plans to lease the building to the NHS , or so I was informed , but those plans appear to have fallen through and the premises have remained unused ever since .

There are parking spaces for 60 odd vehicles to the rear of the site , yet the entrance to this area remains fenced off , and given the dire lack of parking spaces around the RAEI I’m prompted to wonder ……. is there anyone on this site that can fathom the logic that drives Wigan council’s mindset . And If there is , then please feel free to enlighten the rest of us .

You've completely misunderstood me, Bruce Almighty! The reason I pointed out that it belonged to the Silcock Family is that, with owning the travelling fair, they had named their restaurant after "The Speedway" fairground ride, but failed to explain that to The Hotel Inspector and she seemed a bit lost with the name and the decor, which reflected a fairground ride. I admit not knowing a lot about the building itself but being from Wigan I have visited Silcock's Fair many times and just felt it a shame that Alex Polizzi was a bit confused with the name of the restaurant when the Wiganers viewing the programme knew exactly why the restaurant was so-named as the Silcock family is well-known in the town due to their much-loved travelling fair. You make me sound as if I am looking down on the family which I assure you is far from true....I was a shop assistant before I retired, not The Mayoress! I assure you I look down on NO-ONE except people who hurt children or animals. and I am sorry you took my comments in the wrong context. Irene. x

Looks closed to me, and a good while ago.

This post is about Opinions and memories of yesteryear. People should show respect to people like Irene, she is up the with the best on Wigan World and I for one enjoy her comments very much.
She is a very trueful and pleasant lady and has no intention of misguiding people.
Her comment is what she believes to be correct.
Now get on with it.

Bruce and Gareth, I feel that you were being rather impolite towards Irene and quite unfair with the words you chose. Irene is a regular poster and contributes a lot of interesting information.

Many people post information which is not entirely accurate, but many of these people have no malicious intention of misleading information. The information is delivered in faith and with the thought that it is correct. Our memories, along with certain available information, sometimes guide us, but are fallible.

People have emotions and these are sometimes delicate. A person has the choice to leave this forum at any given time; many WW members no longer contribute anything due to the keyboard warrior behaviour of certain members.

Please let us keep this forum as friendly as possible.

I went in this building about four years ago and couldn’t believe the change in it. It had really gone downhill. I have photos and film of a beautiful interior and exterior. It’s a tragedy that it has come to this I hope someone comes along and turns it around. It definitely wasn’t Silcocks who owned it when the wedding reception for my daughter took place I can assure you. In fact the name Silcock is enough to put anyone off having any sort of a do and I don’t care what anybody thinks either.
You’re truly Hyacinth !

Not very surprising or unusual from those two men. Not the first time either.
Well said Garry and Ian …

I belittled has been purchased by the NHS and is being converted into something but don’t know quite what.

This is why so many good people have left Wigan World. Bruce Almighty and Gareth you need to get a grip.

Arthur Silcock was the owner in the early 2,000s and that is when it started going down hill. Comparable to a square peg in a round hole.

Irene knows much more about things mentioned on this site than you ever will Bruce. If you can't say something positive then don't say anything at all.

I'm sorry, but you have completely missed my point....
I was not being impolite to Irene at all, I was challenging Bruce's ( in my view) arrogant and condescending attitude that people shouldn't contribute pieces of information unless they know absolutely everything about a subject. To me, that's the point of a chat forum -people chip in titbits of information and as a result, everybody stands a chance of learning something. In my clumsy way, I was standing up for Irene. Ironically, Irene is probably the member of this forum with whom I have the most in common, and she has provided me with loads of info in the past about Abram, where I grew up.

Thankyou so much, Veronica, Garry, Ian and Alan for your support.

Supposed to have said I believe that the NHS has purchased this building, something spooky is going on with my comments.

Gareth, if that is the case, then thankyou. I had misunderstood your meaning, as it seems others had too....perhaps the wording of your comment was misleading and we got the wrong end of the stick. Thankyou. Thankyou also to Bradshaw's Girl. I obviously have some good friends on here. What a lovely lot you are!

Been in twice, one time for a wedding and the other after a funeral, and though not a place that I would have gone to any other times, there were plenty customers who were in there, and looked to be enjoying both the lounge and games bars.

Irene, Veronica and others too were telling their story as it was during the occasions that they too had gone to there, and of course the Silcock's of the fairground family owned it then, the name Silcock's Bar is even on the windows.

Gareth , it wasn’t clumsy in any shape or form , why are you apologising? I was applauding you when l read your comment ! All those who had a go Gareth it was YOU who should be apologising, it was you who missed the point - he wasn’t remotely having a pop at Irene ! Blimey WW ! It was very gentle sarcasm and it wasn’t even unpleasant to Bruce either !

No-one has 'had a go at Irene'.
I simply pointed out that many people, when referring to any form of business or property, especially in Wigan, invariably say it belongs to "this family", or "that family", never to any individual. In the case of the Bellingham, it never belonged to the Silcock "family", it belonged to Arthur Silcock.

Dave, it seems awfully strange that many of us had the same understanding and conclusion regarding those words which were typed.
Gareth, your apology shows us what kind of person you are - and, I mean this in a very positive way. I will certainly take this opportunity to say thank you for so kindly offering an apology.

Dave, thankyou for your comment. I think people thought Gareth was agreeing with Bruce as his comment started with "Quite right, Bruce". I had misunderstood it too. Apologies also to Dennis for all the controversy on your photo today! Thanks everyone, and Goodnight. Have a peaceful Easter weekend. xxx

Seems to me half a dozen people (plus Irene) came to the same conclusion.. What is written stays written. How can Bruce Almighty possibly know when or if people “know anything or little about a place”? It sounds accusative to me.
Sometimes it’s better to keep such thoughts to themselves.

Garry needs to sit on his rocking chair drinking sherry in front of his coal-fire.
Only kidding pal.
I agree some people speak with fork tongue. Irene and Veronica both very clever people and are very interesting to read their views on pad. You are both valuable and make this great site even better.

I will also offer my apologies to Dennis for the way the main topic became lost in the manner it did.
Dennis, please continue offering us the chance to view your wonderful and interesting photographs.
By the way, thank you for the photograph of that Bellingham Bar doorway and windows. It certainly brings back a lot of memories for me as I know The Bellingham building and area extremely well.

Goodness me, what on earth has gone on today.
Dear me Dennis, your simple photo hasn’t half caused a fuss.
I have good memories of past times at the Bellingham, even though some were for funerals. Thanks for your photo, as always you are much appreciated.

What's all the fuss about at all,???? I get the impression some people love to be the centre of attention

I agree Alan “some people speak with forked tongue” that’s a very intuitive statement from yourself.
(I’m not clever at all though just ordinary!)
Apologies to Dennis for today but then again
“ tomorrow is another day”.
A peaceful night to all.

Irene. You say you were treated at RAEI Casualty on Mothering Sunday 35 years ago. I was a Casualty Doctor at that time. I wonder if it was me that treated you !!?

I’m not worried about Irene and Veronica, they have both been commenting on here for some time and they are both capable of holding their own against all comers when it comes to verbal jousting.

Yvonne..you got it in one.

Very interesting subject today.

I thought it was a Wild West bar when Alex polizzi went there as the hotel inspector

I had a modest degree of involvement during the demise of the Bellingham Hotel , and I am totally in agreement with Tommy T’s comment .

Arthur Silcock is an extremely amenable person . Put him in control of the waltzer and he’s in his element , but in my opinion , that’s where his abilities terminate .

Lack of investment over a 20 year period ultimately led to the demise of what I believe could have been a veritable gold mine , but that would have required thousands having to be spent .

Those thousands weren’t forthcoming unfortunately.…and let’s be honest here who, in 2024 , would want to stay in an unheated room , in January , with single glazing , no hot water and peeling wallpaper ?

The only thing that kept this place in the black for its last couple of years were the takings from the car park .

An aspect that doesn’t appear to have registered with Wigan council , even though three years have passed.

Knock it down and tarmac the area for hospital parking….it’s obviously a massive red herring these days to upgrade and refurbish

Well said Roylew.

I think it would be useful for the NHS to use as a place for patients awaiting discharge until packages are in place for them. A place to relieve pressure on the wards for beds for incoming patients.

Thanks Marie,glad it's not just me thinking that !

So glad you found one another…a sniper’s life is a lonely life. Nobody’s interested that’s the point.

Just maybe not everyone is interested in narcissistic threads on here.