Wigan Album

Ron, I remember those buildings well. I had, with friends, a few pints in 'The Park Hotel': a great old pub and wonderful building, which should never have been demolished.
Definitely remember 'Warburton's Furnishers' and I remember the premises being empty for a time and then becoming a place with stalls inside. Possibly, the owner could not get anyone to buy or rent the building, so let it off as indoor space for stalls - almost like a small indoor market. This would have been around 1984 and so not that long after this photo was taken (1982). Possibly, the 'SALE' is to do with closing down, because it would certainly relate to the years.

Thanks for uploading another great 'black & white' photograph to remind us of the 'old' Wigan and for many people, the Wigan we loved more than today.

Looking at the image reminded me that there was a small tea bar, between the Park Hotel and this building. I think it was used mainly by the bus crews.

Ron, I don't remember any 'small tea bar' being between the two buildings, but you may be thinking of years before the above photo - also, I have never had any job connected to Wigan buses.
There was a small cafe across the street, which was the old bus station. The cafe was virtually in the middle of the old bus station building. Also, but I am not 100% sure, I think that there was an office in connection with the bus service and employees at the side of the cafe.

THE CAFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUS STATION WAS THE 'BAKED POTATO' I THINK THE CHAIN OF SHOPS WAS STARTED BY BILLY WALKER THE BOXER. THE SMALL TEA BAR WAS DEFINITELY THERE IN THE 60'S AND MOST OF THE 70'S
I CAN PICTURE IT NOW, WITH BUS CONDUCTORS AND DRIVERS STOOD AT THE SMALL SERVING HATCH. DRINKING CUPS OF TEA.

Warburton's furniture shop and the adjacent Park Hotel pub were demolished in 1985 to make way for the Galleries. The car, KKR219E is a Riley Elf or Wolseley Hornet, more upmarket than the standard Austin and Morris Mini distinguishable by the extended boot.

Ron - the Baked Potato cafe was opened and owned by Roger Doxsey, who also had Percivals, The Turnkey, and The Wiggin tree at Parbold.
Boxer Billy Walker and his entrepreneur brother George did open a chain of cafes called 'Billy's Baked Potato', but they never extended beyond the home counties, and weren't connected to the Wigan cafe.

The tea bar/cafe you remember would be the Don Cafe, it was near the Park Hotel and Warburtons.

A.W. the Don Café - I'd forgotten about that, it always looked to be busy as Ron said with the busmen and also taxi drivers too.

It was indeed a busy and popular cafe Cyril, it was open on a Sunday and we often went there after going to the baths.

I remember a cafe the bus staff used but thought it was the other side of the church towards Tom and Hilda Moss dance studio. Central Buildings.

Peter, I believe that could be right. I vaguely remember something like a small cafe there. Also, there was a small amusement arcade, there was a doorway that had stairs beyond (this could have been the club that had bands) and, of course, there was Whelan's.
Also, looking at the photo, I can't see where there could have been a cafe or a cafe hatch.

I Remember ‘hazily’ a cafe on that side with a large window - it did look very busy but I never went inside. I would catch the 59 Bolton bus on the opposite side so the cafe could be seen quite plainly.

I vaguely remember a cafe near the Park Hotel. I went in a couple of times as I used to help a milkman delivering on Saturdays for Hansons when I was at school and sometimes he would call in there. If you look at old photos of this street you will see that where the "furnishings" sign is that was a separate shop. It looks like Warburtons or a previous business have extended the premises and made it into one unit.

Hope street item #: 32858. Could the cafe I remember near Mosses be seen through the cab of the red bus

I was at Wigan Tech 1970/72 doing my A levels, and one of my fellow students was Pat Warburton, the daughter of the store owners. I wonder where she is now, over 50 years later.