Former nightclub in middle of town could be turned into housing

Thursday, 1 May 2025 12:31

By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter

Historic building on the corner of Drake Street and Smith Street, Rochdale

A vacant nightclub building in the heart of Rochdale has stood since the 1700s, but soon it could be transformed into housing.

The Georgian-era building, on the corner of Drake Street and Smith Street, was originally the Wellington Hotel, before changing hands multiple times over the last two centuries. The upper floors have been empty for several years now, but used to be home to ‘The Nile’ nightclub/bar.

Most recently it was the home to the Bombay Brew restaurant, now vacant.

Developers, Cassel & Fletcher, want to convert the upper floors of the Grade-II listed building into 10 apartments. The proposals also seek to create a seven-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The apartments would be a mix of one and two-bed homes, with one studio. The commercial space on the ground floor is not included in the plans.

No car parking is included in the proposal, but the building faces Rochdale tram stop and has easy access to town centre shops and other transport links.

A heritage statement read: “It was built between about 1764, when the vicar gained powers to grant building leases, and 1795, as a town house for Thomas Smith (1743-1806), a wealthy woollen merchant who built fulling mills behind it.

“It was later a school, then from 1818 the Wellington Hotel. Between 1825 and 1839 the police commissioners met here. In 1844, the building was still owned by the Smith family and the hotel was run by Elizabeth Richardson.”

A decision on the plans will be made by Rochdale Council’s planning team in the coming months.