Former Tavern Fayre Bolton Site Set For Petrol Station Plans 2026

Key Points

• EG On The Move has put forward proposals to demolish the ex-Tavern Fayre at Wigan Road in Bolton and construct a petrol fuel station, HGV fuel point and drive-thru coffee shop.
• The proposal consists of eight car fuel stations, two HGV fuel lanes and four rapid electric vehicle charging points including Tesla Superchargers.
• The plan states that the completed development will create around 40 full time equivalent jobs.
• The current 1,285 sq m pub and restaurant premises will be demolished; the car parking will increase from 20 to 38 under The Bolton News’s report of the plans.
• The Tavern Fayre has been closed since May 2023, when its management closed the place after running it for over 30 years.
• The council will examine the application by EG On The Move under the formal planning procedure, allowing local people to comment.
• Councillors have voiced their worries about the demolition of the popular community venue, green belt status and the presence of another service station nearby.
• According to the ecological reports, there is no evidence of bats roosting in the building, although the use of bat boxes is recommended as the compensation measure.

Bolton (Manchester Mirror) October 25, 2026 — Plans have been submitted to demolish Bolton’s former Tavern Fayre pub and restaurant and build a petrol filling station, HGV refuelling facilities and a drive-thru coffee shop on the Wigan Road site. The application, by EG On The Move, proposes replacing the long-vacant Hunger Hill venue with a modern roadside services development featuring conventional fuel pumps, electric-vehicle charging and refreshments.

What is proposed for the former Tavern Fayre site?

As reported by The Bolton News, the planning application proposes the demolition of the former Tavern Fayre building on Wigan Road and its replacement with a new roadside services development. The scheme would include fuel pumps, electric-vehicle charging points and a drive-thru coffee outlet.

Planning papers cited by The Bolton News show that the existing 1,285 square metre pub and restaurant building would be demolished and replaced by a smaller development comprising a petrol filling station, HGV fuelling facilities and a drive-thru coffee unit. The application estimates that the completed site would support around 40 jobs.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the proposed development would include eight car fuelling positions, two dedicated lanes for HGV refuelling, four rapid electric-vehicle charging bays including Tesla Superchargers, a drive-through coffee shop and parking facilities.

The Bolton News reported that the number of parking spaces would increase from 20 to 38 under the proposals, while electric-vehicle charging infrastructure would also be included. The Manchester Evening News gave a different breakdown, stating that the plans include 30 parking spaces, with 13 allocated for the filling station and 17 for the coffee shop.

Why is the former pub being demolished?

The Tavern Fayre has remained empty since May 2023, following the departure of the management team that had operated the venue for more than 30 years. Documents submitted with the planning application state that the venue has been vacant since 2023.

As reported by The Bolton News, the application is likely to end months of speculation about the site’s future. Previous reports had described rumours ranging from hospitality uses and corporate facilities to a petrol station, but the newly published planning documents confirm that a petrol station and drive-thru coffee shop are proposed.

In a planning statement supporting the project, the applicant said the application aims to use an established, previously developed roadside site effectively. The statement said the proposal intends to replace a vacant former public house and restaurant complex, along with extensive hard-standing, with a modern roadside facility offering conventional fuel, super-rapid electric-vehicle charging, refreshments and associated services.

What has EG On The Move said?

EG On The Move has indicated that the initiative could create around 40 full-time equivalent positions. The company operates more than 160 petrol stations across the UK, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The company’s plans also include retaining, expanding and redesigning the current access point from Wigan Road to accommodate the expected variety of vehicles.

The application will now be considered by Bolton Council as part of the formal planning process. Residents and nearby businesses have been consulted on the proposals, with comments invited before a final decision is made.

How have Bolton councillors responded?

Cllr Andy Morgan, chair of Bolton Council’s Planning Committee, told The Bolton News that the Tavern Fayre was a much-loved facility and had been maintained despite sitting empty for several years. He said there had always been hope that it could return to use as a pub, diner or something similar.

“It’s a shame that we’ve got another proposed soulless service station and coffee shop being put into what is a beautiful part of the town,” Cllr Morgan said, as reported by The Bolton News. “It’s all open and in the Green Belt, so that’s disappointing.”

Cllr Morgan also noted that there is already a service station around 200 yards away. He said the development would bring the site back into use, but added that it may not be what local residents would want to see.

“It’s just a complete drag-and-drop development and they all look the same,” he told The Bolton News. “There’s no character to them. Alright, they’re providing a service, but I think the owners could have been more creative in what they offered the community.”

Cllr Anne Galloway, of Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, said the news would disappoint people who had hoped new owners could be found to keep the pub and restaurant going. “Many will have great memories of nights out and family meals there and the building itself was a landmark in the area,” she said, according to The Bolton News.

What does the site’s history mean locally?

The Tavern Fayre occupies a prominent position on Wigan Road and has long been remembered as both a family restaurant and an entertainment venue. It originally opened as The Tavern in the late 1980s and became known for its pub, nightclub and dance floor before evolving into the Tavern Fayre restaurant.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the building was transformed in 1986 from a 16th-century farmhouse. It said the venue became popular with visitors from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside, particularly during its peak in the late 1980s and 1990s, when it hosted discos, DJs and party events.

The publication also reported that the semi-rural pub was known for its real fires, Sunday lunches and proximity to the M61 junction. Over time, it transitioned into a family-oriented restaurant, while older customers continued to associate it with its nightlife era.

The Bolton News reported that former customers had previously recalled wedding receptions, family celebrations and busy midweek nights at the venue.

What environmental checks have been carried out?

Ecological reports accompanying the application found no evidence of bats roosting within the building, according to The Bolton News. The reports recommend installing bat boxes as mitigation if demolition proceeds.

The application documents also state that the development would bring investment to the site, create around 40 jobs and expand electric-vehicle charging provision.

What happens next in the planning process?

Bolton Council will review the proposal in the coming weeks, according to the Manchester Evening News. The council’s planning guidance says residents can search for applications, check their progress and submit comments during the consultation period.

The Bolton News reported that the application will be considered as part of the formal planning process, with comments invited from residents and nearby businesses before a final decision is made.

Background of the development

The Tavern Fayre, also known locally as Tavern on the Hill, closed in 2023 after its former management team left the Wigan Road venue. The business had been operated by that team for more than 30 years.

Before its closure, the venue had evolved from a late-1980s pub and nightclub into a family restaurant. The building itself originated as a 16th-century farmhouse and was refurbished in the mid-1980s.

In September 2026, The Bolton News reported that no confirmed plans for the site had been established, despite social-media speculation. At that time, Cllr David Lewis, who represents Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill, said he had heard rumours but was not aware of confirmed plans, and noted that any major development would need to go through planning.

The new application by EG On The Move now formally sets out proposals for demolition and redevelopment. It will be assessed by Bolton Council, which will consider representations from residents and businesses before reaching a decision.

Prediction: What could this mean for Bolton residents?

For local residents, the proposals could change a familiar landmark into a roadside services site serving drivers, HGV operators and electric-vehicle users. If approved, the scheme could create around 40 jobs and expand charging provision, but it would also mean the permanent loss of a building associated with decades of family meals, celebrations and nightlife.

Nearby households may focus on traffic, access arrangements, noise, lighting and the impact of another fuel and food outlet close to an existing service station. Cllr Morgan’s comments indicate that these concerns are already part of the local debate, particularly because the site is in a Green Belt setting.

For commuters and drivers using Wigan Road and the nearby M61 junction, the development could provide additional fuelling, rapid EV charging and drive-thru refreshment options. For former customers and community groups, however, the application marks a potential end point for efforts to see the Tavern Fayre reopen as a hospitality venue.