Update on £1m plans to buy and demolish Oldham pub

£1m plans to buy and then demolish a ‘rare’ town centre pub are still moving forward despite pleas to stop. There are fears from one local MP the borough is ‘wiping away our history in the name of progress’.

The former Harry’s Bar was built in 1937 as the Artizan’s Rest and sits on Yorkshire Street in Oldham town centre. The bar closed in 2023 and has remained empty ever since.

In 2025, it was revealed by the LDRS that Oldham council planned to buy the building and demolish it with the price tag for the project reported to be £1m. The money comes from a £2.5m pot of regeneration finding given to the local authority by the government.

A Zoopla advert lists the property for £470,000. It is described as being in a vibrant and lively part of Oldham and could be transformed into a bar or restaurant in ‘prime location’. The building’s layout is described as ‘conducive to creating an inviting atmosphere for guests, with ample space for seating and entertainment’.

The local authority at the time said it planned to replace the building with an ‘attractive town square’ that will help entice people towards the theatre and shops. The move was criticised, with some calling it a ‘vanity project’.

Now there have been further calls to stop the town pub’s demolition by Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon who called for the local authority to put a stop to the plans.

He said the Yorkshire Street building was ‘a rare interwar building’ and was built by OIdham Brewery ‘to serve the theatre district at the time’. Mr McMahon also highlighted how the pub was mentioned by Save Britain’s Heritage as ‘vulnerable’ despite being of ‘architectural interest’.

Mr McMahon said the council needed to develop a policy ‘to safeguard the borough’s historic pubs from demolition and inappropriate conversion’, adding: “They remain important heritage assets and contribute to the character and identity of local communities and the wider built environment, even after they cease trading.

“I am concerned about the continuing impact of pub closures and the subsequent pressures for change of use or demolition. There is a clear national pattern of pub closures creating increased vulnerability, but Oldham faces additional pressures due to the scale of redevelopment taking place across the borough and the housing crisis driving a clear pattern of conversions into other uses.”

The MP also argues a £61m government fund to save local pubs meant there is ‘plenty of potential to bring more investment to Oldham. In a letter to the council’s chief executive Shelley Kipling, he said: “Oldham is a town largely shaped by the Industrial Revolution. It is not a new town without history, and regeneration should not simply follow the fads or immediate priorities of the moment.”

A council spokesperson said: “Oldham Council acknowledges the concerns raised regarding pubs, heritage buildings and Harry’s Bar, and has responded to MP Jim McMahon directly. We recognise the important role these venues play in our communities and remain committed to supporting a vibrant night-time economy and protecting valued local assets.

“In relation to Harry’s Bar, the council’s purchase of the site is progressing. As part of wider regeneration plans for the area, demolition is proposed to help open up the street scene and support the renovation and long-term future of the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. This approach seeks to carefully balance heritage considerations with the need to deliver a sustainable and thriving town centre.

“We also share the MP’s concerns regarding the growth of low-quality housing, including some HMOs [house of multiple occupation], and the impact this can have on neighbourhoods and the character of the borough. The council is continuing to strengthen its approach in this area and is keen to work collaboratively with partners to address these challenges.”