Pennine Way Hotel
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The Pennine Way Hotel was built in 1972 as a three star hotel with 130 rooms. The hotel is located near the main round about in Oldham town centre.
The hotel closed in 2004 with the loss of over 20 jobs. Since the hotels closure various companies have expressed and interest in the site including the local council and the university.
The hotel is currently being demolished and will be totally gone by the end of 2007. Work had began in November, but so far only the lifts and main fixtures and fittings had been removed.
Since 2004 the hotel has remained derelcit and very secure. It was only when the demolition work started that access was made possible.
When we first arrived at the hotel we had mixed emotions and expectations. With the hotel being secured for so long the chances of the interior being intact seemed quite promising. But with demolition starting our expectations would soon be shattered.
Finding an access point proved no problem, and once inside we made our way to the stair wells and decided to start from the top and work our way down through the hotel.
After the long hike up the never ending stairs we finally reached the roof and were presented with some rather scenic views of Oldham town centre.
The weather was appalling though, wet and windy. Making photography hit and miss sometimes. Once we had finished on the rooftop, we started our descent down through the hotel, exploring floor by floor.
What was strange and became apparent at an early stage. Was that the lower we descended each floor became more and more interesting.
About half way down the hotel we started to discover all sorts of items still left lying around. The managers office was still filled with paperwork. We even found bookings from some of the last guests.
The kitchens also contained quite a fair bit of equipment still in situ. The star attraction though had to be the mirrored lobby and dance floor.
Even though the Pennine wasnt quite what we had hoped for. I think we all felt a great sense of satisfaction at finally seeing inside the place. That and the fact that we were the first to explore it as well.
Sadly the hotel was completely demolished a few months after we explored it.
