Award-winning restaurant which suddenly closed two years ago could be converted into five-bedroom family home

An award-winning restaurant which closed its doors two years ago could be part-demolished and turned into a family home.

Crimble Hall – once home to John Fenton, Rochdale’s first MP – dates back to the early 19th century, and has been a dining venue since the 1960s.

But it abruptly closed its doors in April 2019 and went into liquidation soon after, remaining shut ever since.

Now plans to convert the historic building into a ‘large five-bedroom family home’ have been lodged with Rochdale council.

The scheme include demolishing ‘much of the existing building’ – although not the original structure or features.

It would also see seven new ‘executive homes’ built at the three-acre site between Rochdale and Heywood.

The converted Crimble Hall would boast four first floor bedrooms, with a further bedroom and office on the second floor.

There would also be three reception rooms, a kitchen/diner and a gym.

A document submitted by applicant Richmond Berkeley Ltd says the firm wants to ‘retain and refurbish the original part of Crimble Hall, restoring its historic character’

It adds: “The overall approach to the redevelopment opportunity of the site has been driven by the removal of the substantial and generally incongruous extensions which have been added to the original Crimble Cottage (now termed Crimble Hall) over the years.

“The original part of Crimble Hall is to be retained, restored and as far as possible and converted to a residential dwelling.”

The scheme would involve the removal of the car parks and ‘hard landscaping’ at the Crimble Lane site. 

However, a new road would be built to provide access to the new properties and Crimble Hall itself.

The new homes are described as ‘high-quality design, executive housing’ and would also include five bedrooms, as well as a large kitchen/diner area and detached double garages.

According to application documents these would be designed to reduce their impact on the green belt and ensure Crimble Hall retains prominence.

The well-established restaurant was able to seat up to 360 diners across three distinct areas: The Conservatory Restaurant and Grill; The Peacock Room and Fenton’s Lounge.

The Peacock Room had two AA rosettes making it the top-rated fine dining establishment in the area.

The restaurant was originally awarded one AA rosette in 2008 and was upgraded to two AA rosettes in 2011.

It also had a Michelin Knife and Fork award.

But it went into voluntary liquidation in April 2019 after a detailed review of the business concluded it was no longer viable.

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