By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 13:28, Monday, 08 October 2012

The last nightclub to close in Whitehaven has been sold at auction.

Popular Gallachers, on Tangier Street, shut its doors a year ago after it went into administration.

And it was the end of an era on Thursday as the building, which had a guide price of £80,000 to £100,000, was sold after a three-way bidding battle for £134,000.

The identities of the new owners have not been revealed and it is not known at this stage what they plan to do with the three-storey building.

Auctioneer Colin West said it was a “fantastic result” for the club because the commercial market at the moment was “very difficult.”

The winning bid came from a telephone bidder, who was unable to get to the auction at Carlisle Racecourse, due to traffic caused by a crash.

“They had a mishap on the way to the auction and they had to arrange a telephone bid at the last minute,” said Mr West.

“They managed to get to a computer somewhere and emailed paperwork and transferred money to pay the deposit.

“It was all very last minute and very dramatic.”

Although the future plans for the building have not been revealed, there is speculation around the town as to what might happen to the building.

The club’s closure was announced on social networking site Facebook and a closing party was held at the club for staff and customers on the last night in August 2011.

When news went out this week on that same page that the nightclub had been sold, people immediately posted their comments into what they think would happen to the building.

Some of the ideas included charity shops, flats, another nightclub, a wine lodge or a wedding shop.

First published at 11:29, Monday, 08 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk