Published at 16:16, Friday, 08 February 2013

A FORMER music venue is set to go up for sale at a knockdown price.

The Canteen on Barrow Island will go up for auction on February 26, with a guide price of £65,000.

The former media and arts centre, in Michaelson Road, was first put up for sale in September 2010, with a guide price of £400,000 to £500,000. It then went up for auction in Carlisle the following month, but failed to sell at a guide price of £260,000.

The new guide price represents an 87 per cent reduction from the highest price the building was initially advertised for.

The Canteen, which was originally used as a canteen for shipyard workers and was built in 1882, closed its doors for a final time in September 2010.

The building was purchased by entrepreneur Gary Robinson in August 2004 and underwent a major renovation, with British Sea Power playing the opening night for the new music and arts centre in August 2005.

Mr Robinson handed over the reins to Chris Bamber, former landlord of the King’s Arms in Barrow, in January 2010 but returned in August of that year to announce that the building would be sold.

The property spans around 10,500 sq ft and includes a main function hall with capacity for 500 people. The auction company has said it could suit redevelopment, subject to planning consent.

Andrew Brown of auctioneer Eddisons said: “This is an imposing building with a varied history which would suit a developer with the vision to breath new life into it.

“This is a bumper catalogue to start our auction year. There is a wide selection of both residential and commercial lots, at guide prices to suit all budgets.”

l The Canteen will go up for auction at the Premier Inn at Trafford Park in Manchester from 12.30pm on February 26.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk