THE MAIL is revisiting the incredible boost the Barrow hotel trade gained on March 17 1995.

The Mail reported: One of Barrow’s top hotels and two of its associated bars are up for sale.

Property experts say The Imperial, in Cornwallis Street, could go for a rock bottom price of £200,000.

That would be less than was paid for its three years ago.

The 43-bedroomed hotel, recently damaged by fire, has since closed along with the popular Cornwallis Street bars Allsorts and Diamond’s Lil’s.

Chartered Surveyors Westlake and Co, of Arncliffe, North Yorkshire, and handling the sale under the direction of the receivers.

But company officials refused to reveal the price tag.

Director Michael Westlake said: “We will be welcoming offers.

“We can’t say what price is expected, we will consider what people think it is worth.”

The firm has been instructed to sell the properties on behalf of the joint receivers because the owner has been declared bankrupt.

Mr Westlake added: “The hotel is unlikely to be reopened until we find a buyer.

A source in the property business told the Evening Mail: “I have contacted them and have been told it’s got to go.

“It will go for as little as £200,000.”

The hotel was last sold in February 1992 for £350,000.

“The most profitable of the three businesses is Allsorts” said Mr Westlake.

He described the fire damage as “relatively modest”.

The Mail also covered the Imperial’s £1.5 million boost two years later

The edition June 18th, 1994 edition reported: “Europe has come to the aid of Barrow with a £1.5 million grant to build vital factory space.

The boost from Brussels comes after months of intense lobbying by agencies and individuals charged with revitalising the flagging Furness economy.

The cash, totalling £1.45 million, comes from the European Commission’s Perifra fund. It will be a one-off payment from the EU to invest in the hotel’s future.