Is a future finally in sight for former Chorley town centre landmark pub?

However the CAMRA award-winning Swan With Two Necks' days as a pub look to be over, as a number of other uses for it are explored.

Its owners, though, say they are not ruling anything in or out as interest in it mounts.

Once one of the town centre's most popular pubs, the Holinshead Street venue is up for sale at a reduced asking price of £325,000 - and there have been "lots of inquiries".

In its heyday it was arguably the best pub in town.

Now though, the Grade II listed building is an ugly eyesore blighting the St Laurence's conservation area in which it lies.

Before it closed in 2010 it was run by licensee Denise Hogan and her husband Nick.

Mr Hogan made world headlines when he became the first person to be jailed over the smoking ban imposed in this country.

The former landlord held a ‘mass light-up’ at the Swan and Barristers pub, Bolton, on the same day - July 1, 2007 - the legislation came into force.

Mr and Mrs Hogan left the Swan with Two Necks after eight years.

In 2008, they completed a £160,000 refurbishment of the site.

As they left, the timber decking was ripped up, trees were cut down and fixtures inside were taken out.

The pub was visited by council officers, police and bailiffs.

It is currently owned by Chorley-based Workspace Properties Ltd.

And it is being marketed by commercial property company Taylor Weaver.

Neil Weaver, of the firm, said: "We've had it just over twelve months now - just prior to lockdown last year.

"At the moment we're processing various inquiries.

"We've had lots of inquiries, lots of people looking at it. Just trying to look at what it's going to be."

He said interest had come from a mix of sectors, including residential, leisure, beauty and office.

He added that the interest had been "fairly constant" since the building had been on the market with the company.

"We're quite encouraged by the level of interest," said Mr Weaver.

"We're talking to people at the moment and trying to get it over the line."

With an end to lockdown in sight and better weather also around the corner, interest is expected to increase even further, though the building does need a fair amount of investment to get it back into usage again.

Describing the building in their sales literature, Taylor Weaver explain that the price has been reduced to £325,000, with conditional offers considered, and that it is "competitively priced for a quick sale". It is available for "immediate purchase".

One of the last rumours for its future use was as a restaurant.

A spokesman for the owners said: "The property is for sale. There are expressions of interest. Whether they come forward and buy it, I don't know, that's crystal ball gazing.

"We've marketed it, I suppose quite well, and there has been interest from different parties doing different things."

They refused to rule out it being run as a pub again, adding: "I wouldn't go as far as to say it's extremely unlikely - you never know.

"In terms of a pub, in isolation, yes, at the moment the pub market has been affected incredibly badly. But there are micro breweries which seem to be very much a growing market - and there's both beer and gin. These days of pop up bars, you just can't tell. I wouldn't rule it out.

"It's an unusual building in a town centre environment. These type of buildings infrequently come forward.

"I expect strong interest this year. I think there's a fair chance someone is going to need planning permission - that's a minimum of thirteen weeks.

"These things can take six to nine months."