A GRAND former nightclub building in Bradford city centre is to go under the hammer at auction next month.

Many people will have fond memories of Flares, which stood at the beating heart of the once-thriving West End part of town.

Going further back, others will remember it as the iconic Queens Hall.

At one time, the Morley Street area was packed with nightclubs and bars but experienced a downturn in recent years.

When Flares closed its doors back in August 2019, it was the last club standing. There is now an opportunity for the huge building it once occupied to be redeveloped and it will go to auction with a guide price of £230,000.

It comes at a time when the former Odeon building is being transformed into Bradford Live, sparking hope the area will be given a new lease of life.

Jason Courcoux, who was general manager at Flares from 2012 to its closure, said: “We’ve seen every venue, one by one, close.”

He said he hoped the Odeon project would give the area “that injection it needs”.

Lee Craven, founding director of Bradford Live, said the venue would be "transformational" for the city.

He said: "The venue is ideally suited to live music. I think live comedy would work well here too, maybe magic shows, something like Cirque de Soleil might work here.

"I think it will attract the national touring circuit acts. They will want to play here.

"This venue also gives a whole new dimension to music. It will be complementary to St George's Hall and Alhambra. This venue will bring people from all over the region to here. It will be transformational for Bradford.”

Savills Auctions said of the former Flares building: “The property comprises a substantial four-storey building with a ground, basements and first floor nightclub with ancillary accommodation on the second floor.

“The property consists of two different nightclubs of which the basement club has access from Morley Street and could be used as a self-contained premises whilst the ground and first floor has access from both Morley Street and Great Horton Road.

“The property benefits from direct access from the second floor onto the roof area which may serve use as a smoking area/shisha lounge.”

Savills said the property, with change of use potential, would be of interest to owner-occupiers, developers and investors, while there is a potential to develop its entire or upper parts subject to consent.