A POPULAR hobby shop will reopen in a new town centre premises after lockdown as it moves out of Crompton Place.

Bolton Warhammer will open its doors in Bridge Street, opposite the Market Place Shopping Centre, when restrictions are eased.

The store, part of a national chain run by fantasy giant Games Workshop, will move into the unit formerly occupied by Cherry Moon, a comic book cafe.

Currently located in the upstairs of the Crompton Place Shopping Centre, near Boots, the hobby shop will be completing its move in the next few weeks, ahead of a multi-million point demolition project.

The Crompton Place building is set to be demolished later this year, clearing the way for a new £250 million shopping housing and leisure complex.

Work was due to begin in January, although a cabinet meeting of Bolton Council in October heard the start date had been pushed back to March.

In December, developers Bolton Regeneration Ltd confirmed work is due to begin in late 2021.

Steven Turner, director of the firm, said: “BRL is working very hard to safeguard the delivery of the development and to ensure the new development will transform Bolton town centre.

“We are confident the scheme will stimulate significant economic growth across the borough and become a destination the entire community can be proud of.”

Developers have told traders in the centre they should be able to continue operating at the site until November, although many have moved or begun the search for new locations.

Last November, eyecare specialists Specsavers announced they would be moving from their current spot in Victoria square to the nearby Victoria Plaza, in a move expected to be complete by March.

Talks are said to be under way with other retailers in the shopping centre, including Boots and Primark, to find alternative premises while work takes place.