ICONS, Prestwich, closure 'rumours' addressed amid auction

ICONS, on Bury New Road, specialises in tribute acts and entertainment.

The business has been in its current venue since 2023, after moving from its previous location on Higher Lane, Whitefield.

This week, eagle-eyed Prestwich residents and ICONS regulars spotted that the building was up for auction, at a guide price of £500,000.

The listing does state the 8,233 sq ft freehold building is partly let to Icons Cabaret Bar on a 10-year lease.

It also boasts a vacant open-plan first floor with a private front entrance and the auction date is Tuesday, June 30.

The listing reads: "This property presents a perfect blend of immediate, secure high-income generation alongside significant potential to add capital and rental value."

About the first floor, the listing states it is "versatile and would suit a wide range of alternative commercial uses.”

Suggested ideas for the first floor include an office, clinic, and a gym or fitness studio and its estimated market rent is £20,000 per year.

If refurbished, the listing states it could bring in over £30,000 per year.

ICONS bar shared a statement about the auction on their Facebook page on Thursday, June 18.

It read: "A quick announcement, before the rumours go any further because, let’s face it, Prestwich loves a good gossip.

"We’d like to clear something up.

"Yes, the building that ICONS operates from is up for sale.

"No, ICONS is not closing.

"We rent our premises, and we always have rented our premises.

"The building belongs to our landlord, who simply has decided to sell the property.

"Our team, our business, our events, our future plans, remain exactly the same.

"So please don’t panic, don’t start planning our farewell party and don’t believe everything you read on Facebook.

"We’re still here, we’re still open, and we’re going nowhere."

Support for the business flooded in via the comments, with one user saying they "nearly had heart failure" when they saw the news.