Loved and lost Greater Manchester family fun centre had 'everything under one roof'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A water attraction loved by generations of kids is still a much missed despite closing 20-years ago.

For years, families flocked to the state-of-the art fun centre on Great Moor Street in the middle of Bolton town centre. At a cost of £5.8m, Bolton's Water Place was opened to huge fanfare by Her Majesty the Queen in 1988.

The Water Place featured two massive 100m water flumes that went right to the top of the building, from where screaming kids would hurtle down, ending with a giant splash to the sounds of disco music pumping around the building. It also had rubber dinghy rapids, a wave machine and palm trees which had been imported from Florida.

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And it wasn't just rides that drew people to the Water Place. Built over two floors, it also featured a a spa pool, health pool and children's pool, a cafeteria, gym, meeting rooms and office space.

In essence, it was a fully kitted out leisure complex that while coming with great expense also served as testament to the council's optimism and ambition for Bolton town centre. Looking to attract people from Greater Manchester and beyond, an advertisement in the Liverpool Echo in December 1994 read: "Everything you could possibly want for an action packed day is under one roof".

Adding: "Situated in Bolton Town centre just two minutes walk from Trinity Street Railway Station and Moor Lane Bust Station, the Water Place is the place to be this Christmas holiday. So whether you splash, slide, rush or plunge, you're guaranteed to laugh and scream!"

One of the enduring memories people have of the pool is having to hike up to the top of the giant flumes on a rickety spiral staircase. As they queued