Prestons of Bolton to reopen as a new coffee house

Prestons Coffee House is set to open this January, breathing new life into the historic Preston’s of Bolton building and reviving memories cherished by generations of local people.

For the team behind the project, the aim is simple but significant: to restore the building’s buzz, respect its legacy and give the town centre a renewed sense of purpose.

A sneak peek into the brand new Prestons Coffee House opening later this month (Image: NQ)

A spokesperson for Prestons Coffee House said the emotional connection people still have to the building became clear almost immediately.

They said: “People have an emotional connection with this building.

“We wanted to give it a new purpose while keeping its soul intact.

“The basic idea was to give this building a buzz again.

“It used to be so busy, not just for Boltonians but for people from all across the North.”

During preview visits, Prestons Coffee House said seven out of ten people who stepped inside told staff they had family members who once worked in the building, with many eager to revisit a place filled with personal memories.

“That’s why we wanted to give the building a new life and revive it in people’s memories,” they added.

The decision to retain the Preston’s name was deliberate, helping visitors reconnect with the past as soon as they step through the doors.

Rather than modernising the space completely, the team focused on preserving as many original features as possible to reflect the building’s long history.

Original infrastructure has been left on display, alongside historic photographs and a coffee roaster, giving the space a strong sense of continuity with its past.

Prestons Coffee House displays historic photographs, original infrastructure, and vintage memorabilia celebrating the building’s rich (Image: NQ)

The site manager said: “We wanted to be different by keeping the main heritage features intact as much as we could.

“Everything you see has been done with the old building in mind.”

One of the building’s more unusual features has also been preserved.

He added: “A contractor who used to work in the building told me the glass in the windows is bullet-proof, even bomb-proof, because during the 1980s there was conflict.”

The original windows remain in place, with chairs and tables positioned nearby so visitors can sit and reflect.

Hospitality, has always been part of the building’s story.

Once “The Diamond Centre of the North,” Prestons will now serve food and drink to locals (Image: Preston Coffee House)

Preston’s of Bolton was founded in 1869 by goldsmith James Preston and quickly became known as “The Diamond Centre of the North”.

In 1912, the original narrow shop was rebuilt into a grand four-storey emporium, complete with a clock tower and a time ball that once dropped daily at 1pm to mark the hour for workers across the town.

Under the leadership of Gertrude Duckworth and later her grandson Gordon Duckworth, Preston’s grew into the largest jewellery showroom in the UK, attracting customers from across the country.

Alongside diamonds and luxury watches, visitors were offered tea and coffee while browsing, a tradition the new coffee house is continuing.

Once home to the UK’s largest jewellery showroom, Preston’s attracted customers nationwide seeking diamonds, watches, and warm hospitality (Image: Preston Coffee House)

That sense of renewal extends beyond the café itself.

The upper floors of the building have been transformed into Bolton Business Centre, a modern, professional hub designed to support local entrepreneurs and businesses, helping to foster growth right in the heart of the town centre.

Today, the ground floor reflects both past and present.

Prestons Coffee House will serve a range of classic coffees alongside specialist brewing methods including V60, Aeropress, Syphon and Nitro coffee.

Coffee merchandise will also be available to purchase.

The project is also intended to introduce the building’s history to a new generation.

After more than a decade closed, Bolton’s Prestons building reopens as a coffee house, retaining its iconic name and charm (Image: NQ)

A spokesperson said: “New generations, people like me, want to learn about their culture.”

With Bolton town centre facing ongoing challenges, the reopening is being viewed as a positive step.

They said: “When you walk through the town centre and see how quiet it’s become, it gives you a sad feeling.

“We wanted to do something that would make this area lively again, not just for older generations, but for younger people too.”

While an exact opening date has yet to be confirmed, Prestons Coffee House is expected to open between January 10 and January 15, marking a new chapter for a building that has stood at the heart of Bolton life for more than 150 years.