Middlebrook Retail Park
The Reebok Stadium stands at the heart of Middlebrook, one of the most prominent sports, leisure and retail developments in the country. On entering the development, visitors are met with the impressive Spirit of Sport sculpture which stands as a tribute to Bolton's sporting community. Etched into the 30 meter tall sculpture are the faces of 600 sportsmen and women who have contributed to the rich sporting history in Bolton.
Directly across from the Reebok Stadium is Bolton Arena, a state of the art sporting and leisure complex. Facilities include a modern gym and luxurious spa in addition to International standard tennis and badminton facilities, 5 football pitches, flood lit games area, athletics track, an extensive indoor sports hall and high tech business facilities. Further leisure facilities on the Middlebrook develpment include a VUE Cinema and Hollywood Bowl. There is also a numerous range of restaurants onsite including Abacus Oriental Restaurant , Harvester and Nandos. Please click here for a full list of restaurants. Middlebrook also offers a wide and rich range of shopping outlets from furniture and electronics through to fashion and sports. Please click here for a full list of retailers.
Bolton Tourism
Situated to the East of the West Penine Moors; Bolton itself is home to historic landmarks and beautiful countryside. Historically renowned as a former mill town, Bolton is noted as having developed wool and cotton weaving manufacture throughout the Industrial Revolution. By the 1920s Bolton was one of the largest producers of cotton in the world. Today Bolton also has a great deal to offer in terms of entertainment and leisure activities. Le Mans Crescent in the heart of the town is home to a thriving theatre scene including the Octagon Theatre and the grade 1 listed Albert Halls which frequently welcome the best of the UK touring companies. Across from The Octagon Theatre is Bolton Museum which displays an array of touring exhibitions in addition to fixed Egyptology, Art and History exhibitions. Bolton is also home to a Victorian Market Hall which has been recently refurbished to provide a wide variety of quality stores and restaurants in a stylish setting. A further prominent Bolton landmark, which is in view of the Reebok Stadium, is Rivington Country Park. Here visitors can enjoy woodland paths and moor side walks with stunning hill top views of the surrounding country side. For further information on Bolton attractions, please click here.
Manchester Tourism
The City of Manchester, noted for its music scene, museums, galleries and theatre, is just 15 miles away from Bolton. Manchester is regarded as being the driving force behind the growth of the ‘indie’ music scene in the 1980s, producing bands such as The Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. Manchester continues to provide a thriving and lively music scene with bands including The Smiths, Oasis and Doves emerging from the city. The Manchester Evening News Arena is the largest indoor arena in Europe and attracted over one and a half million visitors in 2009. In 2002 the Arena was voted ‘International Venue of the Year’ by industry specialist Pollstar and has since been nominated an unrivalled nine times. Further Manchester music venues include The Apollo and Manchester Academy, all of which can be easily reached by both car and public transport.
Manchester also provides a lively theatre and visual arts scene. Large venues in the city centre include The Palace Theatre and The Opera House which often stage touring West End shows. For those looking for niche productions, the former Cotton Exchange which was once one of the largest rooms for commerce in the world is now the venue of the ‘Royal Exchange Theatre’ and is regarded as one of the greatest architectural achievements in the country. Suspended from marble pillars, the theatre is a seven sided, glass walled capsule which allows for all seats within the theatre to be less than nine metres from the stage. Also noted for its modern architecture is the Lowry Theatre which is located on a waterfront of the redeveloped Salford Quays. For further information on Manchester tourism please click here.