A grade II-listed former cotton mill in Oldham could become the north-west's top Asian wedding venue.

Anchor Mill, in Daisy Street, Westwood has undergone a total refurbish with its 20,000 sq ft first floor transformed into a wedding banqueting hall catering up to 1500 guests.

Grande Venue, which will also function as a conference and event facility, includes two large halls with its own kitchen, very own top chefs and even has its own in-house wedding organisers – Prime Events.

Eastern Concept Limited, made up of eight Bangladeshi businessmen from Greater Manchester bought the former mill in 2008.

They hope the transformation will not only breath new life into the five storey building but help regenerate the local area by bringing in hundreds of jobs.

As well as the wedding venue, the mill will include a cash and carry, sari shops, a snooker hall and office space will also be let.

Said Chondon Miah, one of the directors at Eastern Concept Limited: "There is nothing like the Grande Venue in the Oldham area. Most people have to travel out of Oldham to book a venue for a wedding.

"Asian weddings are big events with hundreds of guests and not many places can cater towards the huge numbers and we thought it was important to have such a facility in the Oldham area.

"A lot of time, planning and effort has gone into transforming the first floor. We spent nearly £500,000 on Grande Venue to give Oldhamers a wedding venue that they have always wanted.

"Already we are getting bookings for the summer period.

"Our in-house events organisers will also be on hand to help would be brides and grooms."

He added: "It's going to be great to see this building come back to life."

The former cotton mill was built in 1881 and was last used by textile fibre merchant Frankenhuis.

Ten years ago, Oldham Council planned to turn Anchor Mill into a multi-service centre for business, community facilities, a learning centre, nursery, workshops and studios but it did not have enough money to buy it.

Instead the consortium of businessmen came to the rescue desperate to turn the building around and bring the site back to use.

Said Mr Miah: "The building has been an eyesore for many years. Many people have wanted to buy it and transform it but this has never happened.

"We saw the potential of the mill and wanted to see it back in operation.

"During its cotton mill days it was the heart of the community, it is where people went to work, it provided jobs and a lifeline to those on its doorstep and we want it to do the same again.

"Some of the directors including myself are local lads who grew up in Westwood, know the area well and want to see improvements and make a positive impact not just to the local area but to Oldham as a whole."

  • Pictures by Murad Choudhury