Owners of iconic Salford ballroom reassure community amid conversion fears

Fears have been raised that The Grand Palais in Swinton is going to close its doors after submitted renovation plans.

However the owners of the iconic ballroom, dating back to 1912, say its future as a dance hall is assured. This is despite the approved planning applications to turn parts of the building into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The proprietors have assured the community that the ballroom floor is not included in the renovation plans and will remain open.

There have been concerns raised on social media that The Grand Palais in Swinton would close its doors when the proposals to convert part of the building to a five-bedroom HMO were posted on the Salford City Council planning portal.

Locals residents, who are desperate to prevent the iconic building from turning into a HMO, said: “It’s been treated as a landmark here for 80 years- we don’t want to see it gone.” 

But proprietors Stephen Johnson and his partner Abigail Hannon say ballroom dancing events and classes will be unaffected by plans. A design and access statement submitted by Pentland Design and Management, based in Salford, said the proposal was to convert the first and second floor levels of the section of the dance hall facing Station Road, together with the left-hand stairwell into an HMO.

Owner Stephen, 68, bought the property in 1986 and has spent nearly 40 years revamping the huge ballroom and preserving its original features, dating back more than 100 years when it was first built as the Plaza Picture House. Both he and Abigail are avid lovers of the historic building and want to reassure the community that the ballroom will remain operational.

Abigail, 46, said: “There is ample room elsewhere in the building for the residential conversion.”

“Our dance events and classes are continuing and will not be affected by the residential conversion which is taking place on the upper floors of the building.”

“The people who come here to dance love it. We’ve got one couple who are in their 90s and they come dancing here for three hours every Saturday.”

For now, there are still ongoing classes and events on Thursday through to Saturday including afternoon tea and private lessons by ballroom champion Alex Plant.

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