Platform Gallery (P5) opened in July 2019 in a space formerly used as the General Waiting Room on Platform 5 of the railway station. The work to bring the old Waiting Room back into use was assisted by ISS and the station partnership volunteers.

Funding for the transformation was received from Northern, Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester and Transpennine Express. The opening of the Platform Gallery was a very significant milepost in the development of Bolton Station as a national exemplar of community rail development in practice.

P5 has already provided opportunities for many artists and poets from around the world to show their work to the very varied audience we get at a working railway station. In August 2019 we hosted a world first (we believe) – an exhibition of art work by Railway Workers, both active and retired.  Students from the Graphic Design, Photography and Fine Art Departments at the University of Bolton School of the Arts have also shown work here.

In October 2021, P5 hosted the Bolton Film Festival for two days, showing a programme of films selected specifically for the venue. This was well received by both film makers and audiences and we are proud to announce a second year of hosting the Film Festival in the gallery this year. https://www.boltonfilmfestival.com/