The sounds of laughing punters and thumping music are just a distant memory at Thornaby's decades-old hotel The Golden Eagle. 

The once-thriving venue - which has been a prominent figure across the town’s skyline since the 1970s - is now a shell of its former self, having been shuttered for several years. 

Regarded as an “eyesore” by many - including Councillor Nigel Cooke - the building continues to “blight” the town, with fires, vandalism, and fly-tipping all occurring in recent years.

Despite being boarded up and closed to the public, the hotel was recently accessed by urban explorers - with new pictures unveiling how the site now looks. 

(Image: LOST IN TIME URBEX)

Vintage televisions, karaoke and disco posters, and orange patterned carpets give a glimpse of how the hotel has been lost to time. 

There’s also a striking amount of vandalism that has taken place - with shattered glass doors, shards of broken mirrors, and even fire-ravaged doors visible in the pictures.

Also found in the hotel was a videocassette from ‘Rissa and Johnny's Wedding’ that was found behind the bar - something the explorers want to return to its rightful owner. 

Inside The Golden Eagle (Image: LOST IN TIME URBEX)

The Golden Eagle - which spans across six floors - continued to run as a pub on the ground floor of the disused building until as late as 2020. 

Back in its heyday, the venue was known for being a “true diamond in the rough.”

The Labour-led council has long faced criticism over its failure to take action on the site, located beside the former Lidl supermarket, with debates over what to do going on for years. 

As recently reported in The Northern Echo, Stockton Council said its cabinet was due to consider plans to acquire the hotel last month, so the building could finally be demolished. 

(Image: Stockton Borough Council)

This would see the council acquire the building’s two leasehold interests - with the demolition making way for the redevelopment of the site using funding from the Thornaby Town Deal.

The council - which is the freeholder of the town centre - has a long term plan to sell its entire freehold to long lease holder Proudreed once the site is cleared and planning consent secured.

The board said tackling long-term vacant properties is a priority of the £23.9m funding.

Meanwhile, works are continuing on a modern five lane swimming pool and gym on the site of the former Phoenix House site, located next to the hotel. 

If approved, the next steps for the hotel would see demolition plans lodged in Autumn before works got underway at the end of the year. 

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Recalling their time at the site, the figure behind the Lost In Time Urbex said: “The once luxurious 1969-built hotel now sits in a rather dilapidated state, rooms once comfort now forgotten. 

“No more song and dance, just a dark emptiness that swallows you like an eagle.”

What memories do you have of The Golden Eagle? Let us know in the comments.