The house where Sinatra and Ali stayed is on the market at £1.9m

A MANSION once owned by Stockport club boss Douglas ‘Dougie’ Flood has gone on the market for £1.95m.

Dougie ran some of the region’s most popular nightclubs, such as Quaffers in Stockport, as well as Bredbury Hall hotel, which he managed until his death in 2001.

Since Dougie’s death after a battle with cancer, the house has changed hands and is owned now by Mr and Mrs Philbin, who have completely renovated the property.

Former market seller Dougie allegedly had another, more colourful, side and according to some mixed with Manchester’s criminal underworld. His eldest son Daniel claimed his father was a member of the city’s infamous ‘Quality Street’ gang, helping fight off the Kray twins at Piccadilly railway station.

These are claims that Dougie’s youngest son Ian – heir to the majority of his father’s £14m estate – completely denied, however, during a High Court legal dispute with siblings over their father’s will in 2013.

The stunning sixbedroom mansion, close to Middleton, includes a large master suite which has separate ‘his’ and ‘hers’ dressing rooms.

Downstairs there is a spacious dining room, as well as a contemporary open plan kitchen and living room, overlooking the massive two acres of land that the property is set back on.

But it’s not just what the home looks like that is interesting, it has a fascinating and starstudded past.

With some of the most famous groups of the era – from the Stranglers to the Drifters playing at Bredbury Hall – Dougie would often invite his celebrity club guests to come and stay at his home.

The likes of Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali are said to have spent a night there.

But now, after its renovation, the property boasts four ultra modern bathrooms, as well as a state-of-the-art leisure suite, including a swimming pool and a steam room.