The Newtons, who operated market stalls within Grab City, plotted the fire in collaboration with their son, Terrence Newton Jr., and an accomplice, Nicholas Hulme. The couple had planned the arson to settle a personal dispute over a business deal with Bowen-Price. In 2003, the Newtons were convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Their son, Terrence Jr., received a sentence of four-and-a-half years in a young offenders’ institution, while Hulme, who carried out the act, was sentenced to five years in prison.
The fire left the Grab City site in ruins, but plans for its redevelopment began shortly after. The new owners, Crown Leisure, have since submitted an application to relaunch the site, which will be renamed The Pyramids. The new building has already been constructed, and the rebranded arcade is slated to open later this year. The Public Protection Committee is expected to review the amusement arcade license application in the coming days, with no objections raised from Lancashire Fire and Rescue or Lancashire Constabulary. If the license is granted, Crown Leisure will be able to reopen the site, marking a new chapter for the location after the tragic events that led to its destruction.
