Feature

Acclaimed bakery and other businesses bid final farewell to Prestwich ahead of major redevelopment

'We need you more than ever'

Daisy Jackson - 6th March 2026

After years of the threat of closure dangling over their heads, business owners in Prestwich have finally been served their final notices – it’s time for the demolition and redevelopment of Prestwich Precinct.

The ambitious £100m+ plan will see the dated Longfield Centre – and all the businesses who have been based here – flattened to make way for a new village centre.

When the work is complete, Prestwich’s heart will be a market hall and village square, with space for local businesses, retail units, a new larger library, and even new homes.

In recent weeks, the footpath through the Longfield Centre has been officially cordoned off ‘due to health and safety’, and business owners based here have begun to move out ahead of the redevelopment’s next phase.

While the Prestwich precinct wasn’t about to win any architecture awards anytime soon, the tired facades hid some of the suburb’s top local independents.

Many have moved out into new units with time to spare – like Keg Cask & Bottle, which is now trading as a beer bar and bottle shop further down Bury New Road; and Village Greens, which moved just around the corner into a much larger space – but others are closed indefinitely while they look for suitable new sites.

One of which is Masa, the acclaimed bakery (with the queues to match) that has been operating ‘slap bang in the middle’ of Prestwich for two years.

While they’ve gone on to open a shop and cafe, Neighbourhood, down the road, their unit in Prestwich precinct has been their main home for their bakery operation since 2023.

Masa has run its bakery from Prestwich precinct since 2023

Masa boss Rick Marlow said that they are now on the hunt for a suitable new site, capable of handling the very specific requirements of a bakery – but in the meantime, they’ll be doing their best to keep afloat out the back of Neighbourhood.

He wrote: “It’s not ideal, it doesn’t fit half of our equipment including our ovens (they’ll be going into storage in favour of a smaller one). But, it will allow us to stay up and running for now, albeit with a lower capacity. You will also unfortunately be seeing more of Rick in the shop.

“We know this isn’t ideal, and we hope you’ll be patient with us. We’ve come this far only with the support of our community and we need you more than ever.”

Macca's Irish pub has already shut — Macca’s Irish pub has already shut

Another busy spot that’s disappeared from Prestwich precinct is Macca’s, an increasingly lively Irish pub right in the heart of the Longfield Centre.

Macca’s announced at the end of January that they’d be calling ‘last orders’ for good, due to the development of the Longfield Centre ‘gathering pace’.

The now-closed pub later added: “Thanks so much for all the love since sharing the news. The messages, comments and support have honestly meant the world to us.

“To give everyone a proper chance to pop in and raise a glass, we’ll be open every day until we close — including Mondays and Tuesdays. No rushing goodbyes, just pints, memories and one last bit of craic together.

“Let’s make these last days count.”

Woodpeckers Pet Store is another local independent that will have to leave when the Longfield Centre is demolishing, receiving notice from Bury Council to vacate the premises by early April.

They wrote: “Alas, the time has finally come! Today, I received my notice to leave the premises. Bury Council want me out at the latest, early April.

“I do believe that all remaining businesses on the precinct have received theirs too! Each business may have different months notice so best to ask each business of their leaving date individually!

“I am still on the lookout for a new premises so if you know of anything suitable, please message me! Now you know exactly what I know, ya know?”

The All Aboard Charity Shop has already closed down (though still operates over in Salford), writing: “Due to the redevelopment of Prestwich Village, our Prestwich shop has now closed and is scheduled to be demolished.

“We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Shop Manager Wendy and her team Maria, Cheryl and Victoria and all the wonderful volunteers who have supported the shop over many years. Their dedication, commitment, and resilience has meant so much to us and to the many charities we support. Saying goodbye was an emotional moment, especially for the team who have given so much to the shop and their community.

“We would also like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Prestwich customers and donors, whose loyalty, generosity, and ongoing support made the shop such a valued part of the community and helped make a real difference to the many charities we support.”

Keg Cask & Bottle is one of the lucky ones to already find a new location in Prestwich

Still open for a few more weeks is the Bury Hospice charity shop, which is selling off everything in store for just £1 before it closes at the end of March.

A business that had to leave before its time was officially up was Percivals of Prestwich, a gift shop and newsagent that had been in the village for 45 years.

When its current owners Nick and Christine took over the business, they believed it would only last three years before the precinct was demolished – it managed to hang on for 11 years.

But the pair had to move out last autumn due to the condition of the building, leaving them with just one site left in Ramsbottom.

The construction of a travel hub is moving at pace in Prestwich – and as the precinct itself empties out, it looks like the face of the village will soon change for good.

While the work is going on, it’ll be more important than ever to head out in support of the local businesses still operating around Prestwich village – we’ve rounded some up below.

RPB + Coffee – an award-winning barbershop with a star-studded client list, and brilliant coffee shop downstairs
Chin Chin – a beautiful wine bar from the team behind Elnecot, which has jazz vinyls spinning, Sunday roast sandwiches, and an ever-changing range of wines
Keg Cask and Bottle – a bar and shop where you can pick up a few cans of craft beer and sit in the shop to drink them
Cellar Door – another wine bar, operated by brother and sister Ben and Sarah, with more than 200 different wines, batched cocktails, and two floors of seating
Neighbourhood – the bakery shop for Masa, which has been thrown into turmoil by the closure of the precinct. Brave the queue and show them some support
Village Greens – a local co-operative that’s an organic supermarket, deli, and village community cornerstone
Chips @ No. 8 – An award-winning chippy, with fish and spuds sourced fresh and fried in beef dripping
Cuckoo – a cosy neighbourhood bar hosting cinema nights and serving top-notch pizzas
All The Shapes – seasonal brunches plus loads of craft beers and cocktails
The Crooked Man -a charming beer bar that feels like you’ve wandered into someone’s living room
Codi’s Kitchen – known for its freshly made, mouthwatering sushi but also offers a wide selection of pan Asian dishes
The Pearl – A neighbourhood British restaurant that’s deserving of every bit of the critical acclaim it’s received. Also, has a wine window
Remal – Authentic and unique home-style Lebanese dishes, in a cosy restaurant space
Whole Bunch Wines – A lovely wine shop where you can crack open your purchase and drink it on a seat by the windows with a charcuterie board
Thai Corner – A new-ish takeaway and small restaurant on the corner of Clifton Road, serving authentic Thai dishes.