The man behind one of Prestwich’s most successful independent businesses has shared a moving statement this morning as the thriving neighbourhood readies for the arrival of Rudy’s.
Dan Edwards, owner of Chips @ No. 8, has spoken out on chains ‘piggybacking on the the successes’ and dreams of all the many, many local favourites that have made Prestwich into one of the UK’s best places to live (not just our word, either – The Times said it too).
His statement comes on the week that work has begun on the former Barclays bank on the high street, ready for the arrival of Rudy’s – that ever-expanding pizza giant that started life in Manchester and is now infiltrating every corner of Britain with its Neapolitan pizzas.
And it’s rumoured that a Gail’s bakery (a big London name) might also be moving in just across the road in the former Natwest bank.
Now Dan has shared a powerful statement addressing his fears that these chains will change the face of this proudly independent corner of Greater Manchester.
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“I fear you’ll forget us,” he wrote.
He vocalised concerns from the suburb that the tiny, family-run, independently-owned, much-loved cafes, bars, restaurants and shops based in Prestwich won’t be able to compete with the ‘unlimited marketing budgets, fancy gimmicks, big shiny interiors’ of Rudy’s and Gail’s.
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He said that he’s worried this will drive rents even higher and attract even more chains (at the minute, Costa and KFC are really the only high street names along Bury New Road).
Rudy’s will be moving into this unit in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc GroupPizzas from an existing Rudy’s in Altrincham. Credit: The Manc Group
Dan said that it feels as though the chains are ‘piggy backing the dreams, the visions, the hopes and mostly successes of the independent businesses that helped establish Prestwich as a community that we can be proud of’.
He listed many of the local spots who ‘drove the scene’, from the beautiful cafe-bars like Cuckoo, All The Shapes, and Grape to Grain, to restaurants like The Pearl and Dokes (we would, obviously, like to add Chips @ No 8 to that list).
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And while Rudy’s and Gail’s will be ‘great additions’ to Prestwich, Dan stressed that these places ‘aren’t unique’.
He wrote: “Their owners don’t live in Prestwich, their kids don’t go to school here. It’s likely they won’t be shopping here.”
And he pleaded: “Support local, support independent. Please. More than ever we all need you.”
Dan Edwards’ statement on Prestwich’s future, and Rudy’s arrival, is below in full
“With the recent news that Rudy’s are finally starting work at the old Barclays and the rumours that Gail’s Bakery secured the lease at the old NatWest being confirmed, we can, and rightly so, get excited.
“Prestwich’s tag of an “up and coming” town really is a thing! The chains have identified it as such and are moving in! The impending redevelopment of the precinct has hastened the charge. Will chains, arrive there too? I hope not.
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“The chains are piggy backing the dreams, the visions, the hopes and mostly successes of the independent businesses that helped establish Prestwich as a community that we can be proud of.
“Cuckoo, ATS, G to G, The Pearl, Dokes, KCB, Macca’s, Tito’s, Butterfingers, Hideaway, Us, Everyone Else, all the great little places in Prestwich Village that offer something different, something great, somewhere you can get excited about to share your secret culinary pleasure when family or friends come to visit. We all laid foundations. We all drove the scene.
The Pearl. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Cuckoo, an original Prestwich independent. Credit: The Manc GroupFood at Chips & No 8. Credit: The Manc GroupGrape to Grain in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc GroupA few of the businesses Dan named in his statement about the arrival of Rudy’s in Prestwich
“Don’t get me wrong, they’ll be great additions. They’ll give us more choice and they’ll be great places to eat. They’ll give us another reason to get excited about when family or friends come to visit.
“Only, they won’t be a secret, there’s loads of them. Chances are, your visitors have already been, albeit somewhere else, in a different town. They aren’t unique, and they aren’t independently owned. Their owners don’t live in Prestwich, their kids don’t go to school here. It’s likely they won’t be shopping here.
“They won’t panic when they have a bad trading day, they won’t worry that the VAT bill is only days away and there’s not enough money in the pot. They have shareholders, investors, fancy lawyers and fancy accountants, deep pockets and big buying power.
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“They won’t be concerned that “Dave’s” place round the corner has seemed quiet for a little too long now, “I hope they survive”.
“I hope they do well, I hope they bring people in, I hope they give us exposure to a wider audience, I hope we can have our turn being carried by the piggy.
“I fear they’ll bring more chains, I fear they’ll drive rents higher, I fear that “Dave’s” place round the corner doesn’t stand a chance, I fear they’ll dazzle us with unlimited marketing budgets, fancy gimmicks, big shiny interiors.
“I fear you’ll forget us. Support local, support independent. Please. More than ever we all need you.”
Gig review | KEO at the O2 Ritz in Manchester – Sometimes you just KNOW…
Danny Jones
Fontaines D.C., Turnstile, Wunderhorse, Sleep Token, Neck Deep; sometimes it only takes a few listens and a live show to KNOW that a band is going to catch fire and go on to be huge – for Audio North and KEO, it only took a few.
But having now seen KEO for a third time, collectively, we’re more convinced than ever that they’re going to be massive.
Sadly, a prior engagement meant that we just missed catching the support act, Tooth (though we did hear great things rumbling around the eager young crowd), but there was no chance we were going to miss this lot show off how very good they are at what they do.
And there was absolutely no chance they were going to disappoint us, either…
We first caught this fast-rising post-grunge outfit live in action at Kendal Calling last year, where they somehow turned a daytime slot on the Woodlands stage into a moody mid-evening mosh.
They had even less fully produced and officially released music out then, but then we had the pleasure of watching them at The Key Club in Leeds this past October, and they were even better; punchier, more graduated at their game, and their fandom seemed plenty strong already.
As it turns out, that same progression proved true in Manchester, as KEO played their biggest headline show to date, and that same cult following only appeared more fervent than ever.
They might be based down in the capital, with roots in Portugal, brothers Finn and Conor having grown up there, but they certainly know a thing or two about how to please a Northern audience.
Of course, we’re sure they go off just as hard down in the capital – in fact, we’re certain they do – but the response they got from two sold-out rooms full of Yorkshire folk and us equally discerning Mancs felt like they had well and truly passed the litmus.
With flying colours, may we add.
Everything from the raw ’90s rock feel to the aesthetic hits just right. (Credit: Audio North)
It’s also worth noting that these London lads have built up this hype like very few ever manage to do: by developing a sterling live reputation right from the off and putting top-notch shows first.
For those unaware, they only just released their first five-track EP, Siren, back in June 2025, yet they’ve been packing out venues and festival stages pretty much since day dot, with die-hards growing their love for the band via performance and initially only learning the lyrics through social clips and snippets online.
While some have questioned why they’ve been chosen to headline this year’s Neighbourhood Festival here in Manchester city centre before they’ve even dropped a debut album, you only need to hear the entire Ritz screaming back the lyrics to ‘I Lied, Amber’, ‘Thorn’ and ‘Hands’ to know they fit the bill.
Frontman Finn pours so much unbridled power and emotion into his vocals, guitarist Jimmy Lanwern didn’t even need to look to know that his riffs were ripping the roof off, and they’ve quickly moved far beyond the early Wunderhorse parallels – they’re their own beast just waiting to be fully woken.
Acclaimed bakery and other businesses bid final farewell to Prestwich ahead of major redevelopment
Daisy Jackson
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
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.
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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.
Daisy Jackson -
3rd October 2024 
