‘Awful’ Northern Quarter premises shut down by police after hosting repeated ‘COVID parties’
The apartment, described by neighbours as an 'awful Airbnb party house', had allegedly hosted parties from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.
Greater Manchester Police have swooped in to shut down a premises in Northern Quarter following a long-running series of ‘COVID parties’ that have kept residents awake throughout the night.
The apartment, described by neighbours as an ‘awful Airbnb party house’, had allegedly hosted gatherings from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.
Anti-social behaviour has continued despite tighter restrictions in the Greater Manchester region, and police have now issued a closure notice – which can prohibit access to anyone except the legal owner and/or tenant.
YOU’VE BEEN SERVED! A Closure Notice has been served on a premises in the NQ that has allowed numerous COVID parties to take place, with residents and businesses having to deal with the associated ASB. Fantastic partnership working with ourselves and the Council ASBAT team. pic.twitter.com/FqkHSg5hVa
— GMP Manchester City Centre (@GMPCityCentre) August 25, 2020
GMP confirmed that the site had been shut down Tuesday (25 August) evening.
Posting on their official city centre Twitter account, police stated: “A Closure Notice has been served on a premises in the NQ that has allowed numerous COVID parties to take place, with residents and businesses having to deal with the associated ASB [anti-social behaviour].
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“Fantastic partnership working with ourselves and the Council ASBAT team.”
Mass gatherings and parties have persisted in Greater Manchester despite the ban on mass gatherings and meeting other households indoors or in gardens.
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Earlier this month, police shared footage of 200 people congregating at a property in Gorton – which was subsequently closed for three months as a result.
A fixed penalty notice was also issued to the tenant.
Huge ‘quarantine raves’ have also been organised in the likes of Daisy Nook and Carrington.
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Under new legislation, police will have the power to issue fines up to £10,000 to the organisers of any illegal parties of more than 30 people.
Those in attendance without face coverings could also be hit with penalties of £100 – doubling up to £3,200 for each repeat offence.
News
Rising Manchester DJ issues heartfelt statement after Parklife set is cancelled over safety concerns
Daisy Jackson
Manchester DJ Josh Baker has issued a statement after his Parklife set was unexpectedly cancelled.
The rising star techno and house DJ was supposed to be playing on the brand-new Matinee stage on Sunday evening.
But his set attracted some huge crowds, not helped by the sudden downpour as his set was due to begin.
The area around Matinee became increasingly busy and Parklife announced that the Josh Baker performance would be paused on ‘the advice of safety team’.
Josh Baker has now issued a statement on social media to his followers as his Parklife set was due to end, signed off with a row of crying emojis.
He wrote: “Unfortunately I will not be performing at Parklife due to reason outside of my control.
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled. Credit: Instagram, @joshbaker
“I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”
Next on the Matinee stage should have been Chris Stussy, another name that was predicted to pull in a big crowd.
At the time of writing, The Matinee Stage remains closed but there are again large queues of fans waiting to re-enter the space.
Parklife pauses major DJ set on ‘advice of safety team’ as huge crowds swarm
Daisy Jackson
Parklife has announced it has paused one of the most hotly-tipped sets of the weekend ‘upon advice of the safety team’.
Josh Baker’s set on the brand-new Matinee stage has been attracting huge crowds from the late afternoon.
The Manchester-born DJ is a rising star in the tech and house scene and was always going to be a highlight of the festival’s line-up this year.
But his pull has maybe been a bit greater than expected, with massive crowds swarming around the Matinee stage on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been so busy that Parklife has made the decision to pause his show altogether while crowds disperse.
The warning sent on the Parklife appHow The Matinee stage looked on Saturday. Credit: The Manc Group
Security have been managing the crowds at the stage with a queue system, but when the heavens opened (and it REALLY rained at about 7pm) the area surrounding the Matinee stage became even busier.
Parklife has issued a statement on its app that reads: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update ASAP.”
Parklife has described Josh Baker as ‘a versatile DJ and producer, embodying the creative essence of the new wave of electronic artists’.
The Manc -
26th August 2020 
