“Saturdays and Sundays are vital to our operations, and repeated closures are incredibly damaging”
18:37, 09 Jun 2025Updated 18:56, 09 Jun 2025
The restaurant in Prestwich has said they will have to close this weekend due to Parklife road closures(Image: Manchester Evening News)
A popular restaurant has spoken out about the impact of festivals and events being held at Heaton Park.
This weekend, the Manchester venue will play host to both Catfish And The Bottlemen and Parklife Festival with over 100,000 gig goers expected across three days.
While Parklife has been a regular fixture since 2013, for some businesses the road closures put in place to respond to the increased volume of people in the area around the park has become an issue. For local Italian restaurant, L’Aquila on Bury Old Road, they say they have been left with ‘no option’ but to close over the weekend.
In a post shared on social media yesterday, the team at the restaurant alleged that the road closures put in place over the weekend have resulted in cancellations and that it would not be ‘sustainable’ for them to remain open when access is limited and footfall ‘dramatically reduced’.
The post on Facebook read: “Dear customers, we regret to inform you that, due to the significant number of cancellations caused by road closures during Parklife Festival weekend, we have been left with no option but to close our doors once again this weekend for the fourth consecutive year.
“With the continual rise in operational costs, it is simply not sustainable for us to remain open when access is so limited and footfall dramatically reduced.
L’Aquila restaurant in Prestwich, which has said they will have to close this weekend due to Parklife road closures(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“Looking ahead, the coming weeks pose even more challenges, with further extensive road closures scheduled across two weekends in July for the Oasis concert.
“As a small, family run business, losing three of our busiest weekends within two months has a profound impact. Saturdays and Sundays are vital to our operations, and repeated closures are incredibly damaging.”
The post went onto say that they have allegedly tried to raise the issues with several parties but have no had a desired outcome.
“Each year we try to raise concerns with the relevant parties, but often find ourselves passed from one person to another without any meaningful outcome.
“If any of our valued customers have contacts who might be able to support or help us communicate our situation more effectively, we would be truly grateful. Your continued support means the world to us.”
There was a lot of support for the family run business in the comments as well, with many understanding their frustration at the potential impact on trade.
One wrote: “You should be given massive reduced rates to compensate for this.”
Drivers are warned to expect disruption on Sheepfoot Lane(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Another added: “Is is sad for local businesses to have to suffer in this way, especially family run ones where it is doubly hard to recoup losses.
“I hope there is some for of compensation being awarded. We will visit again when we can.”
Last week, the Manchester Evening News spoke to several residents and businesses about the impact that both Parklife and the Oasis reunion gigs in July will have on the community around the park.
While residents living near to Heaton Park are no strangers to such major events, and are used to the road closures, the rumble of bass and the stream of music fans walking past their homes, does present a challenge.
Sheepfoot Lane that runs alongside the park will be a ‘clearway’ from 9am to 1am each day during Parklife and Oasis gig days, while, the road will be completely closed for five hours from 8pm each night this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 9.30pm when Oasis perform.
Road signs on Sheepfoot Lane are now warning motorists of upcoming disruption, while huge fences and barriers are also cordoning off areas of the park, including the Papal Field and the iconic Grand Lodge entrance.
Some residents choose to leave the area when Parklife Festival takes place, and others are concerned about anti-social behaviour, however some the M.E.N. spoke to said they feel that there is a lot of security and police presence to help the events run smoothly.
As far as local businesses are concerned, several shops, takeaways, bars and pubs are dotted close to the Heaton Park tram stop, and the park’s Bury Old Road entrance.
A glimpse of the work going on behind the scenes ahead of Parklife(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Like residents who live close-by, local businesses also have mixed opinions on what the busy summer in Heaton Park will mean for them.
Johnny Gupta, owner of the Lime Tree Indian restaurant on Bury Old Road, told the M.E.N. there is a perception among the public that businesses like his ‘make so much money’ during Parklife weekend – when the opposite is true.
“On Saturday and Sunday they close the roads, so we are unable to do any deliveries. Customers are not able to come to the restaurant – and the majority don’t want to come [during Parklife],” he said.
However, he and others are more optimistic about the Manchester Oasis shows, and has said that he will serve alcohol and food from 1am in accordance with his license.
Greater Manchester Police, Parklife organisers and both Bury and Manchester councils say they work together to make sure the events run smoothly, with as much support to local residents as possible.
A Heaton Park Event Community Consultation Group – including residents, councillors and partners from Manchester, Bury and Rochdale councils – meets before and after each event to address concerns, while residents’ feedback sessions give locals a chance to meet representatives from Parklife, Manchester council and GMP.
The Parklife Community Fund supports community groups and projects in the surrounding area, with almost £400,000 raised since 2017 for projects supporting young people, parks and open spaces.
Heaton Park is gearing up for weeks of ‘chaos'(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
A Parklife spokesperson said last week: “In the 12 years that we have called Heaton Park our home the relationship between local residents, authorities and community groups has been paramount to the success of Parklife.
“Each year we work closely with the surrounding community to bring a world-class event to Manchester while minimising disruption.
“Our dedicated Community Impact Team works closely with residents in both the run-up and during the festival to address any concerns – and we encourage residents to contact the team if needed.
“As a festival we are always looking for new ways to grow and evolve that commitment to the Heaton Park community and we’re excited to welcome them and festivalgoers to an unforgettable Parklife 2025 next weekend.”
Coun John Hacking, executive member for skills, employment and leisure on Manchester Council, said: “We also hold regular discussions with local residents’ groups, and detailed plans are implemented to help reduce the impact of the concerts on the local community.
“Throughout the Parklife weekend and during the Oasis concerts we will also have a dedicated community impact team monitoring and managing any concerns that may come in through social media, online, or via the telephone hotline set up for local residents.”
A spokesperson for Bury council said: “We are working closely with Manchester city council, event organisers and partner agencies to ensure that our residents can enjoy the Oasis gigs and events at Heaton Park this summer with minimal disruption and as much support as possible.”
When approached today about the restaurant’s concerns, Coun Alan Quinn at Bury Council, and Cabinet Member Environment, Climate Change and Operations said: “Parklife started in 2013 and it’s gone on every year since, bar Covid.
L’Aquila restaurant in Prestwich, which has said they will have to close this weekend due to Parklife road closures(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“It will cause disruption, but we want to work as constructively as possible. For Parklife there will be about 150,000 people over the course of the weekend, with the gig on Friday too.
“Over the years, we have made a lot of improvements and worked with Parklife. We advised them previously that a lot of complaints were being lost, so we said do have something outside for people to contact to deal with things such as public urination, licensing, parking permits and the Parklife Community Fund.
“We are very active, we never miss a residents meeting, and one element of that is the businesses.
“There is this myth that Prestwich businesses do well during Parklife, but what happens with road closures, a lot of people can’t get to the businesses, and we’ve said to Parklife can you give them some trade, with the curry house, the Lime Tree, I ask them to do an end of road party, at least we do something.
“Manchester might do well, but Prestwich is another story. All we can do is ask. This is a Manchester Council in a Manchester park, we can only do what we can.
“With the restaurant, energy had gone up, the cost of living crisis is still an issue, and if that’s happening, the margins are tight and for three weeks of a summer for them to have no trade it is damaging.
“As local councillors, all we can do is appeal for them to get some of this money generated by the gigs from the community fun, that’s all we need.”