Bowlee’s back - car boot sale and market returns for biggest ever season

Tuesday, 11 February 2025 15:50

By David Murphy

Bowlee Car Boot Sale and Market – one of the most popular in Greater Manchester returns for its biggest ever season next month.

Organised by Rochdale Borough Council, the extended 2025 season at Bowlee Community Park in Middleton will begin on Sunday 2 March and then run on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays right through until 26 October (excluding 4 May). 

This season they are trying out new opening hours too, with the event starting at the later time of 8am and running until 3pm, instead of the previous 6am, to enable the season to start in daylight and run through until late October, as well as making it easier for customers who travel using public transport.

Sellers do not need to pre-book and for the seventh year in a row prices have been frozen at £15 for cars, £20 for small vans/people carriers/4X4s and £25 for large vans and above. For buyers, there are parking spaces for more than 1,200 cars at £2.50 per vehicle.

The event, now in its fifteenth year takes a break on Sunday 4 May to make way for Tour de Manc – the annual Greater Manchester charity bike ride that sets off from Bowlee Park with the choice of a 60-kilometre, 100-kilometre, 165-kilometre mile or 201-kilometre ride.

Up to 38 sales will take place again this year. In addition to the extra dates and new opening times, other improvements for 2025 include additional security, and the buyer’s car park, seller’s entrance and surrounding footpaths have been re-surfaced. After a successful trial last year contactless card payments will be available at the gates and on two of the sales, parking for buyers will be reduced to £1.

There will be no last-minute cancellations – if bad weather is forecast, a decision will be announced by 6pm the day before the sale.

Councillor Tricia Ayrton, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “One of the most popular requests we get from customers is to run more sales, so this year we’ve adjusted the opening hours to avoid the dark mornings, and we’ll run through to late October. I am pleased this great event is returning to Bowlee Community Park for its biggest ever season. We have built an amazing following at Bowlee and it continues to grow. Bargain hunters can dig out great deals and one-off items, and of course you can sell your own things too.”

For all the new dates and more details about the events, visit rochdale.gov.uk/bowlee follow @BowleeCarBoot on Facebook and search #BowleeCarBoot on social media.

Bowlee Community Park is off Heywood Old Road (A6045), Middleton, M24 4SB with easy access from the M60 (junction 19)