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

Monday, 6 March 2023 17:00

By David Murphy

Bowlee Car Boot Sale and Market – one of the biggest and most popular in Greater Manchester - returns for its 2023 season in April, with five extra dates added.

Organised by Rochdale Borough Council, the season at Bowlee Community Park in Middleton begins on Sunday 2 April and then runs on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays until 28 August (excluding 30 April and 8 May).

There’s no need to book, just turn up, and the events run from 6am to 1.30pm. For the fifth year in a row prices have been froze 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 thirteenth year will take a break on Sunday 30 April to make way for Tour de Manc – the annual Greater Manchester cycle sportive that sets off from Bowlee Park with the choice of a 50-kilometre, 100-kilometre, 100 mile or 200-kilometre ride. There will also be no sale on Monday 8 May, the extra bank holiday to mark King Charles III’s coronation.

Five extra dates have been added to the season, with 25 sales to be held this year instead of the usual 20. Other improvements include new on site signage, passes will be available offering discounted parking for regular buyers and additional marshals will be on site to assist visitors. There will be no last minute cancellations – if poor weather is forecast a decision will be announced by 6pm the day before the sale.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for environment, said: “I am pleased this event will be returning to Bowlee Community Park in April and as one of the most popular comments from visitors was that they wanted to see the season extended, we’re putting on five extra sales this summer. As we all continue to be more aware of the environment and our impact on it, more people are choosing to buy pre-loved goods, so browsers and bargain hunters can sniff out great deals and one-off items - things you'd never find in a chain or department store 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 Twitter.

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