No to 3am ‘Oasis shows’ booze licence for coffee shop a ‘stone’s throw’ from Heaton Park

Thursday, 10 July 2025 20:38

By Chris Gee

A coffee shop close to Heaton Park has been told it can’t sell booze until 3am after the upcoming Oasis shows.

The Eagle Coffee Bar on Windsor Road in Prestwich applied for a temporary event notice to enable them to extend their licensing hours by six hours into the ealry hours to serve drinks to those attending the concert.

Around 340,000 concert goers are expected at the five Oasis shows at the park on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20. A Bury Council licensing committee heard that no mention of door staff being on duty during the potential extended period had been made on the application.

However, a representative for the Eagle’s management told the panel that registered door supervisors could be arranged for the events. Greater Manchester Police voiced strong objections to the extended opening hours.

Representing GMP, PC Peter Eccleston, said: “Our point of view is that the Eagle Coffee Shop is literally within a stone’s throw of Heaton Park on Windsor Road. “It’s also no more than 200 to 300 yards away, if that, from Bowker Vale metro station which will be open after the shows.

“It’s a very residential area, there’s a few shops but it’s primarily young families that are living close by.

“Over the course of the concerts it’s going to be a struggle for those living nearby. There will be a lot of disruption.

“Having a licensed premises open until three in the morning is not going to help matters.

“If it’s open until 3am a lot of people may not be finished drinking, many will want to go and socialise afterwards.”

The panel heard that GMP’s objection centred on how potential issues would be managed at the coffee house.

PC Peter Eccleston, added: “The Eagle coffee house is within a stone’s throw, those leaving will already be suffering the effects of alcohol after
being in the concert and then they are going to consume even more.

“Who’s going to manage the amount of noise and disturbance that local residents are going to have to put up with – and taxis coming at 2am to 3am.

“With that could come anti-social behaviour, disorder, possibly violent disorder and damage to people’s cars. “I’m not saying this will happen but it’s a probability.”

The panel turned down the temporary event notice application.

They refused it on the grounds that it did not meet the licensing objectives on prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance.