CHAIN REACTION®

AS MAJOR PLAYERS RUDY'S AND GAIL'S MOVE INTO VILLAGE, INDEPENDENTS WARN OF A KNOCK-ON EFFECT ON TRADE

- THOMAS GEORGE

PRESTWICH is on the cusp of change, in more ways than one. Over the last decade, the town has carved out a reputation as one of the best places to live in Greater Manchester - and the UK.

As high streets up and down the country struggle, a thriving community of bars, shops and restaurants have seen Prestwich go from strength to strength.

A huge £100m regeneration is only set to transform the town further over the coming years. It's little surprise then that Prestwich's charms have started to attract the attention of major players in the hospitality industry.

Famous Manchester-based pizzeria Rudy's is set to open a branch in the former Barclays Bank building in Bury New Road in December the chain's seventh location in Greater Manchester. Meanwhile, popular London-based bakery GAIL'S has confirmed that it is also coming to Prestwich - with the site 'set to open at some point in the new year But as the chains descend, some business owners fear the town could end up losing some of what make it special.

Dan Edwards, the owner of Chips @ No.8, took to social media urging people to 'support local businesses' as the two big firms gear up to move in. In a heartfelt plea, he said he feared the arrivals might result in loyal customers 'forget[ting] us' as they choose to spend their money with the bigger businesses.

The Clifton Road chippy, which made it into the shortlist for the Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year award at the prestigious annual National Fish & Chips Awards earlier this year, posted on social media: "Prestwich's tag of an "up and coming" town really is a thing! The chains have identified it as such and are moving in! The impending redevelopment of the precinct has hastened the charge." Mr Edwards suggested that bigger businesses considering moving into Prestwich were 'piggy backing the dreams, the visions, the hopes and mostly successes of the independent businesses' that has established the town.