Businesses brace for arrival of 400,000 Oasis fans

Pubs, sandwich shops and other businesses and residents living close to the venue of Oasis's first homecoming gig said they were "taking the rough with the smooth".

Prestwich is bracing for up to 300,000 fans to descend over the five nights of Oasis homecoming gigs, with tonight's show marking the band's return to the region, last performing in Manchester 16 years ago.

And while some in the area are gearing up for the fun to start, others are bracing for traffic disruption and their town to become busier than usual.

Lee, who works at the Royal Oak pub, said he expected a good turn-out early on, but would be closing at 20:00 GMT.

He told the BBC: "We're only a small pub and we need to regroup and set up for the day after."

He added it was not worth paying staff to work extra hours.

But he said that, unlike with the annual Parklife festival, he expected a boost in trade before the show.

"It's not worth opening [for Parklife]", he said. "All the young ones want is to drink water and use the toilets."

Clothing business Printabulous has been doing a good trade in printing t-shirts for fans.

Neil Silverman, one of its directors, said the gigs meant there had been "an uptick in business", and that the firm would have a stall at private events at the Ostrich pub for up to 700 people on each of the five nights of Oasis shows.

"Obviously, the big companies want to use local businesses so that's why people like [events firm] Live Nation have also come to us for signage."

His co-director Sarah Flowers said she had also been running a local sandwich shop for 14 years, and had seen a revenue boost from hungry workers setting up the stages.

But she said she did not expect any real uplift from the gig-goers.

"Sandwich shops don't do anything, so I don't bother opening for that because the food sales are inside the park.

"What they tend to do is guide people straight into the park when they come of the public transport, which is good for the for the residents, but businesses on this lane don't necessarily get the benefit."

Karen Carr, owner of the Fresh Cookie sandwich and cake shop, said she was concerned she could lose a day's trade because of parking restrictions.

"A lot of my customers drive here… so I'm losing a lot of business," she said.

"I wish they had put a bit of parking for a couple of cars - even for five minutes so customers can run in and get a sandwich or cake. We're not even a sit-in business.

"If it's anything like Parklife, I won't get any business."

She said she lived nearby and that "as a resident - normally without the Parklife and Oasis concerts - it's great".

"I'm not against anything going on in the park - it brings money in but it's just that it's hard to get in and out when the roads are closed.

"You take the rough with the smooth."

Tracy Meek, who owns a cleaning company, said: "When Parklife first started here, people used to pee in the garden regularly, use your garden as a toilet, pee against cars… just squatting in the street.

"And I've noticed for the first time ever they've actually put toilets along the streets for Oasis, which is fantastic."

She said it could be a "nightmare" for parking and some fans would sleep overnight in cars in front of residents' homes.

But printing firm boss Mr Silverman said the success of Parklife has had knock-on effects including a boost in funding for Prestwich Carnival.

Nearby resident Michaela said holding the gigs over five days would cause "a bit of a hindrance for people in the area" with road restrictions and early closures of the local school.

She said she had been to previous Oasis concerts, but would be out of the area this time for her son's birthday.

"We were already going as my son wanted to go away but it's a bonus that it's the weekend of Oasis.

"You do see a lot of people putting loads of things on your wall [during Parklife], you see some sights.

"There is a good clean-up effort. It is a bit annoying when you go into the park and everything's closed off - we love the park.

"Obviously we do understand that it's going to be bringing a lot of money into Manchester, but it would be nice if Prestwich got a little bit more."

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