Royton: ‘It’s a great night out - until it all kicks off’
Royton has developed a burgeoning nightlife scene, attracting diverse age groups but also experiencing increased reports of violence, leading to calls for greater police presence and licensing oversight.
Royton’s once-sleepy high street now pulses with weekend crowds as artisan breweries, café-bars and late-night clubs fill gaps between charity shops and bargain stores, transforming the former satellite town into a destination nightlife spot barely two miles from Oldham.
The surge in revellers has brought trouble. Police are investigating a recent glassing outside late-night venue Bono and a separate violent scuffle involving a man, a woman and a security guard on the same pavement only weeks earlier. Officers, councillors and Bono’s management have all demanded a stronger police presence after online complaints that the nightlife “bubble” is spinning out of control.
Greater Manchester Police has responded by assigning extra weekend patrols. “We have commissioned a piece of work that will capture all the activity… around Royton precinct,” said Cllr Lewis Quigg, who pressed the council and GMP to “get a grip”. A force spokesperson confirmed “additional officers will be deployed… during the weekend and busy periods”.
Locals remain split. Debbie, 61, an ex-Londoner who now travels from Oldham to end her evenings in veteran pub Rumours, insists: “I love it… the locals just take you in.” Sixth-form teacher Patra, 53, prefers Friday nights—“Saturday is very young… I’m meeting my students”—while 21-year-old café worker Annaleiz defends the new bars: “They can’t help what happens outside their doors.” Leslie-Lee, 58, calls the violence “a necessary evil” that is “giving the town the boost it really needs”.
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