RESIDENTS of UK’s “hellish” vape shop capital where 54 stores are packed across two streets are left wondering if the Prime Minister’s crackdown will really work.
Andy Burnham has announced plans to clampdown on vape stores and rogue operators to restore “unrecognisable” high streets.
The Cheetham Hill area of Manchester has been dubbed the vape capital of the UK Credit: Steve Allen
There are a whopping 54 vape shops packed over two streets Credit: Steve Allen
It means planning permission would be needed for outlets selling e-cigarettes, and the definition of a vape shop will be tightened to stop businesses side-stepping new rules by claiming to be a convenience store.
The Cheetham Hill area of Manchester – Burnham’s former mayoral patch – has been overrun with a whopping 54 vape shops crammed into two streets.
Sign up for The Jattvibe newsletter
Thank you!
Resident Sterling Jones, 27, shops at nearby electronic stores and believes there are “far too many” vape shops in the area.
He said: “Nobody needs this many vape shops. It all seems a bit dodgy.
ECLIPSE TIPS
Our guide for the eclipse – including how to watch it with a kitchen utensil
FESTIVAL HORROR
Woman dies at popular festival after being found unconscious in tent
Residents describe it as ‘hellish’ and ridiculous’ Credit: Steve Allen
Hailey Wu, 24, thinks vape shops have ‘taken over’ the area Credit: Steve Allen
Locals claim to have witnessed ‘frequent’ police raids in the area Credit: Steve Allen
Seana Parkinson, 55, describes the vape shops as an ‘eyesore’ Credit: Steve Allen
“It spoils the character of the area to be honest. Whenever I drive past, it looks hellish.”
Hailey Wu, 24, said the vape shops have “taken over’ the area.
She added: “They dominate everything else. I think they should all be licensed. But they probably don’t like too much regulation.”
Sonia Khan, 30, who lives nearby in Ratcliffe, Bury, comes to the area to buy toys for her online business.
“A lot of these shops appeal to youngsters because they’re colourful and sell a lot of different vape flavours,’ she said.
Sonia claims she has seen “frequent” cop raids in the area since Greater Manchester Police‘s launched Operation Vulcan which blitzed Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, known as “the counterfeit capital of Europe“.
The Prime Minister recently praised the initiative for clearing the area of counterfeits and proving what could be achieved when multiple agencies work together.
Manchester City Council said that they and the police have worked hard to “shut down known counterfeit shops, prevent criminals returning, and then work to regenerate the area so that people can feel safe in their communities”.
Junaid Safdar, 25 manager Vape Boyz, says too much regulation will have a bad impact on shop owners Credit: Steve Allen
Owner of Maghal Cafe and Grill Hunayun Zia, 44, said vape shops had been great for the area Credit: Steve Allen
Seana Parkinson, 55, who lives locally and is a vape user, has to go to the area to collect her granddaughters from a dance class.
She said: “I agree high streets need to be cleaned up. You come here and it does look a bit of an eyesore. It’s ridiculous there are 54 shops.
“Although I’m a vape user myself, I always go to the same shop near my home because it’s someone I can trust and I know it’s legit.”
However, Mr Singh, 40, owner of Smoke Zone Ltd, which sells vapes and other smoking products, said he was just providing what his customers wanted and was “100% legal”.
He said: “Everything I do is legal. They shouldn’t make more rules which make it more difficult for vape shop owners.
“We’re just here providing products to our customers in the same way any shop would.”
Junaid Safdar, 25, manager of the nearby Vape Boyz, said vape shops “were not the problem”.
He said: “Too much regulation will impact shop owners really badly. From October, we’re already going to pay more duty on the products we import from China.
Sterling Jones, 27, says there are ‘far too many’ vape shops in the area Credit: Steve Allen
“And these costs will have to be passed on to the customer. So it’s a bad idea to make vape shop owners apply for planning permission – it will kill a lot of business.
“And more regulation would be definitely be bad news for us.”
The Centre for Social Justice has reported that since 2016, nearly 1,800 pubs and bars have closed across the UK, while the number of vape and tobacco shops has risen to nearly 2,200.
Mr Burnham said: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline.
“The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“That’s not on. I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do.”
However, the PM has been accused of tarring betting shops with the same brush as crooks – after lumping them in with dodgy dealers.
The Betting and Gaming Council said: “It is wrong to lump highly regulated, licensed betting shops together with rogue or criminal businesses.”
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “Over the past three years a significant amount of effort has gone into forcing out criminal elements from communities in North Manchester.
“Through Operation Vulcan the Council and Greater Manchester Police have worked to shut down known counterfeit shops, prevent criminals returning, and then work to regenerate the area so that people can feel safe in their communities once more.
“Work has continued through the Trading Standards team to gather intelligence on businesses suspected of illegal activity, and we have a track record of taking action through the courts to shut these businesses down.
“Alongside this we continue to foster relationships with businesses throughout the area, the vast of which trade legally and who are run by members of the community who are keen to see their area prosper.”
Ex-M&S boss slams Burnham’s High Street crackdown as ‘hot air’
By Ryan Sabey, Deputy Political Editor
ANDY Burnham’s plan to revive the High Street by targeting vape and betting stores has been branded “a lot of b*******” by a Tory Peer.
Ex-Marks & Spencer boss Lord Stuart Rose hit out at the “hot air” plans saying the cost of employing people and business rates are hitting shopping areas from thriving.
The PM has vowed to give local communities new powers after saying high streets have been allowed to be “hollowed out”.
But the Tory Peer said: “Forgive my French but it’s a lot of bollocks about nothing. Getting rid of vape shops won’t save the high street.
“Can’t believe such a long press release says so little. If the vape shops are illegal they should be shut down full stop! Ditto betting shops, although neither activity is illegal.”
He told BBC Newsnight: “By all means give local councils teeth but none of this will revive high streets unless rates are reformed and cost to employ reduced. Just a lot of hot air.”
New vape shops will require planning permission which could stop them from being opened near schools. Their definition will also be tightened preventing them from claiming to be a general convenience store.
Adult gaming centres that offer 24-hour gambling machines will need planning permission under plans coming in at the start of next year.
Town halls and communities will also be given a stronger voice over whether new betting shops will open in their area.
Mr Burnham said there has been real concern that high streets “have just been in decline for a long time”.
Speaking on a trip to Derbyshire, he added: “And I want to give local communities the power to turn things around.
“And that means clamping down on some of the businesses that cause harm in communities and then supporting those that bring life back to our high street.”
He also wants the police in England and Wales to “take a strong line against shoplifting” to help struggling high street retailers.
He told LBC Radio: “I don’t consider shoplifting to be a small thing.
“I think it can make staff and customers feel very fearful – it can drag down the perception of safety in a particular place if it’s left unchecked.”
Shoplifting has fallen by 4% over the past year, with 507,086 offences recorded by forces in England and Wales in 2025/26, down from a record 530,324 the previous year.
