The Food Works café, located on Elliot Street in Tyldesley, Wigan, has been forced to close its doors this week as the UK experiences a severe heatwave. Owners announced the decision on social media, citing that it is 'simply not safe to operate' under the current conditions.
Heatwave Prompts Closure
The UK has been issued a red amber warning for southern parts of the country, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 40°C, which could make this the hottest June on record. In Greater Manchester, forecasts predict peaks of around 36°C. As a result, several venues across the city have had to close early or reduce hours, including the East Lancashire Railway in Bury, which cancelled services.
The Food Works café, a health food kitchen that opened in December 2025, announced it will remain closed until at least Friday, June 26. In a statement, the venue explained: 'As many of you know, we are expecting another heatwave this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 35-36°C. Unfortunately, we struggled yesterday due to insufficient air conditioning combined with the extreme heat generated in the kitchen. The working conditions became uncomfortably hot, and we feel it would be unfair and unsafe to ask our staff to continue working in those temperatures.'
Staff Safety Paramount
The café, popular for its protein boxes, sandwiches, burritos, and burgers, emphasized that the health and safety of staff is of utmost importance. The statement continued: 'While we understand this will have an impact on the business, the health, wellbeing, and safety of our team must come first. The kitchen became extremely hot yesterday, and with temperatures expected to rise by a further 10 degrees, it is simply not safe to operate.'
Owners apologized for any inconvenience and expressed hope to reopen on Friday, though they acknowledged this might be pushed back to Saturday morning depending on weather conditions.
Wider Impact of Heatwave
The extreme heat has also forced over 850 schools to close on Monday, with a similar number confirmed closed on Tuesday, including 100 in Somerset, Buckinghamshire, London, and Gloucestershire. In the Greater Manchester area, Dixons Newell Green Academy in Wythenshawe closed early, and Trafford Council reported several schools shutting early as well.
