Manchester Arndale Centre, Manchester > Reviews (15)

In 1996, Manchester City Centre fell victim to terrorism. The IRA bombed the city centre and left a massive amount of damage. Fortunately no one was killed, and very few were even injured, but the Arndale shopping centre was left a wreck on one side, and the large Marks and Spencer store was destroyed.

However, in the aftermath it was decided that the city would become bigger and better than ever, and send a defiant message to the IRA while we were at it. And so we did, the Arndale in Manchester is now far better in every way, and the Marks and Spencer store adjacent to it is Europe’s flagship store.

The Arndale itself is built in the heart of Manchester, and sits proudly along Market Street and Cross Street. It is set on 2 levels, and has a vast array of shops, eateries and so forth to keep you going.

Getting To It.

The Arndale does have its own multi-storey car park, and several others nearby, but Manchester is not a god place to park, it is very expensive. I’d recommend the public transport.

The Arndale is well serviced by the city’s local tram, train and bus network, and with the city centre being reasonably condensed you will find it easily. The trams run right opposite it, and the buses and trains a mere 5-minute walk. There are of course also plenty of taxis around, but be sure to get an official one as we have had several bogus cabs recently, and some nasty things have happened.

Shopping.

Not all Manchester City Centre’s shops are actually within the Arndale, some are on market Street just outside, and basically just opposite the Arndale, so I’m including them anyway, even though not strictly part of it all.

Inside the Arndale there is a mixture of fashion, entertainment and diversity. In fashion terms we have for the ladies :

Topshop
River Island
Evans
Dorothy Perkins
New Look
BHS
Littlewoods

(And a few others that I forget because I never shop for women’s clothes)

And for the men :

Topman
River Island
Burtons
Envy
Ciro Citterio
BHS
Littlewoods

(And a few more that I forget, as I’m skint and can’t afford lots of clothes – altogether now – aahhhhhh)

For entertainment shopping, look no further than the 3 floor HMV, with a smaller sister store down the road, as well as a 3 floor Virgin Megastore. WHSmith offers plenty of choice, and as it was next to the bomb when it exploded has also had a total refit and looks better than ever.

MVC adds to the list, and there is an Our Price down the road. Game and ElectronicsBoutique cater well for the gaming freaks amongst us.

For the more diverse taste Manchester has a rather large Gadget Shop, selling all manner of weird and wonderful gizmos. There is also a wonderful shop called Situl’s, which specialises in weird and wonderful items, as well as the more regular models and collectibles (and some “adult” material at the back)

Also incorporated is the Manchester Indoor Market, selling everything from food to clothes, perfume to jewellery and the rest. Set over 2 floors the market is surprisingly large and has a range of items to offer.

It is older than the Arndale itself, so it’s fair to say it incorporates the Arndale rather than vice versa.

Eating

Before the IRA bomb, Manchester had a foodcourt named Voyagers. It was a nice place above Market Street with several food outlets and a lot of seats. It has just recently re-opened after the damage caused was repaired, and is now called Food Chain.

It consists of a similar setting, food outlets like McDonalds, KFC and a Chinese, as well as lots of seats. It also now houses a newsagent and far better toilet facilities than ever before.

Food Chain is set above the centre of Market Street, and is accessible either via the Arndale or up large enclosed escalators from the street itself.

Inside the Arndale there are a few places to go to eat, there is another McDonalds, a Gregg’s for pasties and the like and Boots do a great sandwich range.

With Manchester having so many restaurants the need for snack venues isn’t as great, but add to the above the likes of Chinatowns bakeries and a few hot dog and burger stalls and there’s something for everyone.

Entertainment

For fun in the Arndale there may not be a plethora of things but there are some places to go to relax. One such place is on a Saturday afternoon underneath Voyagers on Market Street, where more often than not the local music students will assemble and belt out some absolutely stunning classical music. It adds an air of tranquillity to a rushed days shopping.

Inside there is a large central area often used for smaller events as well as the annual Christmas Grotto. The events here range from promotional ones to local radio events, but they usually draw the crowds.

Facilities

There are 3 lots of public toilets in the Arndale, with 2 more in Voyagers. These are all clean and well maintained.

There are maps to show you where shops are and an information kiosk if you get lost. The staff there are also kind and helpful if you need them.

Overall

Manchester Arndale may not be the worlds best shopping centre, but it houses (if you count the shops adjacent on Market Street) as many of the top names as you could want.

As a standalone centre it would fair only average, but as part of an excellent city, it is a good and solid addition.