When 1st I went to Trafford Centre, I can say I was amazed. I’ve been to a lot of shopping malls, shopping centres, or whatever. I’ve been to Italy, Hungary, Spain, but I have to admit that Trafford was by lots to far the biggest, most completed, most tidy and many many pros more.
A friend of mine suggested it to me so I took Mrs aek21 to go by train. When we arrive in Piccadilly station we knew were to go. Thanks God ‘cause the town is in a very big mess and no one knows where to go. Anyway we went to Manchester Piccadilly bus station ant we took the bus 250. We paid £3.60 pp return and after a 20’ drive we end up to the Trafford Centre. You can go by car if you want. the last thing to worry about is where to park your car, as with 10,000 free spaces and 350 bus spaces you are sure tha you will not struggle for a space. To be 100% honest, I couldn’t in my own eyes. A wise Chinese saying suggests that a picture worth 1000 words. Believe me even 5000 isn’t enough to cover every aspect of this shopping center.
It was a mammoth area with an outstanding entrance. We decided to enter from the Selfridges entrance, as it was very convenient for us. I will not start explain the design of the shops, but I just want to emphasise on the outstanding effort that those people paid in order to accomplish such a state of modern art, a modern Ark of shops. Everywhere white with grey watermarks marble and palm
trees. Alongside the pathway little small shops selling ice cream, savoury, scarves etc and everywhere clean and tidy areas. For a moment I thought I was to America where everything is huge and perfectly given.
I noticed some alleys, which I found out later that was small “neighbourhoods.” One of he biggest areas was The ORIENT. The Orient is one of the most exciting restaurant and entertainment venues in the North West. There you can see streets of restaurants reflecting New Orleans, New York, Chinese and Italian themes. Also you can entertain yourself by visiting the UCI 20 screen cinema or even the bowling. In the same area apart from the restaurants, you can eat to one of the most delicious fast food places such as Arkwright’s, Bradwell’s Patisseries, Carminos Deli,Chester’s Cookhouse,Fat Jackets,FT5K, The Great American Bagel Company, KFC, McDonalds, Orient Xpression,Villa Pizza,V2Go - vegetarian fast food. All these fast foods are placed in the center of a big boat. You feel like being in a boat. Even the ceiling is like sky and you can see some artificial stars as well!!!.
As I mentioned before everything is very stylish there. But what about the prices of the stores? Well most of the shop shad sales, from 30% to 75% One other crucial factor for me is when a big shop has clean WC. If they can manage to have tidy and smells free toilets then for me is perfect. One more time Trafford Centre was just the thing! Huge tidy WC, even with special rooms for kids (lower seats and lower taps!!!), for women with babies and of course for disable. As far as the disable people are concerned they can provide them with free electrical vehicles or with special guides for the blind. Both floors are connected with lifts and stairs electrical or no. There are people dressed in red, ready to help you with everything you require. The opening hours are
Shopping times Mon - Fri 10 am - 9 pm Saturday 9 am - 7 pm Sunday 12 noon - 6pm
RESTAURANT & ENTERTAINMENT OPENING HOURS The Orient - Restaurants Open 7 days Mon - Friday 10 am - Midnight Saturday 9 am - Midnight Sunday 10 am - Midnight The Orient - Cinema Mon - Thurs 10 am - Midnight Friday 10 am - 3 am Saturday 9 am - 3 am Sunday 11 am - Midnight
And this is the advantage. You can shop till late and you can enjoy your dinner until 00:00
During Christmas almost 500,000 shoppers passed through its doors in the last four days. This is an indicator of how convenient is for many people to go there shop, eat and enjoy. Let me tell u something. If you go there do it in the morning… otherwise you will not be able to see it all.
The Stores
Now take a deep breath and start counting the 280 stores all over the Trafford Centre
SHOES Acupuncture Barkers Base Bertie Burberry Camper Diesel DKNY Gabor Henri Lloyd Hugo Boss Hush Puppies Journey K-Swiss Lacoste Merrell Miss Sixty Nicholas Deakins Normandie Keith Oakley Patrick Cox Paul Smith Red or Dead Reef Royal Elastics Skechers Vans WOMENSWARE Animal Anna Scholz Anthony & Alison Ben de Lisi Betsey Johnson Box Fresh Calvin Klein Coast Diesel DKNY Dolce & Gabbana Earl Jeans Evisu Firetrap Gharani Strok Henri Lloyd Jasper Conran Karen Millen Kookai Lipsy Mambo Maria Grachvogel Miss Sixty Moschino Nicole Farhi O’Neill Pearce Fionda Polo Ralph Lauren Press & Bastyan Quiksilver Stark Ted Baker Versace Voodoo Dolls
MENSWARE
Animal Armani Jeans Baumler Calvin Klein Carhartt Diesel DKNY Dolce & Gabbana Duffer of St George Evisu Felix Blow Firetrap Franklin Marshall Full Circle G-Star Hackett Headworks Henri Lloyd Iceberg Kenzo Lambretta Mambo Mandarina Duck Moschino Nigel Cabourn O’Neill Ozwald Boateng Paul & Shark Polo Ralph Lauren Quiksilver Ringspun Schott Stark Stussy Ted Baker Tommy Hilfiger Versace Yves St Laurent
JEWELLERY / WATCHES Alibi Animal Baume & Mercier Breitling Cartier Diesel Dinny Hall Dunhill Fossil Gucci Kahuna Mappin & Webb Maurice Lacroix Mikey Oxbow Paul Smith Rolex Sonik Storm Tag Heuer Timberland Tissot Yves St Laurent
CAMERAS Canon Fuji Leica Minolta Nikon Olympus Panasonic Pentax Sony
CHOCOLATES Charbonnel et Walker Prestat Thorntons Venus Plants
HOUSEWARE Alessi Atlantis Baccarat Cath Kidston Diptyque Dualit Jasper Conran John Rocha Kelly Hoppen Kenneth Turner Riedel Crystal Rosenthal Versace Villeroy & Boch Waterford
TOILETRIES/ HAIR CARE Antonia’s Flowers Space NK Barielle Bumble & Bumble Fudge Joico Molton Brown Paul Mitchell Penhaligons Redken Rubis Switzerland Tigi
Unfortunately we managed to see some shops ‘cause the boat that I described you be4, amazed us to an extremely point. We thought that we were in a boat sailing to Egypt as we could see some Egyptian statues (i.e. Sphinx), palm trees and water (oh yes there is a small pool as well)
Well we stayed as late as we could. We were exhausted but we didn’t want to leave from there. We were like addicted. Now we are planning the next time to go there…form the morning this time.
Here are some helpful telephone numbers in case of any further question Directions 0845 60 40 608 Shopmobility 0161 749 1728 Opening Hours 0845 60 20 314 Customer Services 0161 749 1717 Crime Line 0800 32 80 795 Management Suite 0161 746 7777 GMPTE Buses 0161 228 7811 Fair Trading 0161 912 2618 Crèche 0161 746 9000 Coach House Brewers Fayre & Travel Inn 0161 747 8850
Ohhhhh sounds like heaven on earth,my shopping dream come true,
cheers
pink jane x
Janemartin 11.07.2002 23:26
Brillent op. I love the trafford centre too only one problem, too much choice to spend your dosh. Will have to start saving to go for another splurge soon. Janexx
edd101 30.05.2002 22:25
great op, although i suggest that you do not use such long lists in your furture ops.
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Advantages: Free to park, lots of shops and decent entertainment sections too. Disadvantages: Gets busy at weekends, some very expensive places to shop and eat.
Nameless 22.02.2001 (29.06.2001)
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Review of The Trafford Centre
Advantages: Wide range of shops, plenty of places to eat, easily accessible by Public transport Disadvantages: Can get very busy, especially in the school Holidays & at Xmas
jayandfoo 14.06.2005 ·
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Review of The Trafford Centre
Feb 1st, 2002
(Apr 13th, 2002)
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