TRAFFORD CENTRE

The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre in Greater Manchester. Planning process for the Trafford Centre was one of the longest and most expensive in British history. Ultimately the matter was decided by the House of Lords.

Peel Avenue is home to the high street shops such as an Apple Store, H&M, and Boots. It is also home to two department stores, the new John Lewis which opened in 2005 at the end of Peel Avenue, and the newly refubished four-storey Marks & Spencer, (see below). The space now occupied by John Lewis was previously a market area known as the Festival Village.

Regent Crescent is home to many high end designer stores, including Karen Millen, Jane Norman, Gap and Mexx. It also houses the bookshop Waterstones and to two department stores BHS and Debenhams.

Other non-retail facilities are all located in a central spur called The Orient, a 1600 seat food court which includes a 20 screen Odeon multiplex cinema, Laser Quest Laser Tag arena, a large Namco Centre with Dodgems, Bowling and Arcade games. There are also dozens of restaurants and bars including The Exchange Bar & Grill, Starbucks, Est Est Est, Ma Potters, Nando's and Cathay Dim Sum. There are also several popular fast food outlets - McDonalds, KFC, Subway and Pizza Hut amongst others. A new area adjoining the Orient known as "The Great Hall" opened fully in March 2007, although a Costa Coffee outlet opened earlier in January 2007. This new glazed structure houses five new restaurants and cafes. The decision to extend the current dining facilities was due to the growth in demand amongst visitors wishing to dine during their stay, or indeed visit The Trafford Centre during the evening specifically for food and drink. The Great Hall houses an elegant sweeping staircase featuring hundreds of metres of marble balustrade from China, and the largest chandelier in the world.