This year will see Manchester's Trafford Centre reach a milestone 25 years since it first welcomed shoppers through its doors.
In that time, the Trafford Centre has seen some dramatic changes. Opened on September 10, 1998, the shopping centre has expanded with major developments including the Great Hall, the redesigned Barton Square, and an ever-changing retail and restaurant line-up.
When it opened, the Trafford Centre was the largest shopping centre in the UK, creating 7,000 jobs for the local area. It is currently the third largest shopping centre in the UK by retail size in square metres, after Westfield in London and intu Metrocentre in Gateshead.
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But for those of us old enough to remember the first few years of the shopping complex, we've seen many of our favourite shops, bars, eateries and attractions come and go.
To celebrate its upcoming 25-year milestone, the M.E.N. has taken a look back at some that have left a lasting impression - from the original McDonald's with its waving Ronald McDonald and Hamburglar greeting you as soon as you entered; the Festival Village and its curious menagerie of independent stores; to the nightlife, which was a big part of the centre when it first opened.
Here are some we would love to see make a return. Of course, this isn't a comprehensive list, so if there's something we've missed you think should be included let us know in the comments below.
Festival Village
Situated at the end of Peel Avenue, this market-themed area was home to all kinds of quirky stalls from independent traders - including its own resident fortune teller. Some of the most popular stalls included Pink Parrot, Sock Shop and the Beanie Baby stall.
Festival Village was the perfect place if you ever needed a break from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the main centre while still doing a bit of shopping. Forget the designer name brands, it was about the curiosities beyond the high street's big names.
Despite being many shoppers favourite part of the complex, the Festival Village was replaced by John Lewis in 2005.
The Rainforest Cafe
Part theme park, part restaurant, this Amazon-inspired attraction in The Orient had real life parrots, a giant aquarium, an animatronic alligator and a talking tree that told stories. No one remembers what food was served at the Rainforest Cafe or even if it was any good, but who cared?
We were there to eat chips and drink pop while an animatronic tiger appeared from within the “jungle” of fake plants next to our table, and we did so with much bewilderment and confusion from our parents. The Rainforest Cafe was cruelly taken away from us in 2003 after only a few years of glory and happiness.
It used to be situated where Nando's now sits, and sometimes we wonder how different the world would be if it had just stayed with us for that little bit longer.
The old McDonald's in the Festival Village
Originally part of the Festival Village area, the old McDonald's restaurant saw considerable renovation in the mid-00s. A McDonald's can still be found in the Trafford Centre in The Orient food court, but it's much smaller than the original restaurant.
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The old McDonald's restaurant entrance was shaped like a giant carton of fries next to an enormous soft drink cup. Inside, moving figures of Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar travelled around an overhead track.
The Adventures of Dreamieland
Situated next to the old UCI cinema - now the Odeon - this kids' ride was hardly a white-knuckle experience, but still quite the trip. The interactive, animatronic attraction was set in a world where Dreamies create dreams for children and guard them against the evil Dream Guzzlers - led by Queen Gazella - who try to turn them into nightmares.
Passengers had to help the Dreamies in their constant battle by zapping the bad guys with 'guzzler torches' as they made their way around the five minute ride in one of 10 four-seater cars. Sadly, the attraction only lasted a few years before it was removed.
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The singing bears
Creepy or cute? We could never quite decide. But Barton Square's animatronic singing bears are best remembered for their renditions of Time Warp. They 'went on holiday' according to a tweet from the Trafford Centre's official Twitter account in 2015 - and haven't been seen or heard from since.
Disney Store
Up until the last few years, the Disney Store was a staple part of the Trafford Centre shopping experience and was a must-visit in the build-up to Christmas. Who could forget walking into the shop to the sounds of the Lion King or Moana soundtrack, while being bamboozled with a plethora of Mickey Mouse memorabilia?
But in 2021, it was reported that all Disney stores in the UK were set to close by September that year, except two flagship stores in London’s Oxford Street and Dublin. And with that, we said goodbye to both the Trafford Centre and Manchester Arndale shop later that year.
Manto
Many of us will have heard of Manto, one of the first bars on Canal Street, but did you know there was also a Manto at the Trafford Centre?
Kitted out in red leather, Manto spread out across three levels with a restaurant and bar playing R&B and house music. It was there from the Trafford Centre’s opening in 1998 but closed a little white later.
The Orangery
Before Frankie & Benny's took over there was the Orangery. The Orangery formed part of a thriving nightclub scene in the centre's early days, alongside bars Kro, Tiggi's and Mantos.
Tiggis
Once a big part of the Trafford Centre's nightlife, Tiggis was a nightclub and Italian Restaurant. Giraffe and Pizza Express later took over where Tiggis once occupied.
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