The opening date of a massive new M&S store with a “market-style” foodhall at the Trafford Centre has officially been confirmed.
After it was revealed all the way back in January that the retailer would be relocating from its old unit and taking over the former Debenhams site inside the Greater Manchester shopping mall, the date that the brand-new M&S ‘mega store’ will finally open its doors at the Trafford Centre has now officially been confirmed.
And it’ll be in business just in time for Christmas, so shoppers can get stuck in to buying all their festive food and gifts before the big day arrives.
Opening as part of M&S‘ ongoing plans and wider investment to regenerate vacant sites in major UK shopping centres, the new M&S Trafford Centre store spans across a whopping 98,000 sq ft of commercial space.
A massive new M&S store is opening inside the old Debenhams site at the Trafford Centre this month / Credit: M&S
Shoppers are being told to prepare themselves for an even bigger and better store, with “spacious and stylish” new Clothing, Home, and Beauty departments, a brand-new M&S Cafe, and the star of the show being the all-new foodhall.
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Aiming to “appeal to local families”, customers at the new Trafford Centre store will be able to browse in “wider, brighter aisles” and with “a clear line of sight across the store”.
The new market-style foodhall will stock the full M&S Food range, and there’ll also be free designated car parking to make shopping “more convenient”.
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The new M&S Trafford Centre store will open on Thursday 30 November.
Speaking ahead of the new store opening, Store Manager Laura Smith, who’s worked for M&S for 25 years now, said: “We are really excited to announce that the new M&S Trafford Centre store will open on November 30th, and I can’t wait to welcome the local community to visit the store later this month to see it all for themselves.
“Whether you’re looking for a big family food shop, the latest autumn / winter styles from our Clothing, Home and Beauty departments, or a mid-shop pit stop in our amazing new M&S Café, we’ve got you covered.”
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There’ll be a huge ‘market-style’ foodhall, new cafe, clothing department, and more / Credit: Trafford Centre
The opening of the new Trafford Centre store comes after M&S has also opened a number of other new foodhalls this year as part of its aim to deliver 100 “bigger, better food stores”.
180 new jobs will also be created by the opening of the new store, with staff at M&S’ existing Trafford Centre store transferring over to the new location once it opens at the end of the month.
Featured Image – M&S
Shopping
Jellycat launches new Manchester store, with exclusive characters
Daisy Jackson
Jellycat has launched a shiny new store, this time in Manchester city centre – and they brought exclusive new characters with them.
The beloved soft toy brand has unveiled its newest location within Selfridges on Exchange Square, filled with all the adorable plushie animals and objects you already know and love, plus some new friends that are exclusive to Manchester.
Making their debut in our city are Salty Steve and Vinny Vinegar, two adorable smiling condiment bottles, plus Clemont Lemon, a sunny yellow soft toy, and Charlie Chip in his flat cap.
As part of the iconic Fish & Chips range, Mancs will also be able to take home Lily Fish, Cosy Chips, and Dot and Peggy Mushy Peas.
The Jellycat Fish & Chips van became a social media sensation after launching in London.
Inside the adorable space are larger-than-life oversized Jellycat favourites including Amuseables Cosy Chips, and Chip Seagull, perfect for a photo opportunity.
Vinny VinegarClemont LemonCharlie ChipLily FishInside the new Jellycat storeEggetha Egg & Lance Soldier
Jane Sharrocks, Store Director at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Jellycat General Store to Selfridges Exchange Square.
“We know our customers are huge Jellycat fans so we can’t wait to bring this iconic destination to our store.
“This launch means that our customers can purchase the characters from the exclusive Fish & Chips collection for the first time outside of Selfridges London which is so exciting.
“With so many Jellycat favourites, it’s going to be hard to choose which ones to take home!”
The new Jellycat store is open today – Monday 17 February – at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square.
Sephora’s arrival in Manchester last year triggered huge queues of shoppers eager to browse the retailer’s collection of exclusive, viral and classic beauty products.
This will be the 10th UK store for the brand, with more to come in Sheffield and Liverpool in 2025.
Inside Sephora, shoppers are able to browse in-person for brands that are often hard to come by in the UK, including exclusive-to-Sephora brands like Makeup by Mario, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, and Topicals, plus Glossier and Selena Gomez’s Rare beauty.
The store is also famed for its huge selection of ‘minis’, allowing beauty enthusiasts to try out the hottest products on the market for less.
Sephora has announced a second store in the Manchester Arndale. Credit: The Manc GroupSephora has announced a second store in the Manchester Arndale. Credit: The Manc Group
There’ll be a Beauty Hub in store, offering full glam, facials, hair styling, and brows by Benefit Cosmetics.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director, Sephora UK, said: “Manchester showed us phenomenal support when we opened our first store in the region, which blew away all our expectations.
“We are thrilled bringing a second beauty playground to our customers in this vibrant and culturally rich city, allowing us to reach even more shoppers with a city centre location at Arndale.
“We already know there is strong appetite from beauty enthusiasts in Manchester as we saw over 2000 eager customers queue on our opening day last year, and we look forward to recreating the same energy at Arndale and to continue providing an unparalleled beauty experience like no other.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th November 2023 
