A new little IKEA has just opened inside a Greater Manchester shopping centre
The Swedish furniture giant says the new store is all part of its "ongoing transformation to become more accessible and sustainable" for shoppers in the North West.
A brand new little IKEA has just opened its doors inside a popular Greater Manchester shopping centre this week.
Of course, the Swedish furniture giant has a home in our region already, with a popular site in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, as well as another in neighbouring Warrington just over the border into Cheshire – but this new Greater Manchester hub is on a much smaller scale than the IKEA superstores we’re used to.
This is what the retailer is calling a ‘Plan & Order Point’.
Having opened doors in the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport, the new IKEA Plan & Order Point is a smaller store dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, where customers can pop in for home furnishing advice and expertise to help design their ideal space at an affordable price.
IKEA says the new Stockport hub is all part of its “ongoing transformation to become more accessible and sustainable” for shoppers in the North West.
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A new little IKEA has just opened inside a Greater Manchester shopping centre / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Inside the 71 sqm / 764 sqft store, you’ll find a selection of different kitchens to browse, from a complete room with a combination of different units and appliances, including oven and hob, all for under £1,200, to a kitchen with fronts featuring a foil made of recycled bottles.
On top of this, all kitchen fronts, worktops, and a variety of appliances from the wider range will also be showcased inside the store.
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When it comes to bedroom planning and design, there’s also a space dedicated to the PAX wardrobe system inside the store – with doors, interior organisers, and knobs and handles to help customers build their dream storage solution.
You can book an appointment, free of charge, inside the new Stockport store to start your design journey with one of IKEA’s planning specialists, or use the in-store self-service tools to design your own solution.
Staff will also be on hand to help customers order products from the full IKEA range – which can be delivered direct to your door, or to the nearest collection point.
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It’s the Swedish furniture giant’s newest ‘Plan & Order Point’ / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
“Our investment in the North West is part of our long-term plan to transform our retail business, continuing to make it easier for people to enjoy what IKEA offers using a variety of convenient ways,” explained Michael Parker, Area Manager at IKEA UK.
“The North West is a key region for us, being home to over seven million people, and also being the place that IKEA first opened a UK store, 35 years ago in Warrington.
“This new Plan and Order Point will allow customers to get inspiration and expert advice in convenient locations closer to where they live.
“Together with our existing stores in Ashton-under-Lyne and Warrington, remote planning and different delivery and collection services, we’re enabling an IKEA that’s there for our customers, however they want to meet us.”
Major Canadian lifestyle brand Garage to open in Manchester Arndale AND Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
A major lifestyle and activewear brand, Garage, is finally coming to Manchester – and they’re not stopping at one store.
The Canadian fashion group will be opening two locations in the city, with one at Manchester Arndale and another opening at a later date at The Trafford Centre.
Montreal-born and loved by women globally for its off-duty essentials and active lifestyle pieces, Garage will be opening inside Manchester Arndale this summer.
It already has a whopping 231 stores across North America, making its UK debut down south just earlier this year.
And it’s expanding fast, thanks to its die-hard Gen Z following and monthly drops of new pieces.
Garage has recently celebrated 50 years of business, creating a huge range of activewear, swimwear, and elevated essentials that take you from barre to brunch to bar.
Garage will land at Manchester Arndale this July, with the Trafford Centre store opening later on this year.
Garage is heading to Manchester Arndale this July
Scott Linard, Portfolio Manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “We are delighted that GARAGE has selected Manchester Arndale for one of its first North West locations. Following recent openings, this addition further enhances our retail offer and complements our existing tenant mix.
“Our strategy remains focused on curating a strong lineup of best-in-class brands to meet the evolving demands of visitors from Manchester and beyond.”
Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “Bringing GARAGE to Manchester Arndale is a fantastic addition to our growing fashion line-up.
“The brand has built a strong reputation internationally, and we’re proud to be the destination chosen for its first store in the North West.”
Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video
Danny Jones
Manchester United’s new home kit for the 2026/27 campaign has reportedly been leaked online in a YouTuber’s unboxing video ahead of next season.
We know fake shirts and dupes can be pretty accurate these days, but it looks very much like this could be the real deal.
Shared by dedicated football kit reviewer, ‘Retro Man‘, who has seemingly revealed the latest Man United jersey, this unveiling lines up with the previously rumoured designs circulated on social media.
A Red Devil himself, the creator has teased previous releases that turned out to be true in the past, so we’ll leave it up to all of you to decide how bona fide you think this supposed home strip is. Ever-reliable footy fashion peers, Footy Headlines, have also shared these images:
Uploaded to the channel on 25 April, Retro Man did a full overview of the United 26/27 home shirt, highlighting key features such as a red-forward collar with black and white accents.
That same trim is repeated on the ends of the sleeves – reminiscent of the 2011/12 iteration, only differing in the more crew neck style – and the back of the neck now simply reads “UNITED”.
It is worth noting that this is specifically the replica shirt that most fans will purchase.
Should it prove to be the genuine article, this will be the 11th Manchester United kit by adidas since they returned as manufacturers over a decade ago, a.k.a. the start of the Louis van Gaal era.
Retro Man has since posted another video showing off what he claims to be the ‘authentic’ version, too; you can check it out in more detail down below.
Looks pretty legit…
As you can see, the official player edition that will be worn on the pitch by actual United squad members (though they are still available to purchase by the public) appears to hold some key distinctions.
Besides some differences around the panelling and stitching, there is also a noticeable textured section along large sections of the interwoven fabric as part of the brand’s breathable and trademark ‘Climacool’ technology.
Elsewhere, the badge itself also looks to have a more embossed/raised finish. If this is the real deal, what do you make of it?
This isn’t the only United kit that’s caught some attention of late, either:
Emily Sergeant -
21st March 2023 
