Shopping

The Trafford Centre launches Premium Parking service where shoppers pay up to £217

Money well spent?

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 5th December 2024

For the first time ever, the Trafford Centre is charging for parking – but it’s not quite what it seems.

While all of us are used to forking out a small fortune to park in the city centre, Trafford Centre has always been free.

Now, the huge shopping centre has launched a Premium Parking service, with guaranteed spaces right near the shops and plenty of other perks.

Shoppers will pay from £4 an hour for the privilege of having access to bigger bays in a newly resurfaced section of the car park, just outside Selfridges.

But prices will go all the way up to £217 for valet parking, where your car is taken from you at the entrance to be deep-cleaned and then parked back in a bay.

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That Ultra Valet service even includes a clean of your engine compartment.

Premium valet parking, without the deep clean, is a £25 flat rate.

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The Trafford Centre launches Premium Parking service where shoppers pay up to £217
The Trafford Centre launches Premium Parking service where shoppers pay up to £217
The Premium Parking at Trafford Centre gets you a space as close as possible to the shops. Credit: The Manc Group

Once you’re done shopping, you can summon your vehicle back at the touch of a button on your phone, and it will be brought straight back to the entrance for you.

No need to trudge for miles in the rain battling against thousands of other Christmas shoppers.

The Premium Parking service is aimed at those looking for an elevated service and an enhanced shopping experience.

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Shoppers have never had to pay for parking at The Trafford Centre before but if you’ve ever experienced the stress that is finding a decent space during the Christmas shopping rush, maybe it’s money well spent?

How much is Premium Parking at the Trafford Centre?

Off-Peak (Mon-Sat) Premium parking

  • Up to 1 hour – £4
  • Up to 2 hours – £8
  • Up to 3 hours – £10
  • Up to 6 hours – £12
  • Up to 12 hours – £14

Peak (Sat-Sun) Premium Parking

  • Up to 1 hour – £7
  • Up to 2 hours – £12
  • Up to 3 hours – £15
  • Up to 6 hours – £18
  • Up to 12 hours – £21

Premium Valet Parking

  • Flat Rate – £25

Premium Valet Clean

  • Luxe Valet – £94
  • Ultra Valet – £217

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Shopping

The UK’s cheapest supermarket of 2024 has been revealed

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Aldi has been named as the cheapest supermarket of the year in 2024, according to Which? research. 

You may remember that at the start of each year, Which? usually releases a list of which UK supermarkets our money went the furthest in over the previous year, and 2024 is absolutely no different, as the consumer choice company has revealed that Aldi shoppers saved the most money overall.

Each month during 2024, Which? tracked thousands of grocery prices across eight of the UK’s biggest supermarkets to find out how much each shop was charging for everyday items.

The analysis was based off a basket of 56 basic items, with both branded and own-brand items such as Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter being used, and included special offer prices and loyalty prices where applicable, but not multi-buys.

Aldi has been named as the cheapest supermarket of the year in 2024 / Credit: Simon Hadley (via Aldi UK)

Aldi took the top spot over rivals Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.

The budget retailer was found to be the cheapest supermarket for all 12 months of the year, with the research finding that shoppers who stocked up there would have saved £393 on average, compared to the most expensive alternative, over the course of the year.

The results for the final month of the year in December showed that a shopping list of 56 groceries would’ve set shoppers back £100.29, on average, at Aldi.

Unsurprisingly, on the other end of the spectrum, Waitrose came out as the most expensive, as it was £29.54 pricier than Aldi in December.

It was therefore found to be the most expensive supermarket every month throughout 2024 for the smaller shop.

Each month, Which? also compares the cost of a larger trolley of more than 150 items, and does not include discounter supermarkets Aldi and Lidl in this, as they do not always stock some of these products. 

Read more:

Asda was the cheapest supermarket for a larger trolley for nine months of the year, but it has been faced strong challenge from Tesco Clubcard prices.

Featured Image – Aldi

Shopping

Tesco reveals what the UK’s most popular meal deal was in 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Tesco has officially revealed what the UK’s most popular meal deal combination was in 2024, and some newbies have taken the top spots.

We all know meal deals are a classic lunch option for hungry office workers and for those looking for something quick to grab on the go, and it’s fair to say Tesco’s is one of the most popular on the market – but which combination was the most popular over the past 12 months? Which meal deal was the most commonly-picked from supermarket shelves in 2024?

Well, after two years of the same three options claiming the top spots on each of the main, snack, and drinks list, we have some new picks topping the charts.

Tesco has revealed what the UK’s most popular meal deal was in 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group

For the past two years, the Tesco Sausage Bacon & Egg Triple, and the McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak ‘Grab Bag’ Crisps have come out on top as the most popular main and snack, but for 2024, the supermarket retailer has revealed that the nation’s favourite meal deal combination was the Tesco Chicken Club Sandwich for main, and the Tesco Egg Protein Pot as the snack.

Once again, Coca-Cola (500ml) took the title as the nation’s favourite meal deal drink, just as it has done in both 2022 and 2023.

The meal deal statistics for 2024 were revealed as part of Tesco’s annual ‘Clubcard Unpacked’ series, which is basically like ‘Spotify Wrapped’, but for Clubcard customers.

It gives the supermarket’s loyalty card members a unique insight into what they shopped for and how much they saved over the last year.

The meal deal statistics for 2024 were revealed as part of Tesco’s annual ‘Clubcard Unpacked’ series / Credit: Tesco

The series also gives Clubcard holders the chance to find out what their personal favourite meal deal combination was in 2024, and see how that compares to the rest of the nation.

You’ll just need to open your Tesco Clubcard app on your mobile to find out, or you can head to the Tesco website here and login to your account.

Results are available from today (6 January) for a limited time only.

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As well as getting to find out their own most-bought meal deal items, this year’s video also shows Clubcard members further insights into how they shopped at Tesco last year – from their most frequently-purchased products, to how many points they saved and spent.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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