Another year, another chaotic Boxing Day in the Trafford Centre…
While many of us choose to spend our Boxing Days in our pyjamas eating cold turkey, or visiting the relatives we’ve not had chance to see yet this Christmas, for some it’s the chance to dive head-first into the shops.
Many big retailers slash their prices straight after Christmas, offering bargain-hunters a chance to scoop up clothes, electricals, beauty and more for less.
While Black Friday may have overtaken in terms of discounts and scale in recent years, there’s still something about the Boxing Day sales that lures people out of hibernation and into the shops
Yesterday, things looked like they were going to be off to a quiet start at Trafford Centre, with only a few hardy shoppers in the shopping centre before anything was even open.
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People have shared a video of a long queue forming outside Lush from 7.30am, but otherwise it looked like things were going to be calm.
Silly thought.
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Unfortunately I work in Trafford centre and witnessed this at 7:30am. People queueing for Lush!
By mid-afternoon, videos started to emerge that showed the Trafford Centre packed with Boxing Day shoppers.
Some people shared videos of products scattered along floors and displays, with large queues outside popular shops like Sephora and JD.
One person wrote: “My claustrophobia said no.”
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Another said: “Whoever said go Trafford Centre on Boxing Day you owe me an apology. Actual chaos.”
Someone else said: “I work in jd there, bad day in the office.”
Inside the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day 2024
Other people reported having to park on the pavement because the Trafford Centre parking was so full (this is definitely an exaggeration and you should never ever park on the pavements), and someone even said they saw a fight break out.
One smart person said: “Went at 8am absolutely no one there in and out got exactly what I needed.”
It honestly all looks not too bonkers compared to some years, but we all love a moan, eh?
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Would you ever brave the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day?
Trafford Centre Boxing Day and New Year opening hours
Thomas Melia
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Boxing Day is one of the best days of the year for shoppers, packed with offers, deals, goodies and most importantly, mega savings – especially at Trafford Centre.
One of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping malls is preparing for one of their biggest days of trade in the whole calendar year with Boxing Day just around the corner.
Trafford Centre has it all, from its impressive decor to the brands and commercial businesses it houses within its 2,230,000 square feet of retail paradise.
Boxing Day can be very stressful for some and if you find yourself in this club, why not take a load off your shoulders by guaranteeing a parking space right outside the shop doors with the shopping centre’s new ‘Premium parking service’.
Eager-eyed shoppers will have spotted the usually bustling China Town section of The Orient food hall boarded up for quite sometime as it’s undergoing a huge facelift.
Major retailer Monki to close store in Manchester Arndale
Daisy Jackson
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Monki, a popular fashion brand that’s owned by H&M, had announced it’s closing its Manchester store – and soon.
The high street brand is famed for selling bold, playful clothing at affordable prices.
It opened its glittering disco-inspired shop in the heart of the Manchester Arndale in 2018.
Shoppers will recognise the holographic arches at the entrance and the Monki brand name spelled out in lightbulbs overhead.
But this week, H&M confirmed that all seven Monki stores across the UK will close, either shutting them completely or merging them with Weekday, another of the retail giant’s brands.
Manchester is among the first casualties of this move, with signs in the window of the store confirming that a closing down sale will be live until 12 January.
At that point, the Manchester Monki store will close for good.
Also shutting will be Newcastle, with the fate of the five remaining shops – including one in Sheffield – not yet confirmed.
The statement from H&M read: “A limited number of Monki stores are intended to be transformed into multi-brand Weekday destinations, while the others are intended to be closed.
“The newly formed Weekday multi-brand destination will cater to customers’ high aesthetic standards while embracing their multitude of unique expressions.”
In a statement shared earlier this month, they added: “Being mindful about the changes this might entail for our colleagues; we look forward to this exciting new chapter on the way to something great.”
Monki will close in Manchester Arndale on 12 January.
Daisy Jackson -
27th December 2024 
