A deal has been announced for an exciting new development in Greater Manchester as one of the UK’s biggest ice rinks is coming to Trafford.
‘Regeneration specialists’ Peel Waters, the same people behind the highly-anticipated Therme, have agreed terms with property investment company ICITIES to develop a brand-new ice arena in the ever-growing TraffordCity business and leisure district.
Located just next to the Trafford Centre and directly opposite the likes of the Chill Factore and iFLY Indoor Skydiving, the project is set to be built on the same plot of land which once hosued the former Soccer Dome site which was finally cleared last year in preparation for a new arrival.
With ICITIES also securing a major pre-let agreement with Planet Ice to bring their award-winning ice-leisure offer to the UK’s preeminent retail and leisure destination, we can now confirm that new addition to be a brand new ice rink which will be their biggest venue to date.
Planet Ice Altrincham.You can see the Chill Factore and the plot for the new Trafford ice rink in the background.Credit: Supplied
Planet Ice currently have 14 other locations up and down the UK, including just down the road in Altrincham — an ice skating rink and the home stadium of the Manchester Storm ice hockey team — but the venue in TraffordCity will be one of the most state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities in the country.
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Promising not only a multi-use event space that can be converted for various different occasions but onsite food and drink offerings, including grab and go options, a stylish family restaurant and a high-end sports bar, this place is going to be a full on leisure unit that perfectly aligns with the surrounding area.
More details and images of the proposed venue will be released closer to the planning submission processes full approval but it’s safe to say we’re already getting very excited. The build itself is estimated to take anywhere between 12 and 15 months once ground is broken.
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With the award-winning Planet Ice brand already on board too, you can be assured that when this thing does arrive you’ll be guaranteed quality and plenty of scope for the future — we can already see the Storm swapping the Shelter for the Trafford for the odd game.
Peel Waters’ Executive Director, James Whittaker, said of the plans:“We’re extremely pleased to have secured another brilliant attraction to TraffordCity. Planet Ice will be a huge success in TraffordCity and together with the existing and proposed diverse mix of offerings, we believe TraffordCity will be the UK’s best retail and leisure destination.
“Alongside boosting the local and visitor economy and attracting investment into the area, we are committed to increasing jobs and opportunities for our local community. Through our long-term vision for TraffordCity, Peel has helped create 17,500 jobs within the destination to date with plans to increase this to 33,000 over the next 20 years.”
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As for Planet Ice, their COO Heath Rhodes said of the new rink: “We are delighted to announce our commitment to lease a new venue at TraffordCity… The venue will be very complementary to our existing facilities in the northwest, in particular Altrincham, where we are often at capacity.
“We plan to provide a large seating capacity at the new venue for on and off-ice entertainment. Furthermore, we plan to invest in our Altrincham site, so having this new facility close by will allow our customers full access to the ice during any works we do at Oakfield Road.”
TraffordCity just keeps getting bigger and better and this certainly isn’t the only new development we’re keeping a very keen eye on.
Featured Images — Ross Gibbs (via Planet Ice Altrincham)
Trafford
Co-op opens new store dedicated entirely to ‘food on the go’ in Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Bit of a sucker for a meal deal? Well Co-op has probably just launched your perfect concept then.
The supermarket has grown its brand-new ‘on the go’ micro store format with the opening of a new site right here in Greater Manchester, located in the ever-growing Stamford Quarter over in Altrincham.
Co-op’s ‘on the go’ concept is dedicated to serving food to take away and eat on the go by offering breakfast, lunch, and tea in a range of exciting new formats – from traditional meal deals, right through to the inclusion of a hot food counter and deli-inspired selections.
According to the retailer, the new Altrincham store has ‘taken cues’ from around the world to meet consumer demand for fast, high-quality food all throughout the day.
Co-op has opened a new store dedicated entirely to ‘food on the go’ in Greater Manchester / Credit: Richard Grange (Supplied)
Open right from 7am through to 7pm, breakfast is served first and foremost, before transitioning to lunch and then onto tea – or dinner, if you’re fancy – with the quick and convenient online home delivery also available all day long too.
After 7pm, this is when the store makes the move to online trading only, which most-importantly includes Co-op’s Irresistible Pizzas delivery service, where the pizzas are cooked and delivered in the community in minutes via Co-op’s partners Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats.
Co-op says it has grand plans to roll-out this new format of store in other high footfall locations across the UK.
The new micro store serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as delivery food / Credit: Richard Grange (Supplied)
“The whole team is excited to launch our new concept store in the Stamford Quarter,” commented Gary Williams, who is the Director of Store Optimisation at the Co-op.
“We continually look for new ways to get closer to our customers and deliver added convenience, and our new concept brings together an innovative blend of food-to-go propositions, with freshly prepared products designed to stand out in this vibrant and thriving community.
“Whether in store or online, we cater to ‘on-the-go’ meals throughout the day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner you will find delicious products, quick service, quality and value, and all in a great convenient location.”
Featured Image – Richard Grange (Supplied)
Trafford
First look images released of new BBC comedy series Small Prophets filmed in Urmston
Emily Sergeant
The first images of a new BBC comedy series created by Mackenzie Crook filmed over in Urmston have been released.
Ahead of airing in early 2026, new on-set images of the six-part series called Small Prophets gives viewers a glimpse behind the scenes of the much-anticipated BBC comedy that was created, written, and directed by BAFTA-winning Mackenzie Crook – best known for his roles in The Office UK and Detectorists.
The series will feature a host of comedy stars including Mackenzie Crook himself, alongside the legend Sir Michael Palin, and other famous names like Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing, and Paul Kaye.
The new images are said to reveal the ‘weird and wonderful’ new world Crook has conjured up.
The first look images of new BBC comedy series Small Prophets have been released / Credit: BBC
Small Prophets was both filmed and set in and around Greater Manchester – particularly in Urmston – and will be incorporating animation elements throughout as a story of ‘the magical and the mundane’ unfolds in a suburban cul-de-sac.
But what actually is the show about? Well, a synopsis on the BBC website explains: “We meet eccentric Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) whose darling partner Clea disappeared seven years ago. Since then, Sleep has lived a very ordinary life.
“He eats Shreddies, works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian (Michael Palin), and hopes for Clea to return.
“One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure, and more than a little alchemy.
The show was filmed in and around/ Credit: BBC
“With recipe in hand, Sleep sets out (albeit with some scepticism) to create Homunculi – magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future.
“Sleep gets help from young work mate Kacey (Lauren Patel), an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly, but not wholly, through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon (Mackenzie Crook).
“Their friendship adds to the frustration and intrigue of his nosy neighbours (Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing) who are obsessed with trying to find out what the hell is going on in the garden shed.”
Danny Jones -
11th January 2024 
