Work is officially underway to transform The Orient food hall at The Trafford Centre, with bosses confirming a major refurbishment of the shopping centre's most iconic area. The eating area, designed to look like the inside of a cruise ship, has had the same look and furniture since it first opened 28 years ago.
The Orient is perhaps the Trafford Centre's most well known area due to the huge number of food vendors. It is often filled with hundreds of visitors taking a break from their shopping to rest and refuel.
New seating and lighting for the main plaza
The major refresh will include new seating across the main plaza for the first time. The majority of seats, which have a wooden deck style, have been there since the Trafford Centre opened in 1998, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The lighting will also be improved amid customer complaints that the food hall is too dark. The main aim is to transform the aesthetic to a "modern day cruiseliner" instead of an ageing ship deck. It will feature more family-friendly seating zones for the first time.
Bosses said the refurbishment reflects customer demands for more accessible seating options across the vast Orient hall as well as more space for people to be able to use laptops and recharge phones.
Seating capacity to increase significantly
The revamp is now underway, although in order to minimise disruption to shoppers it is to be completed in phased sections. It will bring a massive increase in the number of seats across the space, from around 700 to more than 1,200 seats.
For those already feeling nostalgic for the old wooden chairs, bosses have confirmed they will be donating as many as possible to local charities and organisations. Shoppers will notice barriers go up around certain areas of seating in the coming weeks as the revamp progresses, but bosses have stressed that it will all be complete in time for the hectic festive run-in before Christmas.
In a statement, Trafford Centre bosses explained the reasons behind the "major refresh of seating and customer facilities within The Orient" which is to create a more "vibrant and welcoming environment for guests to eat, meet and relax". They said the project forms part of the centre's "ongoing commitment to enhancing the visitor experience and follows continued investment across its retail, leisure and dining destinations".
Design inspired by a contemporary cruise liner
The refreshed area will introduce a range of new seating styles including banquettes, family-friendly tables, accessible seating for guests with mobility requirements, and dedicated areas equipped with phone and laptop charging facilities.
The new-look space will feature upgraded furniture, enhanced lighting and planting, alongside flexible areas designed to encourage visitors to spend longer in The Orient. Inspired by The Orient's longstanding maritime heritage, the design takes cues from a "contemporary cruise liner", combining elegant finishes, modern furnishings and a refreshed colour palette to create a brighter, more comfortable and welcoming environment.
A Trafford Centre spokesperson said: "The Orient is one of the most popular destinations within Trafford Centre, welcoming millions of visitors each year. This investment reflects our commitment to continually improving the experience for our guests, creating a more modern, comfortable and social environment where visitors can meet, dine and spend time together. The improvements will not only significantly increase seating capacity but also deliver a much more flexible and accessible space for all visitors to enjoy."
The news comes after a programme of investment across the centre's infrastructure, including a major upgrade to escalators including at the Main Dome over the summer. The centre's toilets are also undergoing major refurbishment, with the blocks next to Marks and Spencer currently being completed. The Orient toilets, which are the biggest in the centre, will also be getting a major refurbishment, but not until after Christmas.
Next week will see the official opening of one of the biggest stores of the year when UNIQLO arrives on Peel Avenue. There are expected to be huge queues after giveaways and discounts were announced for the grand opening on Thursday, October 15.
