The Trafford Centre has reached full occupancy, with every retail unit now let. Centre bosses describe the 100 per cent figure as “unheard of in a centre of this size in the UK”, capping a period of sustained growth for the Manchester mall.
Despite economic headwinds, shoppers have continued to visit in large numbers in recent months. August was a record-breaking month for the centre, with 34,000 more visitors than in December 2025, which had previously been the busiest month of the year. With three months of the year still to run, the Trafford Centre is on course for a record 2026 in terms of footfall.
Only two units left, both already let
Walking around the main malls, there are currently only two empty units: the former FootAsylum unit, after the retailer moved to a bigger space earlier this year, and the former Music Store unit on Regent Crescent, which has just opened in a new unit directly opposite. Both have already been let, marking the 100 per cent occupancy.
Centre director Simon Layton said: “We are fully let, there is a tenant in every single unit with lease agreed. It’s unheard of in a centre of this size in the U.K.” He added that there is now a waiting list of retailers hoping to take units when they become available.
Asked why the centre continues to attract big-name retailers, Layton said: “The centre has had a significant amount of change since Covid and that has really allowed the leasing team to think about the retail mix. I put it down to a really strong analysis of what customers want. Really harnessing and embracing that data. We have a clear strategy of what we want every part of the centre to have, and I think it’s worked. We’ve taken time to understand what this centre is about, it’s not just a white box, people want to spend a full day out here and our footfall is up again this year.”
Record summer and new openings since June
The news follows a series of big openings over the summer, including new stores from fitness brands Lululemon, GARAGE and FootAsylum, as well as new toy shops from The Entertainer and the Disney Store inside Selfridges. Further openings are confirmed for the coming weeks, including Japanese lifestyle brand UNIQLO and American fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Layton attributed the record August, which saw 34,000 more visitors than in December 2025, to the heatwave driving people indoors. He said: “It's absolutely unheard of to do those numbers in the summer. To be passing the December figures in August shows what a strong summer it was - because it was exceptionally hot this year, people wanted a break from it, to come inside and enjoy the air con!”
December 2025 still holds the record for the busiest single day ever at the mall, when 141,000 shoppers visited on December 20. Since June, the centre has seen openings including Frurt frozen yoghurt at the Bandstand in The Orient, Coach accessories on Peel Avenue, FootAsylum’s flagship on Peel Avenue, Lululemon in a bigger unit at The Main Dome, Forbici pizza in the former Franca Manca unit at The Orient, JD cafe inside the JD Sports store, the Disney concession inside Selfridges, The Entertainer’s first standalone toy shop in a decade, a revamped NAMCO entrance, GARAGE’s new store, Belstaff’s first Trafford Centre store on Peel Avenue, the Music Store’s move to a new unit on Regent Crescent, and Savante Chocolates’ Christmas pop-up next to John Lewis.
Openings to come before Christmas
UNIQLO opens its vast Trafford Centre flagship on October 15, with giveaways planned and queues expected. Wasabi, the sushi and bento box restaurant, takes over from the Hop Vietnamese stall at The Orient from October 18. Build-a-Bear reopens on October 19 after a major makeover on Peel Avenue, with two new stuffing machines. Dave’s Hot Chicken opens at its new site in the Great Hall from October 23. A new-look Levi’s store is due in November, with the exact opening date to be confirmed; the current Levi’s shop on Regent Crescent remains open until then, with the new unit directly opposite.
