STACK Wigan is set to open this November in the former Debenhams unit at Grand Arcade, transforming the 48,000 sq ft space into a food hall and entertainment venue with capacity for more than 2,000 people. The venue will feature six street food kitchens, five bars, a coffee shop, a pool table area, and an outdoor terrace.
Six street food traders confirmed
Homegrown brand Tikka Bros will open its second Wigan site at the new venue, alongside Liverpool's Pattersons, which will have its first Wigan outlet. Manchester's Hello Oriental & Smash House will also join, with favourites Acropolis and ZZA Pizzeria completing the line-up.
Big screens will show major sporting matches, while a live stage will host music, performances, and events throughout the week. The venue will create around 140 jobs and offer a day-to-night experience for the town.
Food offerings and local favourites
Visitors can expect fried chicken, Greek gyros, stonebaked pizza, Indian street food, smash burgers, and pan-Asian dishes. Tikka Bros, which opened its first outlet in Wigan before expanding to Southport, will serve tandoor-cooked dishes such as Tikka Flame Bites and its loaded Smash Samosa Street Bowl.
Pattersons, known for its fried chicken recipe developed with Michelin-starred chef Max Gnoyke, will bring its famed Exorcist sauce to Wigan. Hello Oriental will offer flavours from China, Japan, Korea, and beyond, including Chinese roasts, dim sum, bao, noodles, and fish-shaped Taiyaki waffles for dessert.
Acropolis, a staple since the original Newcastle site, will serve chicken gyros in Greek pitta with homemade tzatziki, plus Special Fries loaded with cheddar and chicken gyros. ZZA Pizzeria, already popular at five other STACK venues, will offer stonebaked pizzas from classic margherita to inventive toppings, with mozzarella sticks and garlic bread on the side.
Impact on Grand Arcade and beyond
Mike Matthews, Centre Manager at Grand Arcade, said STACK will significantly expand the food offer at the centre, adding six street food kitchens alongside existing coffee shops. He noted that with its own evening opening hours, STACK will bring activity to Grand Arcade beyond the shopping day and support retailers.
Gemma Dishman, Director of Strategy and Development at STACK, said bringing the former Debenhams back to life is about more than filling an empty building, creating a place for food, live entertainment, and shared experiences. The venue joins a STACK family that started in Newcastle in 2018 and now includes locations such as Seaburn, Lincoln, and Middlesbrough.
Beyond Wigan, STACK had plans to take over the former Hatch food village on Oxford Road in Manchester, which has been closed for more than three years. A spokesperson said progress had been delayed due to unforeseen site constraints requiring a redesign, with a revised planning application submitted and a commitment to give former HATCH traders priority in the recruitment process.
STACK Wigan will open at Grand Arcade, Wigan, WN1 1BH. A free drink is available for anyone who signs up to the mailing list.
