The giant shopping centre has hit an extraordinary milestone – with not a single retail unit available to let. Here’s what’s newly opened, and what’s coming up before the end of the year.
The Trafford Centre is “fully let”(Image: MEN)
The Trafford Centre has marked an extraordinary milestone – with every single retail unit fully let. Bosses say the 100 per cent occupancy is “unheard of in a centre of this size in the UK” cementing what has been a sustained period of growth for the giant shopping mall.
Despite economic headwinds, consumers have continued to flock in their thousands to the Trafford shopping centre in recent months. It even registered a record-breaking August at the shopping mall, seeing 34,000 more visitors than across the whole of December 2025 – the previous busiest month of the year for the centre.
With three months of shopping still left, the Trafford Centre is on course for a record 2026 in terms of footfall. And that comes amid a burgeoning time for the centre’s retail offering.
Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter
Walking around the main malls of the Trafford Centre there are currently only two empty units – the former FootAsylum unit after it 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 of these units have already been let, marking the 100 percent occupancy.
Bosses say there’s now a waiting list of retailers waiting for units to come available. 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.”
Asked why he thinks the Trafford Centre is continuing to attract big name retailers, he 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.”
The news comes amid a series of big openings across the summer months – including big new stores from fitness brands Lululemon, GARAGE and FootAsylum, as well as new toy shops from The Entertainer and the Disney Store inside Selfridges.
There are more big openings to come in the next couple of weeks, with the opening dates for Japanese lifestyle brand UNIQLO and American fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken now confirmed.
Mr Layton pointed to the record-breaking August registering 34,000 MORE visitors than in December 2025 that he put down to the heatwave driving more people indoors to get away from soaring temperatures. 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!”
However, December 2025 still holds the record for busiest day ever recorded at the mall. That was on December 20, when 141,000 shoppers descended on the Trafford Centre.
Here we take a look at the new openings since June at the shopping centre, and what’s still to come in the months ahead.
New openings since June
These are all the new openings since June at the mall.
Frurt – frozen yoghurt self-serve at the Bandstand in The Orient
Coach – accesories brand in a new unit on Peel Avenue
FootAsylum – sportswear retailer opened its big new flagship store on Peel Avenue in June
Lululemon – the fitness and leisurewear brand opened in a bigger new unit at The Main Dome in July
Forbici – pizza restaurant loved by chefs and critics opened in the former Franca Manca unit at The Orient in August
JD cafe – a new cafe inside the vast JD Sports store (the biggest in the world now) on Regent Crescent
Disney store – a new iteration of the Disney concession now open inside Selfridges, next to Jellycat
The Entertainer – a first standalone toy shop at the Trafford Centre in a decade opened up in September
NAMCO – the longstanding amusement arcade unveiled a big digital new entrance and revamp in September
GARAGE – the Canadian fitness brand has opened a big new store in the past couple of weeks
Belstaff – the premium British jacket brand has opened its first Trafford Centre store on Peel Avenue
Music store – the music accessories shop moved to a new unit (opposite its old one) on Regent Crescent just ast the weekend
Savante Chocolates – the chocolatiers, known for their incredibly realistic edible versions of things like spanners, cars and make-up, have now opened a pop-up in the run-up to Christmas next to John Lewis.
What’s opening next
Here’s what shoppers can expect to see opening in the next few weeks as the Christmas run-in begins.
Uniqlo – the hugely popular Japanese lifestyle store will finally opens its doors to a vast Trafford Centre flagship on October 15. With lots of giveaways planned, shoppers can expect huge queues.
Wasabi – Sushi and bento box restaurant Wasabi is coming to The Orient. It is taking over from the Hop Vietnamese stall and will be opening from October 18
Build-a-Bear – kiddy favourite Build-a-Bear is closed at the moment while bosses undertake a major makeover on Peel Avanue. It is set to reopen with a new look, and two new stuffing machines, from October 19
Dave’s Hot Chicken – It’s felt like a long-time coming, but finally fried chicken specialists Dave’s Hot Chicken have announced their opening date will be from October 23 at their big new site in the Great Hall. More news on opening day giveaways are expected soon.
Levi’s store – there will be a new-look Levi’s store coming in November, with exact opening date TBC. The current Levi’s shop on Regent Crescent will remain open until then, the new unit is just opposite.
