‘What Trafford Centre has been missing’ – shoppers rush to TWO new toy shops at giant mall

The Entertainer becomes the first standalone toy shop at the Trafford Centre in nearly a decade.

You wait years for a big toy shop to open at the Trafford Centre, and then two come along at once…. The Entertainer has become the first standalone toy shop at the giant shopping mall since Hamleys closed its doors almost a decade ago, opening up on Regent Crescent for the first time at the weekend.

It was followed a day later by the new Disney concession inside Selfridges, which has doubled the size of its footprint inside the department store with a range of in-store exclusives. The arrival of the toy giants, on the countdown to the Christmas run-in, has delighted shoppers.

The grand opening of the new flagship Entertainer store saw plenty to celebrate, with much-loved children’s characters Bluey and Muffin making a special appearance, a spin-to-win experience for shoppers, and one of The Entertainer’s iconic trolley dashes taking place at the centre.

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In a special moment of generosity, 14-year-old Liv, and 13-year-old Summer, both patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, were invited to take part in the trolley dash, filling a trolley with toys for themselves and other children spending time on the hospital’s wards.

The doors opened at the new store on Saturday, revealing more than 3,000 toys, games and collectibles from some of the world’s biggest toy manufacturers, including LEGO, Mattel, Meccano, Hasbro, and Zuru. There’s also a big Hot Wheels display, as well as Star Wars and Marvel toys.

The store also features some of the biggest toy crazes of the moment, from Squishmallows, NeeDoh, and KPop Demon Hunters – to the latest launches and seasonal favourites. That includes Pokemon collectibles, with big queues expected on Wednesday, September 16, for the latest card drop which is set to make it into the store.

Hit cartoon characters Bluey and Muffin joined the fun in giant mascot form throughout the opening day, giving young fans the chance to meet the much-loved characters, pose for photos and make the most of the opening-day celebrations. The store features a back wall dedicated to its Early Learning Centre range of pre-school toys and favourites, including a full Bluey range.

Store manager David Bracegirdle said the firm is delighted to finally have a spot inside the Trafford Centre. He said: “It’s what’s been missing for a long time at the Trafford Centre, and we’ve been trying to get in here for a long time.

“We bring the fun, and there will be lots of interactive elements and demos. There’s something for everyone.”

There’s also a full display of the Top Ten toys for Christmas in store – these are the products The Entertainer reckon will be the most wanted on kids’ list for Santa this year, and you can find the full list here. And there’s also a new display of adult collectibles in the shop too called The Drop Zone, with things like Fugglers and Funko Pop figures.

The arrival of The Entertainer at Trafford Centre marks the retailer’s eighth new store opening in the last 12 months.

Andrew Murphy OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Entertainer, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to finally be bringing The Entertainer to Trafford Centre. We’ve been waiting nearly a decade for the right opportunity to open here, so to be able to welcome families through our doors and offer an enormous amount of choice at one of the UK’s most iconic shopping destinations is a very exciting moment for us.”

Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Entertainer to Trafford Centre. Families are at the heart of our offer, and this latest opening gives them even more reasons to visit, explore and spend time together.

“With something for children of all ages, The Entertainer is a fantastic addition to our mix of family-friendly shopping, dining and leisure experiences.”

Rachel Laycock, Senior Manager at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity thanked the store for organising the trolley dash on the opening day. She said: “Manchester Foundation Trust Charity is delighted to team up with The Entertainer on this special trolley dash to mark the opening of the new store. It was a wonderful opportunity for Liv and Summer to choose some fantastic toys for themselves, while also thinking about the children and young people spending time in hospital.

“We know how much moments like this can mean to our young patients and families, particularly when they’ve been through a challenging time. We’re so pleased to give Liv and Summer the chance to have some fun, build their confidence and create lovely memories, while also bringing some extra joy to other patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital through the toys they choose.”

Meanwhile the new Disney store inside Selfridges opened amid a bit of a fan frenzy on Monday. For the next four weeks, it will be the only place where shoppers can buy certain products from the new Pastel Ghost range and also the Christmas range. They won’t be available online during the next month either.

The new store offers official Disney, Pixar, MARVEL and Star Wars products, with a ‘carefully curated’ range stemming across apparel, accessories, stationery, plush, collectibles and dress-up collections inspired by Disney’s most-loved stories and characters. It is also expected to sell other exclusive and limited edition items.

As well as Pastel Ghost and Christmas, it’s among the first place in the North West to sell the much-loved Selfridges Plush Collection, featuring the iconic yellow Winnie the Pooh plush. It marks the first time the range has returned since selling out during its previous release.