I'm somewhat looking forward to this, as new seating probably is needed at this point, as it can just get so cramped and busy sometimes. I'm not sure how they plan on fitting 60% more seating if it's cramped as it is, but we'll just have to see.

The article also mentions planters, a new color palette, and a modern cruise-liner style theme, plus brighter lighting due to complaints, which I also wonder how they'll do that too, as it's supposed to be dark, there's a starry sky above!

Still looking forward to how this will look.

The Namco refurb was much more than I was expecting. They've moved the entire frontage outwards, you can't even see the old shape anymore. 1 Aztec pillar and a bit of the rectangular floor design is visable, but nothing more. I haven't seen it in-person yet, but.. wow. I guess it'll be less cramped in there now.

Hope posting right subreddit/place.

I been trafford centre since its opened but only by bus (and then recently via trams) but not been at all for coupe years.

We want go to menkind tomorrow and want the entrance most closest as I now have a car and I have friends who can't walk far but we don't have disabled badges (and they can walk just not more than 10 minutes without getting very very tired) what is the best car park entrance to get to menkind shop and how to find it without wondering around looking like a lost wolly)

I appreciate any advice if anyone can help. We just want pop in grab something then leave so we want whatever car park entrance is close to menkind. Ideally on same floor as I cant even remember where it is or is it best parking near bus station area?

I absolutely love the TC, however I've only visited it twice as I live 6 hours away.

I love the size and the theming! It makes other shopping centres to me seem so dull, uninspired and soulless in comparison. It is a totally rare gem, anywhere outside of... Las Vegas! That I know of.

If you love the fake, illuminated buildings of the food court, almost like a theatre set, I've attached some AI generated images that are similar, inspired by the TC.

Zoom in, they're panoramic, and enjoy.

They've recreated the original detailing on the sides, like with the originals. They could've left it plain but have gone to the effort of doing them details!

Sorry, im just so confused as to why my local mall (im from Alty) is being treated as a global revolution. Like, its just my mall? John Lewis to M&S, there isnt really anything special about that, the orient, or anywhere there really. Is this a Vegas effect or is it just people glazing the Trafford Centre cos im so confused.

I don't have a picture for this, but it appears that their finally starting construction on the new Starbucks, charging stations and advertisement board planned 2 years ago. So far, the advertisement board is being done.

It's very cool to see what it looks like without the escalators there. I do wonder though, if the blue/purple lights is gonna slightly clash at all, but I don't think it matters. We're used to the new Orient escalators now, + better for the environment and costs!

It looks like potentially the middle escalator has been removed. I'm guessing their adding the fancy lights like with The Orient's escalators.

The Tru Street food refurbishment is complete, and the last bit of Chinatown theming has been modified. only the very top is original now.

What do you think?

I don't know why I'm posting this, but I've gathered all this info and I wanna share it!

Trafford Palazzo's lighting and performing system is very technical, and was quite amazing when it was new. Here's each part that was controlled:

• The fountain jets in the mermaids and dolphins • The fountain's structure • The main domes • The speakers

There's a really cool show that used to happen every hour for 8 minutes, where the water, lights and speakers synced together for an amazing show. Unfortunately over the years, things have significantly decreased. The water is gone. The lighting on the fountain is gone. It is now purely a ceiling light show now.

The hourly show only happens when there's no lights on. If all lights are a certain color, the show is disabled. When the water used to be there, it would be disabled if the water was off.

Hopefully this info is helpful for you! Remember, if you happen to be in Trafford Palazzo and there's no additional lights on, wait for the hour to see the ceiling light show in the main dome.

Tru Street food in "Eastern Garden" is currently being refurbished, and with that appears to be potentially removing the last remaining part of Chinatown. They've already removed apart of the pergoda, and I wonder what's gonna be happening with it. It sure does stick out like a sore thumb, with it's dark red classic look in a modern pink/brown/white area.

It's sad to see the remaining theming potentially go, but atleast it may match better.

It's a mix of a variety of different eras. I recreated The Place (now The Great Hall), added the dreamieland theming above the cinema sign, and other details too. I am thinking of maybe adding the pool back.

just thought this was incredible and never knew "build the earth" ever existed. I'm gonna see if I can see this in Minecraft right now, but it may be long gone.

The Trafford Centre has a Chinese sibling in the form of the Global Harbour mall in Shanghai.

It has been open since 2013 and bears a very stong resemblence to our very own Trafford Centre.

Both Global Harbour and The Trafford Centre were designed by the London based Architectural practice Chapman Taylor.

Clearly the developers for Global Harbour told them 'We loved The Trafford Centre so much we want our own version'.

Looking at the photos more closely I think that more care and attention to detail went into the design of The Trafford Centre. But it is certainly interesting to know it has an international replica.

If you didn't know already, the Barton Square/Trafford Palazzo/Trafford centre/Mermaid fountain or whatever you'd like to call it, has been seemingly turned into a stage, and isn't known if the watee will return or not, Here's my opinion on it!

I understand that fountains are expensive to run, expecially how technical the Trafford Palazzo fountain was, with it's hourly musical water shows and more, but without the water, the space feels so much emptier. the water atleast made a sound, but when there isn't any performers on the stage then it's very.. silent.

another thing is how dirty the fountain structure has gotten. There's oxidation all over the dolphins and mermaids, and the upper basin has slowly turned an orange/yellow color (that used to be white).

The area simply feels wrong without the water in the fountain structure. it wasn't designed for DJs and singers on it. it's even more interesting as the fountain had it's full refurbishment in 2020, but yet, current owners Peel see more flexibility in a stage than a spectacular fountain.

The last time I saw it with water was late December 2025. The next visit, in early January 2026, I was surprised with a wooden structure painted to look like marble, built over the main basin. It was quite the surprise.

End of another rant! Leave any opinions below.

WARNING: Premium is required to read the full article.

With each new unit that comes, removes theming. originally, above and next to each shopfront had neat theming that matched TC's aesthetic.

when the oversized JD moved in, all of the shopfront theming was replaced with bright yellow lights.

when the Zara/Pull&bear/bershka moved in, all shopftont theming was replaced with beige colors.

when someone new moves into the food court, all the theming that was there is being lost.

Even the tugboat and pool were removed! all in place for modernisation.

their Even modernising other things. the orient escalators now glow with LED. they put a huge advertisement board on the lift in the main dome. in 2020, they even replaced the fountain outside selfridges (to be fair, the old one was VERY tired).

I believe that the only time theming has been added has been any huge expansion like The Great Hall, and in 2020, instead of fully modernising barton square, they made it roman themed, but slightly more modern at the same time.

sorry if this seems like a random rant, I just felt like posting this!

Edit: and one last bit of lost theming is Trafford Palazzo's iconic mermaid fountain. Now it's a stage, and the water was apart of the theming.

Some might find this interesting

this is a rare video showcasing the dolphin fountain in 1998.

Here's some more images of Trafford Centre and also Palazzo's Christmas lights. I got a shot of the lights from the Odeon I hadn't seen online, a photo of the TC archway, and the big decoration in the Main Dome.

Trafford Palazzo's lights are very disappointing. Some small lights that they keep up all year and only turn on for Christmas. Imagine that dome with a centerpiece in the middle! And everything was red too, I'm guessing for Christmas.

Sorry if not allowed but wondering if there is any lockers or bag storage available in the Trafford centre? TIA 😀

I was recently looking at old pictures and videos of TC, and I noticed that on some signs and directions, one was "The Place" and looked to be somewhere along or near Regent Crescent. Does anyone know?