We’re enjoying a little trip down memory lane before our brand-new dining quarter opens this year. We’ve had a few different looks and much-loved stores over the years – we’ve been here for 41 years now!
Here’s a brief history of the centre to jog your memory…
1979
HRH Princess Royal officially opened Manchester Arndale in 1979. The original Arndale Centre was built between 1971 and 1979 by developers Town & City Properties, the successors to the Arndale Property Trust.
The Arndale Property Trust was formed in the early 1950s and was named after its founders, Arnold Hagenbach and Sam Chippindale. The centre opened in stages and originally contained 210 shops and 200 market stalls.
1981
Busy thoroughfare Market Street was pedestrianised.
1990
As a shopping centre, Manchester Arndale was outstandingly successful and became extensively well known. It attracted widespread media attention when Manchester indie band, Northside, filmed ‘My Rising Star’ video on top of the iconic Arndale Tower in 1990.
1997
Construction began following the massive damage caused by the IRA attack in 1996. The southern half of the centre was extensively repaired, rebuilt and refurbished.
2003
The new glass link bridge opened connecting the main mall to Marks & Spencer. Later the building was split into two independent shops. Half remained a Marks & Spencer brand while the side facing Exchange Square became Selfridges. The structure has won numerous awards and the new footbridge has symbolised the renaissance of Manchester city centre since the bomb.
In Autumn 2003, at the final stage of rebuilding, the half of the centre north of Cannon Street was closed and demolished. Over the next three years the northern half of the centre was completely rebuilt and extended adding an additional 600,000 ft2 of retail space and attracting several brands to open their first Manchester store.
2005
The first phase of the northern extension, known as Exchange Court opened. This was followed by the second phase, known as New Cannon Street, in April 2006 with the third and final and final
phase, Wintergarden, opening in September. Some of the centre’s biggest brands now reside here, including the largest Next in the UK and Ireland, and the UK’s second largest Topshop / Topman.
2017
Construction begins on Halle Place, formerly Halle Square, to offer customers a new contemporary casual dining destination in the heart of Manchester Arndale – opening towards the end of 2018.
Today, Manchester Arndale welcomes over 40 million shoppers a year making it the most visited inner-city shopping centre in the UK.
