The Trafford Centre in Manchester has undergone a significant makeover with the launch of its newly renovated food court, reimagined as 'Eastern Gardens'. This vibrant space celebrates homegrown, independent restaurants, offering a diverse range of culinary experiences.
The Trafford Centre in Manchester has unveiled its newly renovated multi-million pound food court , reimagined as ' Eastern Gardens '. The former China Town quarter has undergone a dramatic transformation, boasting bright, modern décor, a new circular entrance feature, and a focus on homegrown, independent restaurants. This marks a significant shift for the shopping centre, dedicating the space to local culinary talent for the first time.
While the revamped food court reopened to the public before Christmas, a formal launch event was held on Wednesday, February 12, to showcase all the new brands that have since opened. The circular entrance welcomes guests under a canopy of pink cherry blossom trees spanning the newly-opened glass roof, setting a vibrant tone. The pink theme continues throughout the passageway, leading to food and drink operators from across Greater Manchester. These include Nichi, Chit ‘n’ Chaat, Hello Oriental restaurant and bakery, and Blanchflower Coffee and Bakery. The floor is adorned with a striking new Chinese lattice tiled design, guiding visitors into the main Orient and Great Hall space inside the Trafford Centre. Trafford Centre director Simon Layton expressed the centre's commitment to preserving its grandeur while embracing new culinary experiences: 'This centre is very unique, it's always been synonymous with grandeur and opulence. We wanted to retain that magic with some of the new brands we're now bringing into the centre. 'Every brand at Eastern Gardens is home grown Manchester talent. Culinary talent is a really key part of Manchester's culture so we're really proud to showcase that here.'Eastern Gardens is a key thoroughfare leading to the central food court, The Orient. Formerly known as China Town, this passageway underwent months of closure while works were underway for the multi-million pound revamp. Trafford Centre's Kitty Vaughan emphasized the significance of this redevelopment: 'This is the first redevelopment that's happened here since The Trafford Centre was built. We wanted to make smaller units to make space for independent brands. The rise of the food scene in Manchester city centre is incredible, so we wanted to get a taste of that here. 'The cuisines here are absolutely gaps in the market we didn't previously have. It was about looking at the Trafford Centre as a whole and thinking of bringing in elements we didn't have and supporting locals.'Several established Manchester eateries have made their debut at Eastern Gardens. Hello Oriental, a hit Chinese restaurant and food hall, has opened its second venue after the success of its original in Manchester at Circle Square on Oxford Road. Founded by Ricky Yip and Azim Koura, the menu boasts over 100 dishes, ranging from popular East Asian street food to traditional favorites like dim sum, noodles, and Cantonese roast meats, along with a dedicated kids' menu. Co-owner Azim believes the Trafford Centre's unique atmosphere sets it apart: 'If people are coming to the centre for modern, oriental food, I'd like to think we're number one on that list. People are coming here to engage with brands, and to spend their hard-earned money.' Nichi, a new high-end Japanese Peruvian restaurant, occupies a 3,000 sq ft space offering an array of sushi, Wagyu, and tableside flambé dishes. The venue boasts resident DJs, an omakase tasting menu, and a chic setting with black and red décor and lantern lighting. A mezzanine level provides a private space for omakase dining, and the restaurant features a late license with live DJ performances on weekends. Led by a seasoned team including Head Chef Kentaro Yanagisawa, who has worked at renowned restaurants Sexyfish and Nobu, Nichi aims to bring a touch of sophistication to the Trafford Centre.Restaurant director Vanessa Mor explained the concept: 'We wanted to bring something high end to the Trafford Centre. In Asia it's quite normal to bring high end dining to shopping mall settings so that's what we wanted to do here.'Rusholme legends Chit n Chaat have opened their first Trafford Centre outpost, adding to their existing venues in Cheadle, Deansgate Square, and now London. This Indian street food restaurant, which opened before Christmas, has already become a popular choice for shoppers. Co-owner Sagar Modha expressed his excitement: 'It's a dream come true to be opening at the Trafford Centre as a Manchester born-and-bred brand. We've done a menu going from north to south of India, and this is food from the streets of India to the people of Manchester'.The final piece of the puzzle will be the arrival of independent bakery and kitchen Blanchflower, renowned for its locations in Altrincham and Sale. Founded by Phil and Claire Howells, Blanchflower will bring its own bakery from Sale, producing fresh bread, cakes, and pastries to Eastern Gardens
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