I visited shopping centre getting £10m overhaul — it can’t come fast enough (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
In the 25 years since it opened, Quayside MediaCity (previously known as the Lowry Outlet Mall, which was renamed in 2020) has become something of a ‘ghost’ shopping centre, with around 30 units currently sitting empty. And while the shopping centre has certainly seen better days, it’s set to receive a £10 million upgrade soon, even welcoming an indoor electric go-karting venue.
Paying a visit to Quayside, it’s clear that this once well-loved destination is certainly in need of this upgrade. Arriving, it seemed eerily quiet for a huge shopping mall and it was easy to see why, with the majority of storefronts closed up and units sitting empty. I’ve even noticed that the music being played is pretty outdated — think Glee covers playing while you pick up some chocolate from the Cadbury’s outlet.
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The shopping centre is full of closed stores (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
The overhaul can’t come soon enough (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
The Cadbury’s outlet is one of the few shops still standing, along with Marks & Spencer, The Works and Holland & Barrett.
Alongside outlets of well-known brands, there are a few independent shops on the first floor, which are certainly among the highlights. These include Flock and Gaggle, an independent gift shop and creative workshop, and Transcend Tribe, a crystal shop offering yoga classes and Tarot readings.
However, both these venues were closed during my Monday afternoon visit. Having visited them on previous occasions, I can definitely recommend them — just check their opening times before heading all the way to Quayside or you may find yourself disappointed.
Most of the outlets in the food court were closed (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
Elsewhere, the food court is another area that has seen better days. Having previously had Subway and Harry Ramsden, there was just one outlet remaining on my visit and hopefully this is an area that will also be seeing some of the £10 million.
There are other restaurants at the main entrance to the shopping centre, including Bella Italia and The Harvester, but if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat while you shop you may feel rather let down when arriving in the food court.
However, if you head downstairs, there is a new food hall that opened back in 2023, called Kargo MKT, which is certainly among the few highlights of visiting Quayside. It’s home to a range of independent eateries, so even the pickiest of eaters should find something to enjoy. I opted for some tacos, but there’s also pizza, pho, gyros and more.
The Kargo MKT food hall was great (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
While Kargo MKT is great, if you don’t live nearby you’re unlikely to want to travel all the way to Quayside for it, especially when Manchester itself is teeming with food halls at this point. But it’s a good place to eat if you’re planning to catch a film at Quayside Vue, which has managed to survive so far.
Although the shopping centre itself feels eerily deserted, it is clear that some improvements are underway, with the opening of Oxygen ActivePlay, an indoor trampoline park.
Ultimately though, Quayside is almost like a ghost town and it seems to me that the planned overhaul can’t come fast enough.
What will shopping centre’s £10m revamp mean?
The £10m revamp put forward in a planning application is said to want to create new areas for leisure and entertainment, including an indoor electric go-karting venue. The existing food court on the upper level of the building will also be redeveloped under the proposals from Peel Retail and Leisure, along with mostly empty shop units and offices on the floor.
The MEN reported that a planning report hinted at a bowling alley and explained that the proposals align with the council’s 2030 vision for Salford Quays, with an aim of « creating a lively and vibrant town centre at the heart of the waterfront with a focus on activity and providing lots for residents and visitors to do ».
The planning application stated: « The proposed development is seeking to repurpose the existing outdated and largely vacant retail spaces and food court at the upper level of Quayside into a flexible multi-use leisure destination for both local residents and visitors to the Quays. »
A spokesperson for Quayside told the MEN: « Peel Retail and Leisure, which owns and operates Quayside, has submitted planning applications for up to £10m of further investment at the waterfront shopping destination. The proposals are the next step in realising the new vision for Quayside focused on community retail and leisure. There has already been significant recent investment at Quayside, including the introduction of the region’s largest food hall… experiential leisure facilities such as Oxygen indoor trampoline and activity park, the premium indoor golf venue TeeClub and the UCFB University campus. The latest proposals have been developed to bring the remainder of the centre in line with these high-quality leisure and community offerings.
« The proposed investment will be transformational and will enable Quayside to continue playing a pivotal role in the Quays town centre and bringing the centre up to modern day standards. »
