There are plans to create a huge outdoor dining and entertainment venue that will encompass a beach in two of the Trafford Center’s busiest parking lots.
Bosses have submitted plans to convert parts of The Orient’s parking lot closest to the Great Hall into Summer Social – a huge outdoor event and food hub.
Plans, submitted to Trafford Council, show an outdoor arena with seating, a number of themed food and drink buses, and a “kids entertainment zone” with a fairground – bosses hope to walk outside of the shops during the summer and the busy fall and winter months of the mall .
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While 650 parking spaces may be occupied by Summer Social, about 10,800 more free parking spaces remain on the huge Trafford Center site for buyers, according to the bosses.
The bosses hope the outdoor event space could host anything from fashion shows to yoga classes in the summer, while offering seasonal events linked to the Halloween and Christmas races next to the mall’s Great Hall.
Parts of the Orient parking lots have been used for rides, a winter market and the Ferris wheel attraction in recent years.
The new plans are currently under review by Trafford Council, but if approved, the bosses hope the site can be up and running in time for the school summer break.
A spokesman for the Trafford Center told MEN this week: “We can confirm that we have applied for a preliminary building permit to use our outdoor space for an exciting new outdoor experience.
“We can’t reveal too much yet, but our Summer Social will be one of the must-visit events of the summer that combines good food, entertainment and wellbeing fun.”
The Trafford Center has submitted a building application to host a “Summer Social” event on two of its Orient parking lots
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In a full application sent by the center to Trafford Council, the event was originally billed as “Trafford Live” but is now known as Summer Social.
The application states: “Last year was an unprecedented time for the retail and leisure industries.
“The long-term shutdown of non-essential retail, food and hospitality is having tremendous detrimental effects on retail and leisure destinations, on employment levels in the industry, and while necessary to keep the country safe, so do consumers a year of conviviality and joy.
“Against this background, it is proposed that Orient Car Parks 10 and 11 south of the Trafford Center be used as temporary event space in the summer.
Plans call for food to be served from the bus company’s quirky vehicles
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“This will provide an exciting recreational opportunity for visitors to the Trafford Center, create much-needed new jobs in the summer, provide an opportunity for outdoor socializing for a period when some may feel more comfortable meeting outside than inside, and more overall provide space for visitors to the Trafford Center to ensure that occupancy within the center remains at a safe level. “
The proposals envisage that part of The Orient Car Park 10 will become a pop-up beach with associated stands and rides with a capacity of up to 1,340 people.
Meanwhile, an area of Orient Car Park 11 is proposed for an outdoor pop-up food and beverage market with a variety of portable outlets.
The images provided with the application are from “high quality food operators” The Bus Business and Angelic Food Mobile Company.
The bus company’s converted double-deckers are part of the plans
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They use repurposed double-deckers, vans, and other quirky vehicles to offer a variety of street food options, and the area will have a capacity of 3,000 people.
The report goes on to say that the center of the space would include a 24m by 12m weatherproof structure to be suggested for a variety of events and activities such as yoga and other exercise classes, fashion shows, branding, private dining, and covered seating for visitors, too the food and drink units.
“This offer will complement both the existing offer in the Trafford Center and the adjacent pop-up beach and leisure facility,” it says.
The Summer Social plans follow the plans of the car company Tesla to occupy parking spaces in the Regent 11 parking lot, which served the now closed Debenhams department store.
Part of the Debenhams Car Park is earmarked for Tesla
(Image: ABNM Photography)
The electric car company plans to create a temporary showroom and delivery hub with 450 spaces in the parking lot, which will include 18 charging points on the site.
According to the plans, the parking lot could be used as customer parking again in December at the “peak” shopping time for the Trafford Center.
