The Entertainer opens at Manchester’s Trafford Centre
The Entertainer has opened a new store at the Trafford Centre, bringing a full-range specialist toy offer to the Manchester scheme for the first time since 2018.
The opening comes amid a period of accelerated expansion for The Entertainer, which has opened eight new stores over the past 12 months.
The new store offers over 3,000 toys, games, and collectibles from leading global manufacturers, and is expected to rival its flagship at Bluewater for the top sales ranking across the retailer’s 150-plus stores.
Following the departure of Hamleys in 2018, The Entertainer’s arrival means the Trafford Centre is home to a retailer with a full-range toy offer for the first time in eight years. The retailer joins a number of single brand and limited-range toy brands at the Trafford Centre, including LEGO, Pop Mart, MINISO, and Kenji.
Kate Pearson, portfolio leasing director at Pradera, said: “The continued growth of the toy and children’s category reflects strong customer demand, making The Entertainer an important addition to our already exceptional retail offer. As Trafford Centre continues to evolve, the introduction of category-leading brands like The Entertainer will play an important role in enhancing the retail mix and ensuring the centre continues to deliver a compelling experience for visitors.”
Andrew Murphy OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Entertainer, added: “Announcing that, we’ve joined the brilliant line-up of top-flight retailers at Trafford Centre is the undoubted highlight of an already exciting year of store openings for us. The toy category is underrepresented in the centre, with customer research showing high demand for our offer.
“We’ve been patiently waiting for almost a decade for the right space to become available, so we’re particularly excited to share this news. With over 3000 different toys, games and collectibles we’ll bring an entirely new level of choice and quality to this iconic shopping location, giving the tens of thousands of families who love shopping there the exciting range of gifts and treats they deserve.”