Peel has recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with the American-style restaurant chain, Archie’s, to introduce a leisure concept at Trafford Palazzo, the UK’s first next-generation experience centre. This collaboration heralds the arrival of a distinct 24,273 sq ft dining and entertainment venue, infused with the popular Archie’s cuisine and aesthetic, centered around an expansive 5,380 sq ft roller rink.
Archie’s, which first opened its doors on Manchester’s Oxford Road in 2010, has grown into a well-loved culinary fixture in the North-West of England. With a presence across Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool, the brand’s recent expansion includes a presence in the UK’s first NERF Action Xperience site at Trafford Palazzo.
“Archie’s Atomic,” set to open in summer 2024, will occupy a prime spot on the ground floor of Trafford City’s Trafford Palazzo. Positioned next to the NERF Action Xperience and facing the SEA LIFE Manchester Aquarium, it offers a combination of a roller rink, a family arcade area, and an Archie’s shake bar. Designed for both novice and seasoned roller-skaters, this vibrant indoor space will also facilitate brand activations, local graffiti artist showcases, and private bookings for large corporate events.
The launch of Archie’s Atomic is in line with Peel’s strategy to create a vibrant and diverse retail and leisure experience at Trafford Palazzo. This venture is part of a series of unique concepts at the destination, following the recent additions of King Pins and the NERF Action Xperience.
Mark Whittaker, Peel’s Executive Director of Retail and Leisure, shared his excitement: “We’re hugely excited to announce that Archie’s has selected Trafford Palazzo to be the first home of its Atomic leisure concept. The commitment of yet another debut concept is evidence of Trafford Palazzo’s appeal, catchment, and forward-thinking approach, and it’s great to play a part in the expansion of a local favourite. We’ve attracted a string of world and UK firsts over the past year, including NERF AX and King Pins, and Archie’s will be another great addition to the UK’s first next-generation experience centre.”
Mohammed Amer Rafiq, Managing Director at Archie’s, also commented: “Introducing an Archie’s branded leisure concept has been in the works for a while now, and deciding on a location was a vital part of the process of bringing it to life. At Trafford Palazzo, we have a ready-made destination catered perfectly towards experience-led retail and leisure. The new concept will have all the excellent food, drinks, and décor you would expect from any of our Archie’s sites, but with exciting activities for all the family to explore. It’s a hugely exciting year for Archie’s, with the expansion into London and internationally in the Middle East – we can’t wait to open Archie’s Atomic, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Trafford Palazzo’s community through the doors.”
2023 marked a significant year for Trafford Palazzo, with nearly 60,000 sq ft of new lettings and unprecedented footfall. The centre introduced a novel blend of retail and leisure, welcoming the NERF Action Xperience, a flagship site for King Pins, and the first Northern site of the visually striking EL&N café.
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