A new food hub and events space for Stretford has been given the green light by councillors. Street food specialist GRUB will move into the multi-storey car park in Stretford town centre, with the venue spilling out into Sir Tony Lloyd Square.
Day and Night Transformation
By day, the hub will operate as a bakery, coffee shop, and pop-up bottle store. In the evening, from Thursday to Sunday, it will transform into a larger-scale destination featuring several street food traders and live entertainment.
Plans aim to create a community space where Stretford residents can gather for food, events, and family activities. This initiative is part of Trafford council's broader vision for town regeneration, which has included demolishing much of Stretford mall for a new shopping parade and replacing remaining structures with housing.
Local Enthusiasm
Residents have expressed excitement about the hub. Conor Kelly, 34, called it 'brill' and noted the space is currently underused. He said, 'Since the mall closed down, there’s not been a huge amount going on.' Zoe Sincock, also 34, added, 'There’s not that many places to go out to eat around here. So it’ll be nice to be able to go out for something to eat.'
Trafford councillors approved the plans at the planning committee meeting on June 11. Liberal Democrat councillor Ulrich Savary said, 'I'm very happy to support it. It's going to be a great addition for Stretford.'
Temporary Approval and Conditions
A temporary ‘scaffold wall’ will be erected around the food hall for enclosure, though planning officers noted this is not an appropriate long-term solution. Approval is granted on a temporary basis of 19 months, reflecting GRUB's lease. Concerns about noise were raised by Green councillor Gareth Twose, but officers confirmed a noise management plan is in place with enforcement options for breaches.
The scheme was announced three weeks ago, with consultation ending the day before the committee meeting. Trafford council expedited the process to allow GRUB to open in time for the football World Cup. Opening hours are 8am to 11pm, with extended hours for home games. Alcohol will be served from midday, and live music may occur between midday and 10pm.
