I went to the Trafford Centre to buy a last minute Christmas present this

Before I became a journalist, I endured three hard years in the food court at the Trafford Centre.

Let me tell you – Christmas time was hell. A mecca of commerce, the festive season would see thousands of people cram themselves into the humongous mall – not only to shop until they dropped, but to protect themselves from Manchester’s less than forgiving winter weather.

Staff knew it was all hands on deck. The Boxing Day sales were by far the worst, but the lead up to Christmas Day was always hectic, exhausting and anxiety inducing.

Being Muslim, you’d think that I’d be spared from all this, but my mother decided to come into the world on December 25 – meaning her future son wouldn’t be exempt from buying, wrapping and handing out expensive gifts… even if it was all to one person.

So this Saturday afternoon (December 21), I whizzed down the East Lancs and onto the M60 to nip to the Trafford Centre to get her a last minute present.

With my past experiences working there, I expected the worst. Instead, I was left confused.

Stalls in Selfridges were not as busy as I expected

During my time at the Trafford Centre, I learned the tell-tale signs the shops would be rammed. A full car park is one. A full car park with drivers inquisitively circling, waiting for that all-important stop is another.

Another’s the queue for Nando’s starting outside the main entrance.

There were none of those signs on arrival. Of course, with it being midday on an overcast Saturday afternoon it was busy, but there was still plenty of space and minimal queues.

A heaving Trafford Centre can be suffocating. It can turn into a battle for space as an nervous and frantic energy fills the air as shoppers dart about.

Queues can spill out of the shops. And inside the stores, there can be pandemonium with staff trying their hardest to cope. This Saturday was nothing like that – to my great surprise.

Punters surveyed the mall with a leisurely stroll. There was always at least one free bench for respite and famished shoppers didn’t have to wait too long for a seat in the food court.

Popular shops like JD, Next, Apple Store, Zara and H&M were busy, but the staff didn’t look too exhausted. This could very well be might be the new normal at Christmas as the nation continues to struggle with the cost of living crisis.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, it’s been a similar story in recent days. Last night, the Manchester Evening News ventured into the city centre. We were met with deserted streets and empty bars – a far cry from the vibrant, bustling and electric atmosphere we were expecting this Mad Friday.

Earlier, we visited the Christmas Markets to speak to traders about how they had fared this year. The feedback was rather bleak. Stall owners described 2024’s festive season in town as the ‘worst one ever’.

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