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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Emily Heward

Festival Village, Dreamieland and the singing bears - the things you'd like to see brought back to the Trafford Centre

The Trafford Centre has undergone some dramatic changes in its 22-year history.

Opened in 1998, the shopping centre has expanded and evolved beyond recognition with major developments including the Great Hall and the recently redesigned Barton Square, and an ever-changing retail and restaurant line-up.

And this week it's all change again after the landmark changed hands.

We asked MEN readers what they missed most about the shopping centre from years gone by, and it unearthed plenty of memories.

Here's what you said you'd like the new owners to bring back.

Festival Village

Situated at the end of Peel Avenue, this market-themed area was home to all kinds of quirky stalls from independent traders - including its own resident fortune teller.

Pink Parrot was one of the most popular stalls, prompting plenty of memories from readers.

Kat McCormick wrote: "It used to sell incense sticks, vintage clothing, star shaped lightshades, earrings etc. Was really random but reasonably priced."

Suzi Brownhill gave us another blast from the past with her favourite stall.

"I loved Festival Village," she wrote.

"Used to get so many Christmas presents from there. And we used to go regularly as the Beanie Baby stall would have a Beanie Baby as Deal of the week for like £5."

Remember those?

A trip to the Sock Shop stall and buying sweets from Dappledown were also among your favourite memories.

Festival Village was replaced by John Lewis in 2005 - but many would love to see the return of something similar.

Anne-Marie Marshall wrote: "Festival Village was great as it was different from the high street. It would be great to have weekend markets in the Trafford centre for a change."

Graeme Wright said: "Oh to be able to knock the Trafford Centre down and start again from scratch.

"I used to love looking around the Festival Village back in the day - it was where the surprise element could be found.

"The current centre is a carbon copy of any other shopping centre in the country and there is no place for individuality."

The Rainforest Cafe

Part theme park, part restaurant, this Amazon-inspired attraction in The Orient had real life parrots, a giant aquarium, an animatronic alligator and a talking tree that told stories.

Angela Cocker said it was 'magical for children'.

"My daughter met David Beckham in there when Brooklyn was a toddler and he (Brooklyn not David) sat on a ride with her," she wrote.

"The memory stayed with her...such a shame it closed and my grandchildren don't get to experience it."

It closed in 2003 and Nando's now occupies the unit.

The Rainforest Cafe was based in The Orient (Manchester Evening News)

The singing bears

Creepy or cute? We could never quite decide.

But Barton Square's animatronic singing bears - best remembered for their renditions of Time Warp - seem to have been a hit with you lot.

Nicola Roach wrote: "Singing bears, that's all I really used to go to the Trafford Centre for.

"My eldest son loved them and I wish they were still there so I could show my youngest son."

They 'went on holiday' according to a tweet from the Trafford Centre's official Twitter account in 2015 - and haven't been seen or heard from since.

The Adventures of Dreamieland

Situated next to the old UCI cinema - now the Odeon - this kids' ride was hardly a white-knuckle experience, but still quite the trip.

The interactive, animatronic attraction was set in a world where Dreamies create dreams for children and guard them against the evil Dream Guzzlers - led by Queen Gazella - who try to turn them into nightmares.

Passengers had to help the Dreamies in their constant battle by zapping the bad guys with 'guzzler torches' as they made their way around the five minute ride in one of 10 four-seater cars.

We'd forgotten all about this one until Sheree Bailey reminded us of it over on the CityLife Facebook page.

And it seems so had everyone else.

Kat McCormick replied: "Aww wow, forgot about that ride. I used to go at the weekends just for that. Wow the memories you've brought back to me."

Candi Richardson explained: "It was a ride and you would shoot targets, and there was a shop at the end. My kids loved it."

What do you miss most about the Trafford Centre? What would you like to see the new owners bring back? Share your memories in the comments below

The old McDonald's

Plenty of you had fond memories of the old McDonald's upstairs from Festival Square.

The entrance was shaped like a giant carton of fries next to an enormous soft drink cup, while inside, moving figures of Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar travelled around an overhead track.

Replying to someone else who remembered it, Eden Ellis Duke wrote: "I honestly feel like I'm mad when I explain this to people, and no one else remembers it! Glad you've confirmed I am in fact sane."

The nights out

Manto, Tiggi's, The Orangery - the Trafford Centre was as known for its nightlife as it was for shopping back in the day.

While there are still plenty of restaurants and bars in and around the Orient, plenty of you were reminiscing about those it's lost over the years.

Sarah Niland remembered: "Nights out at the Trafford Centre!

"Drinks in Manto, Orangery and Tiggis and that American bar and grill place!

"Rainforest cafe became a club before it closed too! The girls will remember the dance off with Bondy DJing on the closing night."

Kaz McVey also had plenty of fond memories of her time working and playing at the Trafford Centre.

She wrote: "I started working the day it opened in Selfridges on the fragrance counter, we had training at a college as we were not allowed near till open day, I'll never forget my hour lunch break, walking to The Orient and thinking wow! Walking to Festival Village and being blown away, I've always had a huge soft spot for the Traff.

"The Orangery, Kro bar, Trafford Tavern, Rainforest Cafe, Tiggis aka nightclub aka italian restaurant (mint) on a Friday night... American bar & grill forgot its name?? Friday nights!!

"Trafford tavern pub.. (now gourmet burger).

"The best Xmas lights switch on (remember JLS night) roads gridlocked TRAFFORD 10000s proceeded to it..HAMMERED

"Ahh the memories.. but maybe not the same now ( i now live in the dreary Midlands)  but I sure as hell miss it..."

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