Plans to turn the roof of Stretford Mall into an open air cinema, ‘curiosity garden’ and pop-up bar are getting closer.
A licensing decision is due to be made by Trafford council this evening (May 24), which would allow the venue to serve alcohol, screen films and play music on site.
A planning application from Up Top Stretford was approved in August last year, allowing the venue to operate for six months of the year for an initial two year period.
Now, the next stage of the proposals hinges on the local authority’s licensing committee.
If approved, the Up Top team will get permission for selling alcohol both on an off the premises, screening films and having operating hours between 12 noon and 9.30pm Sunday to Thursday and between 12 noon and 10pm Friday and Saturday.
The company behind the plans is headed up by Helen Garlick.
She said: “We’re hoping to be open for the summer and are trying to work closely with the council and [developers] Bruntwood to get the space open and working in good way, as an accepting and inclusive space for everyone.
“We have some things to work through due to the uniqueness of the setup, and everybody is working towards the final goal of creating a really positive communal space and an asset for Stretford, no-one wants to do it in an unsafe way.
“We’re calling it a curiosity garden, with a pop-up bar with brewers and gin distillers. We want to harbour new traders and interesting styles of food – a space that is open to lots of different community actors.
“There will be spaces with no alcohol, to create an inviting space bearing in mind everybody in Stretford and wider Manchester.
“We want to make Stretford a destination, not somewhere you stop when passing through – a place to stay, the place to be.”
Ms Garlick said the project has had a ‘really positive response from community, with lots of people wanting to get involved’.
Trafford council’s licensing committee will make a decision on Up Top’s licensing application from 6.30pm this evening (Monday May 24).
