Walkden Town Centre

Walkden Town Centre (formerly known as The Ellesmere Centre, but many places still use the outdated name, probably down to habits) is the main shopping centre serving Walkden town centre, while it isn't the largest of shopping centres, it does have the largest Tesco Extra store in the UK, this does take up the big bulk of the shopping centre, at least the indoor part anyway.

I think the name change was to add the outdoor part of the shopping centre too.

There is a lot of car parking, the indoor area is unusual in the sense that instead of escalators, they use travellators, I much prefer these as they are more accessible for all, and look better too.

Public transport links to the centre are OK, I do find it annoying that the 36 and 37 buses which are both on the Manchester to Bolton route, which calls here, actually call at different stands at different ends of the shopping centre, I do think having a small bus station would be easier, as it means having to go to one specific bus stop, rather than being able to wait at the same stop for multiple services.

Stores located here include Marks and Spencer, Aldi, Poundland, Pets at Home and Boots, there is also a small number of banks and a Post Office.

Food retailers located here include Subway, Nando's and Domino's.

3* - Not too bad, it is nice for a small town like Walkden, the lower floor on the inside part of the mall does seem to be pretty empty as many retailers have moved to the outside retail park area or the main road.

The Ellesmere Centre is starting to improve. The whole place has been refurbished and new parts have been built to attract that lacking custom and shopping vibe in Walkden.

Tesco was completely rebuilt and revamped - though it does feel very clinical and a bit like the Hive out of resident evil at night...

It's already attracted new custom - Costa Coffee - which is great! They seem to be doing fairly well too. There are always people inside and hopefully this will inspire more custom from other businesses too.

The banks have moved and now have very shiny new spaces; HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, Santander.

The market hall is also revamped with a bigger and better area. There's a good selection of stalls from handbags, to a card shop, to a clothes shop, to a fancy dress shop, to a Polish food stall, to a pet items stall AND best of all.... the old school sweet shop!

However, it does cost 10p or 20p to go to the toilet but they are well looked after!

A list of other shops/facilities around the centre;
JD
Opticians
Electricians
Shoe maker
St.Anns Hospice
Greggs
Computer shop
Quality Save
Nails
Hairdressers
Carpet shop
Boots
Phone shop
Key Cutters
Subway
Tanning shop
Dominoes
Betting Shop
Scents/Candles
School clothes
Aldi - opening this week!

With hopefully more to come!

This place could be great but unfortunately,,,there are too many vacant shops.
I moved to the area in Oct 2011 and there hasn't been very much improvement in the way of more retail outlets!!!
Walkden could be a great shopping place but compared to the likes of Leigh,,,it fails miserably!
I am just hoping that things pick up and whatever the problem is (with regard to all the vacant units) it is somehow resolved,,,i'e,,,maybe reduce the rents,,as it's obviously not attracting many outlets.

There isn't much to do here there is a big tesco a post office boots quality save a couple of designer shops handful of charity shops ummm dry cleaners and key cutters and stuff like that nice fruit and veg shop and errr peacocks a holiday shop think its Thomas cook?? card shops in fact I think there is more than I realised! Well anyway its not that great if you want to go clothes shopping (except the designer shops) but there is a lift and its got ramps etc and it has a fantastic cafe called lowrys! Oh and barbers and hairdressers banks and oooh just outside there is a fantastic bag shop sells gorgeous designer bags! JJB and um that other sports shop think its JD? Blockbuster but that might have closed? Subway macdonalds and kfc, BIG FREE CARPARK