A boom town in Trafford is welcoming 50,000 weekly visitors and expects a 10% rise in footfall by the end of the year, when compared with 2024.
Sale is on the up as an all-day destination hang-out – an alternative to Manchester city centre and others, with its popularity continuing to rise.
Traders in and around the smart Stanley Square precinct say a growing population of young families coupled with a range of ‘symbiotic’ amenities and attractions have contributed to the town’s glow-up.
Business property manager Altered Space reports events such as the Makers’ Market, Twilight Market and community celebrations are attracting up to 10,000 visitors per day, when combined with initiatives such as a free monthly tea dance for older people.
Great Bee Network transport links and a £1m upgrade to the town’s multi storey car park, providing 220 extra-wide spaces, plus a thriving office scene, are also helping the success of Sale.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
“The transformation of Sale is a real success story in our borough and testament to the business community who work together, tirelessly, to give people countless good reasons to live, work and visit here.
“We're proud of the success of all four Trafford towns – Sale, Altrincham, Stretford and Urmston – and urge local people support our high streets and shop local for Christmas gifts."
What the traders say:
Tony Mundin, owner of the Northern Light cinema on Stanley Square, said:
“It’s a buzzing business community here that's well supported by residents from nearby and further afield.
“The offerings complement each other – you can shop, eat, have a beauty treatment and come to the cinema. It’s truly symbiotic. Fair play to everyone involved in making Sale to centre what it is.”
Rowan Hammond, owner of Green and Grounded florist on Stanley Square said:
"The traders here are very much a community. We work together and have each other's backs. We really care about how our shops look, what we sell and the experience that our customers have."
Rowan, who also has a shop at Altrincham Market, continued:
"People come into the shop to buy gifts for other people and treat themselves. Men used to buy plants and flowers for their partners, now they often just buy for themselves, for the enjoyment of them. There's been a real shift in the way people shop."
Rob Benson, owner of B&V Trading Co, opened his store in Sale before the pandemic, supplying the town's dog owners with natural foods and accessories. He also has stores in Knutsford, Altrincham Market and Macclesfield, and is soon to add another in Glossop. He said:
"What makes Sale so special is the number of independent retailers together in a small area, supported by the big chains. So, you can pop into Boots or Aldi for essentials but also come and browse for something different.
"Most of the shops and eateries around here are dog friendly and as traders we work hard to keep the buzz. We have a big, diverse population to cater for – it's such a friendly place. We know so many dogs and their humans, and we constantly meet new ones."
Phil Howells, who runs Blanchflower Bakery and Kitchen, with his wife Claire, spotted the potential for Sale to become a thriving destination and opened up on Stanley Square in early 2022.
He also runs Caffeine & Co in Stretford and branches of Blanchflower – named after the 1960s Spurs legend Danny Blanchflower - in Altrincham and the Trafford Centre. Phil said:
"I used to be an A&R man in the music industry and I was always looking for the next big thing, the future trends. We saw that exciting things were going to happen in Sale with its demographic mix of families and office workers. Things picked up and the vibe is so good now."
Beth Handforth of gift shop Idaho on Stanley Square said:
"We've been here for just under four years and we have seen the area change completely to become a lively destination, a place to hang out, in the day and into the evening.
"People will come and spend the day here instead of going into the city centre. In summer particularly, it's gorgeous, with all the independent shops and businesses together in one place to browse around. Third Sunday of each month we get the Makers Market in the square which is definitely not a day to be missed."
Find out more information about upcoming markets and other events at Stanley Square.