![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-GV1.jpg\")
The new King Street<\/p>\nA revamped town centre thoroughfare has got the locals interested. Nick Jackson went to find out what people think of the rebirth of King Street.The new King Street<\/p>\n
The shop units are yet to be filled, but the curiosity of the Stretford<\/a> public surrounding the newly-opened town centre thoroughfare King Street, can be clearly seen.<\/p>\n An opening ceremony last week was swiftly followed by a street party celebrating the rebirth of the street which was the hub of Stretford life back in the 1960s.<\/p>\n Then along came the concept of indoor \u2018out-of-the-rain\u2019 shopping and with it Stretford Mall, which is soon to be demolished as King Street, Sir Tony Lloyd Square and Pinnington Lane, as part of Bruntwood and Trafford<\/a> council\u2019s \u00a350m revamp of the town centre, take prominence.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Predictably, when big changes take place, initial feelings among the public, who have been eager to stroll along the new open-air King Street, are mixed.<\/p>\n There\u2019s already a Greggs bakery taking shape and the photographic firm Max Spielman are taking a unit.<\/p>\n Bespoke all-day dining specialist Longers has meanwhile announced plans to open a bar called Fosforo Lounge on the street.<\/p>\n Among some of the passersby walking down the thoroughfare, there is genuine excitement.<\/p>\n Mum Sophie Williams, in her 30s, said: \u201cI think it\u2019s brilliant. I\u2019m really excited by this. I\u2019m looking forward to lots of independent shops. It will be great when they\u2019re all open.\u201d<\/p>\n Daphne McArdle, 69, and Janet Bird, 72, were born and raised in Stretford. Daphne said, \u201cI really like it. I was a bit disorientated at first, and I liked the mall, but I\u2019m looking forward to when the units are occupied.\u201d<\/p>\n Janet said: \u201cIt\u2019s a great boost for Stretford that there has been this much investment into the town centre. Let\u2019s hope it\u2019s successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Qi Wang and husband Ping approved of the new street. \u201cI like it,\u201d said Qi. \u201cIt\u2019s very nice. We\u2019ve lived in Stretford for 30 years, and I very much approve of what they\u2019ve done. It will be nice when all the businesses have moved in.\u201d<\/p>\n Elspeth Horan and husband Sam, both 34, were sampling the pavement culture at the Longford Tap bar with their baby daughter.<\/p>\n Elspeth said: \u201cWe\u2019ve never been here before and we really like it. We will definitely come back when there are shops, bars, and restaurants to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n Margaret Dixon, 63, said: \u201cIt\u2019s a bit disheartening to see it with all these empty units, and we\u2019re not sure which businesses are going where.<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve lived in Stretford all my life, and we need this to succeed. Hopefully, by the time we get to Christmas<\/a> comes around, there will be lots of established businesses here.\u201d<\/p>\n Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Not everyone was happy, though. One woman who didn\u2019t want to be named said: \u201cIt\u2019s a joke – a waste of money. It needed changing because the mall was dying – all charity shops, nail and beauty bars.<\/p>\n Kath, 46, said: \u201cI don\u2019t want it to have loads of bars and restaurants. I want somewhere I can go to do my shopping. It\u2019s all very well, but no one\u2019s got any money. If you go to the local cinemas, they\u2019re all empty because everyone\u2019s at home watching TV, so what chance does this have?\u201d<\/p>\n Another anonymous contributor said: \u201cI don\u2019t like it. I liked the old King Street. It doesn\u2019t seem like we\u2019re going to get the scope of shops that we want. Where are people going to get their food?\u201d<\/p>\n She said she and her husband go to Urmston<\/a>, adding: \u201cI was 16 when they knocked the old King Street down. I used to shop here all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Edmund Lawther, 67, said: \u201cAll the pubs are shutting, so how are all these bars going to succeed here? No one\u2019s going to the cinema or pubs. They\u2019re all at home watching TV.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re not careful, they\u2019ll make this place into a robbers\u2019 paradise with all the bars, cafes, and restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n John Evans,76, said: \u201cThey\u2019re trying to make it into a yuppie place. We don\u2019t want Stretford to become like Chorlton<\/a> and Didsbury<\/a>. I remember the original King Street. It was a lot longer than this version of the street, and it was great back then in the 1960s.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-Greggs.jpg\")
The new Greggs unit on King Street<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-Daphne-McArdle-left-and-Janet-Bird.jpg\")
Daphne McArdle, left, and Janet Bird<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-Elspeth-and-Sam-Horan.jpg\")
Sam Horan and wife Elspeth<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-Margaret-Dixon.jpg\")
Margaret Dixon<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_King-Street-Edmund-Lawther.jpg\")
Edmund Lawther<\/p>\n