The Bull Ring is a major commercial area of Birmingham. It has been an important feature of Birmingham
since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. Two shopping centres have been built in the area;
in the 1960s, and then in 2003; the latter is styled as one word, Bullring.
The site is located on the edge of the sandstone city ridge which results in the steep gradient towards Digbeth. The slope drops
approximately 15 metres (49 ft) from New Street to St Martin's Church.
The current shopping centre was the busiest in the United Kingdom in 2004 with 36.5 million visitors. It houses one of only four
Selfridges department stores, the fourth largest Debenhams and Forever 21. Consequently, the centre has been a huge success, attracting
customers from all over the world.
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The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex in Dumplington, Greater
Manchester, England. Situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, the centre is situated close
to the Trafford Park industrial estate and lies approximately five miles west of Manchester city centre.
The Trafford Centre opened in 1998 and is the second largest shopping centre in the United Kingdom by retail
size. It was developed by the Peel Group and is currently owned by Intu Properties following a £1.65 billion
sale in 2011 - the largest single property acquisition in British history. As of 2014, the centre has a
market value of £1.9 billion.
The site was owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company until 1986, when the company was acquired by John Whittaker of Peel Holdings, who
had planned to build an out-of-town shopping centre. The planning process was one of the longest and most expansive in the history of the
United Kingdom; concerns surrounded the effect the shopping centre might have on retailers in the smaller towns and villages in the Greater
Manchester conurbation and potential traffic problems caused by the centre's proximity to the M60 motorway. Ultimately the matter was
decided by the House of Lords in 1996, which voted in favour of the development.
Twelve years after the Trafford Centre was first conceptualised by the Peel Group, it opened on 10 September 1998. Construction took 27
months at a cost of £600 million - approximately £1 billion in 2014. Two further extensions have since opened, Barton Square and the
Great Hall in 2008 at a combined cost of over £100 million. Popularly known for its vivid and quirky rococo/late baroque architectural
style - its architecture pays homage to the history of the area. The Orient food hall is themed as a steam ship, reflecting the centre's
proximity to the Manchester Ship Canal.
Ten per cent of the UK population lives within a 45-minute drive of the shopping centre which attracts more than 35 million visits
annually. It has Europe's largest food court in The Orient and the UK's busiest cinema, attracting more than 28,500 visitors each
week. There are over 11,500 car parking spaces, and there are proposals to build a new Trafford Centre Metrolink station and a more
speculative ferry system from the Manchester Ship Canal to the centre.
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Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet is an outlet centre in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England.
Located off Junction 10 of the M53, it is the UK's largest outlet centre, with 145 stores and was the first designer
outlet village in Europe. It is run by McArthurGlen and features a wide range of outlet stores run by large brands.
As factory outlets the stores primarily offer goods from previous seasons at discounted rates of at least 30%. It is a
large local employer of with its own JobCentre Plus and Retail Training Academy.
Some brands include, Bose, Levi's, Fila, Burberry, The North Face, Calvin Klein Jeans, Karen Millen, Polo Ralph Lauren,
Molton Brown, East, Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, Warehouse, Whittard of Chelsea, Nike Factory Store and GAP.
There is a leisure park, the Coliseum, located adjacent to the centre, which provides both further shopping possibilities
and also has a bowling alley and a Vue Cinema, along with the Destiny & Elite night club. Places to dine across the two sites
include Frankie & Benny's, Miller and Carter Grill, Nando's, Chiquito, Prezzo, Shere Khan, Harry Ramsden's, Singapore Sam,
Spudulike, ChoZen Noodle, The Red House, TGI Friday's, and Pizza Express. There are two McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut,
Bella Italia and also a nearby KFC. In June/July 2012, a new 50's themed American Diner, Ed's Easy Diner opened up next to Claire's Accessories.
Other amenities have developed around the site since it opened, including the Blue Planet Aquarium, a David Lloyd Leisure club,
Cheshire Oaks Business Park and Porsche, Honda, Hyundai and Audi car dealerships.
The nearby Stanney High School was renamed Cheshire Oaks High School, but has now closed and been amalgamated into the University
of Chester Church of England Academy.
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