How market town battled back from the brink...

LESS than a decade ago, the affluent market town of Altrincham was labelled a ‘ghost town.’

A combination of high business rates and parking charges had pushed customers away from the once bustling high streets to the nearby Trafford Centre leaving a swathe of empty shops.

Many of the independent businesses that once helped Altrincham to thrive had disappeared and in 2010 Altrincham recorded the highest shop vacancy rates in the UK with almost a third of the shops lying empty.

It was the shock traders needed to spark them into action and their hard work since has helped bring the town back from the brink of despair.

In recent years, Altrincham has enjoyed something of a renaissance. Shop vacancies are down by almost three quarters while footfall has risen by more than 25pc since 2010 to 1.74m last year.

The boost has been aided in no small part by Trafford Council’s multi million pound public realm transformation project.

High-profile chains such as JD Sports, Paperchase and Bistrot Pierre have all flocked to the town.

Independents such as the Con Club, Rankin Styles, Porta, Sugo and Toast have also all done their bit to breathe new life into Altrincham.

Designer clothing retailer Flannels open its new Altrincham store in Stamford Square in December, while independent shoe shop Jake Shoes opened its third shop on George Street in November.

Nick Johnson was one businessman who felt confident the town was due a renaissance. He picked up the ailing Altrincham Market and populated it with a carefully curated line up of small-time food and drink traders.

It transformed into a packed-out award winner that became so successful Johnson exported the business model to his latest city centre venture, Mackie Mayor.

The success of the market area acted as a catalyst to further regenerate the town.

Restaurateur Claire Howells says the town’s ‘foodie’ reputation was one of the main reasons that she decided to open up her eatery Blanchflower in Altrincham last December. The artisan bakery and restaurant, on Shaws Road, has already proved popular.

“We were encouraged by all the other food and drink that has come here already,” says Claire.

“There is a real food hub around the market and it definitely started with the revival of the market because it was so popular. “We’ve been really busy since we opened in December so it’s been really good.

“It’s really busy in Altrincham now. Footfall is increasing year on year.

“The weekends are absolutely packed around the market quarter and it’s spreading to the main street as well - there have been big changes on Stamford New Road. That road has really changed. There were so many empty shops.

“I think it’s because more people are living in Altrincham town centre now as well.”

Claire, who moved back to Altrincham from London several years ago, says the town has developed a metropolitan feel.

“I think popularity will keep increasing,” she said. “I’m from Cheshire and I moved back seven years ago from London. It reminds me of London before it became so expensive.”

Louise Duerr recently expanded her business Gift + Home to Altrincham. The trader, who also has a shop in Hale, opened up a unit on George Street in November - a move she says has paid off.

She said: “We have been in Hale for three years and wanted a second shop. We initially dismissed Altrincham a couple of years ago but it’s had such a dramatic improvement over a short space of time when I was deciding where to open the second shop I thought Altrincham was the place to be. Restaurateur Claire Howells

“Being at the end of the tram brings people in, the market is such a pull and the restaurant scene brings people from further afield.

“I have lived in the area for more than 20 years and I have seen if going from it’s heyday as a fabulous market town to really down in the doldrums with more empty units than anywhere else.

“It’s absolutely fantastic the improvements the council have done in terms of the roads and where I am, in Stamford Quarter, they’ve done a lot to improve the look of the shops.”

Martin Duff took a risk when he opened up his shop Randalls Jewellers, on George Street, in 2010.

At the time, the town had the highest number of shop vacancies of anywhere in the country and footfall was at an all time low.

But Martin was confident that his business could thrive if he offered something shoppers couldn’t get anywhere else.

“We had that ethos that the customer comes first and get to know your customer and that’s why they keep coming back,” he said.

“Because I knew it had been a brilliant town and I knew the demographic had not changed, I knew if you could offer something they used to have then they would come back. And I think it’s shown.”

Martin, who chairs the Altrincham Business Improvement District, says the town lost customers when the Trafford Centre opened back in 1998. But changes at the Market Hall, improvement works to the town and a now well-connected business community has all combined to increase footfall.

There is now a thriving business community in Altrincham which helps to organise events, Christmas lights switch-ons and initiatives to bring people into the town, says Martin.

“I moved up here in 1988 and it