First look at Wigan's 2,000-capacity food and entertainment hub STACK which is set to open within weeks
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
STACK Wigan, a 2,000-capacity food and entertainment hub, is set to open this month at the Grand Arcade, creating around 140 jobs and bringing one of the town centre's biggest units back to life.
Wigan’s new food and entertainment hub is set to open within weeks and looks set to be a buzzing place to eat, drink and party.
STACK Wigan will have capacity for 2,000 people, span a huge 48,000 sq ft and transform the unit which was once home to Debenhams in the Grand Arcade shopping centre.
Inside, six street food kitchens and five bars will keep things going from a morning pick-me-up through to last orders, alongside a coffee shop for daytime catch-ups, a pool table area and an outdoor terrace for sunnier days.
Big screens will bring the biggest sporting matches to the crowd, while a live stage is set to host music, performances and events throughout the week.
The opening will bring one of the town centre's biggest units back to life, creating around 140 jobs and giving Wigan a brand new day-to-night venue.
It joins a growing number of STACK venues around the country, starting in Newcastle in 2018 and now spanning locations from Seaburn and Lincoln to Middlesbrough.
The six food traders confirmed for STACK Wigan have been revealed, with Pattersons, Acropolis, ZZA Pizzeria, Tikka Bros, Smash House and Hello Oriental bringing everything from fried chicken and Greek gyros to stone-baked pizza, Indian street food, smash burgers and pan-Asian favourites.
Currently, STACK is still very much under way with builders continuing to work, but you can certainly gauge the vision, size and type of space it will soon become.
Gemma Dishman, director of strategy and development at STACK, said: “We have got street food, we've got bars, we've got a stage for live music, we've got big screens to show live sport and other kinds of large events that you might want to come and watch together with other people on the big screen.
“STACK is that real fun, feel-good venue where people just love to come together and enjoy themselves.
On the building transformation, Gemma said: “It was a Debenhams department store, which we know closed quite some time ago, so we're very excited to rejuvenate the space and bring this area of Wigan back to life.
“The space inside has been completely transformed. We've taken out the first part of the floor, opened it up, so you've got a balcony for people to have a look and everyone have a view of the stage and the big screens across the two levels.
“We've got two staircases and then the balcony on the front, which connects the inside to the outside, so you can enjoy the sunshine on a summer day or with your coat on in the winter, and still enjoy the fresh air with more seating outside on the ground floor as well.
“There's also a big screen externally, so we're hoping when we've got the Euros in 2028 that people can watch it on the big screen together.”
Plus, STACK is treating the people of Wigan when the doors open, with a free drink for anyone who signs up to its mailing list here.