Clarence Arcade

Clarence Arcade Clarence Arcade in Ashton-under-Lyne
dates back to 1894. In 2026, this stunning building will have a new lease of life

It was built as a Victorian shopping arcade on Stamford Street and was considered one of the town’s most prestigious shopping locations.

06/08/2026

We’re looking for classic, traditional British independent businesses to fill the final unit in Clarence Arcade, along with other shop units in and around Ashton.

We’re especially interested in businesses that celebrate Britain’s heritage and craftsmanship, such as:

🏛️ Traditional Victorian-style barbers
🧸 Classic toy shops
🚬 Traditional tobacconists
👗 Vintage clothing boutiques
🏠 Doll’s house and miniature shops
⌚ Clock and watch repair or sales
📚 Second-hand and antiquarian bookshops
🕯️ Candles, gifts and curiosities
🍬 Old-fashioned sweet shops
🖋️ Pen, stationery and writing shops
🧵 Haberdashery, wool and craft shops
🎩 Gentlemen’s outfitters or hat shops
🖼️ Antiques, collectibles and art galleries

If you have another idea that fits the character of a beautiful Victorian arcade, we’d love to hear it. We are keen to support independent businesses and, for the right concepts, may even be willing to invest to help bring them to life.

📩 If you’re interested, or have a business idea you’d like to discuss, please inbox the page.

Exciting news! We are also very likely to be opening our own retro and modern toy shop in Clarence Arcade. If you’re passionate about vintage toys, collectibles, LEGO, action figures, model railways, die-cast, board games, or modern toys, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll be recruiting staff in the near future, so please send us a message with a little about yourself.

Let’s bring something truly special back to Ashton and make Clarence Arcade a destination once again. 🏛️✨

We’re down to our last full shop unit in the main Clarence Arcade building! Once it’s taken, we’ll be at 100% occupancy ...
03/08/2026

We’re down to our last full shop unit in the main Clarence Arcade building! Once it’s taken, we’ll be at 100% occupancy for Phase One.

We’re incredibly selective about who joins us. We’re looking for a creative, independent business that will add something unique to the arcade and complement the community we’re building.

✨ What’s included?

* All bills included in the rent
* A unique space in an exciting new creative destination
* Join a carefully curated mix of independent businesses

If you’re seriously interested, send us a message and tell us about your business and what you’d like to do with the space.

We’re also taking enquiries for the Afflex Palace style units in the corner section of the building, which will open after the main arcade. These are smaller, more affordable units, ideal for independent makers, artists, retailers, and start-ups.

If you’d like more information on either the final full shop unit or an Afflex Palace style trading units, drop us an inbox we’d love to hear your ideas.

Every Saturday, Clarence Arcade comes alive with themed entertainment from midday until late, creating an enhanced and u...
02/08/2026

Every Saturday, Clarence Arcade comes alive with themed entertainment from midday until late, creating an enhanced and unique shopping and leisure experience with timeless elegance, which will bring a touch of class into the town 🥂

Browse our beautiful collection of independent shops, then relax with a delightful afternoon tea in the stunning surroundings of the arcade. Throughout the day, enjoy live performances featuring the sounds of the 1920s to the 1950s, including swing, jazz, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Clarence Arcade was built in the 1800s, and reimagined for today. It blends historic charm with contemporary style, making it the perfect place to shop, dine, and unwind every Saturday.

Opening date TBA

15/07/2026

England’s 1966 World Cup winner and hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst revealed to Monopoly Events’ Jamal Niaz at Clarence Arcade, the surprising reason for his famous celebration after his first goal in the final and his exact thought process at that moment 🤯

We’re hoping the boys can follow in Sir Geoff’s footsteps and bring it home this week! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/MVy8ex_Bgpo?si=83a-pd8nOM7syrq5

Geoff Hurst meet and greet, and Q&A at Clarence Arcade on Saturday 🎤
10/06/2026

Geoff Hurst meet and greet, and Q&A at Clarence Arcade on Saturday 🎤

Work has begun on the facade of Clarence Arcade 🇬🇧
04/06/2026

Work has begun on the facade of Clarence Arcade 🇬🇧

STREETLIFE 4 FULL SCHEDULE 🎉 THIS SATURDAY | Market Avenue | 10AM – Late | FREE ENTRYBelow you will find a map of what’s...
03/06/2026

STREETLIFE 4 FULL SCHEDULE 🎉 THIS SATURDAY | Market Avenue | 10AM – Late | FREE ENTRY

Below you will find a map of what’s on at STREETLIFE and schedules for different aspects of the event. Remember a lot of other businesses around also have their own schedule of events on the day, the below is just what we have organised.

The event is based around inspiring change, and the regeneration of our great town, in partnership with local business.

At the event we will be bringing you a sneak preview of our brand new bar opening on the corner of Market Avenue 👀 Geoff Hurst unveiling a new World Cup fan zone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and sneak previews of many new businesses opening soon in and around the town!

Street Life is a one-day community festival taking over Market Avenue and surrounding streets for the fourth time. Free to attend and open to all ages, the event celebrates Ashton with a huge line-up of sport, music, performance, food, film and tv spectacle.

Highlights include:
⚽️ Sir Geoff Hurst is COMING HOME!
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Unveiling of our new World Cup Fan Zone
🦖 Giant dinosaurs roaming the avenue and beyond
💪🏼Strongman show all day from 12pm
🎨 Workshops & Live Mural painting
🚕 Movie props and cars
🎭 Costume groups
🎶 Live performances from singers, bands and DJs
🎨 Free kids face painting
🛍️ Local traders, street food & cocktails
🤫 Celebrity appearances

It’s a celebration of creativity, local talent and pure imagination and a bold reminder of what Ashton town centre can be.

No tickets. No entry fee. Just good people, great energy, and a day to remember.

Event Details: Street Life
🗓️ Saturday 6th June 2026
⏰ 10AM – Late
📍 Market Avenue, Ashton-under-Lyne
🎟️ FREE ENTRY | ALL AGES WELCOME
🔗 MAKE ASHTON GREAT AGAIN

One thing we will never forget is the rich heritage of this stunning building. It now has owners that will love it and c...
22/04/2026

One thing we will never forget is the rich heritage of this stunning building. It now has owners that will love it and care for it, take it into a new era, while paying tribute to its victorian heritage.
Who can guess when this picture was taken or who these ladies may be? Were you related to one of them?

11/04/2026

Since the announcement of Clarence Arcade we have been inundated with requests from so many creative people and young entrepreneurs from Tameside who we are delighted to have come forward to open in many cases their first business with us. IT will be a great blend of established operators and brands, with new businesses.

Particularly touching was a young 15 year old girl who has started her own little online business from home, for somebody that young to come forward with an idea like she has and actually have the initiative to pursue and make a move to take it further is fantastic to see, and is a credit to her and her parents. Looking forward to telling you more about this story as it develops.

Moving forward we are going to be doing a young entrepreneur showcase in Clarence Arcade, where young creatives or anybody with a new business concept can come down and chat it through with us, and have their own stand to showcase their idea.

We are super impressed with the creativity and positivity we have seen, and once we put 76 strong businesses together in one place, it will become a hive and hub of creative activity for the people of Tameside to enjoy!

Address

Stamford Street Central
Ashton-Under-Lyne
OL67PT

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