The Galleries
A former shopping complex in central Wigan, England, comprising The Galleries, Marketgate Shopping Centre and The Makinson Arcade.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Galleries was a major shopping complex in the centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Rather than being a single enclosed mall, it developed as a connected eight-acre retail area made up of three distinct elements: The Galleries Shopping Centre, Marketgate Shopping Centre and the historic Makinson Arcade. Together, the complex contained enclosed shopping areas, pedestrian walkways and open squares, with approximately 440,000 square feet of retail space. At its height, it occupied almost a quarter of Wigan town centre and provided premises for a wide range of national chains, independent retailers, food outlets and market-related businesses. The complex originated with the Wigan Centre Arcade, later known as Marketgate Shopping Centre. Built on former commercial yards and market land in the early 1970s, it opened in 1974. A substantial remodelling in 1988 created the framework for the adjoining Galleries Shopping Centre, which contained about 60 retail spaces. The Galleries was completed in 1990 and formally opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1991. Its internal arcades and walkways were named after the former local authorities that had subsequently become part of Wigan Metropolitan Borough. Ownership and management changed repeatedly. Wigan Council sold the Galleries to private-sector interests in 1996 for more than £90 million. Although the connected sections initially operated separately, Marketgate and The Galleries were acquired together by Prime Commercial Properties in 2002. Propinvest Limited purchased the combined centres in 2006 and also acquired the neighbouring Makinson Arcade, a Victorian glazed arcade dating from 1898. The arcade had historical retail significance: a Marks and Spencer penny bazaar opened there in 1900. In October 2015, Colony Capital acquired the whole complex as part of a wider portfolio transaction and appointed the Ellandi retail group to manage it. The centre subsequently faced sustained commercial decline. The opening of the Grand Arcade in 2007, less than 100 yards away, attracted several established retailers away from The Galleries. Boots and River Island were among the businesses reported to have relocated, while Argos and Morrisons announced closures in 2016. Falling occupancy and low rents led to the closure of a large section of Marketgate later that year. By 2020, most of the complex's 144 units were vacant, with only about 50 still operating. Wigan Council responded by bringing the property back into public ownership in March 2018. The council paid £8 million, funded through its dividend from Manchester Airport, as part of its wider town-centre regeneration programme known as The Deal. The council explored new uses combining retail, leisure, food and drink, residential development and cultural activity. In 2019, six vacant upper-floor units hosted The Fire Within Festival, an arts programme directed by local artists AL and AL and featuring exhibitions, performances and installations. Earlier redevelopment proposals included the Makinson Quarter, for which outline planning approval was granted in 2014. The proposed £60 million scheme would have replaced much of the area with a new mall containing 26 larger units, but the proposal was abandoned after the council reacquired the complex. In 2020, the council began a procurement process for a development partner for a projected £125 million transformation of the eight-acre site. By 2023, the estimated cost had risen to £135 million. The emerging plans included a multimedia centre with a multiplex cinema, bowling facility and indoor climbing wall, alongside 483 homes, a 144-bedroom hotel and a new Wigan Market hall. The Makinson Arcade was intended to be retained and remain open. The Galleries was closed to the public in 2022, and demolition began in November of that year. The former shopping-centre site became part of a broader regeneration project. In 2025, the redevelopment was renamed Fettlers, a name referring to craft workers who shaped metal and pottery, reflecting industries historically associated with Wigan's economy. The original Galleries shopping complex is therefore defunct, while the site continues to be repositioned for mixed-use urban regeneration.
History
The Galleries developed from the post-war modernization of Wigan town centre. Its earliest component was the Wigan Centre Arcade, built in 1972 on land formerly occupied by commercial yards and markets. The arcade opened in 1974 and was later renamed Marketgate Shopping Centre. In 1988, it underwent major remodelling to accommodate a larger adjoining retail development. The Galleries Shopping Centre was completed in 1990 and opened officially in 1991 by Diana, Princess of Wales. It added approximately 60 retail spaces and created a network of enclosed malls, arcades, pedestrian routes and open squares. The names used for parts of the development commemorated former local authorities incorporated into Wigan Metropolitan Borough. Together with Marketgate and, later, the Makinson Arcade, the development formed an approximately eight-acre complex with around 440,000 square feet of retail space. The neighbouring Makinson Arcade provided a historic contrast to the modern Galleries. Built in 1898, it was a glazed Victorian shopping arcade with a terracotta frontage. It was also associated with an early Marks and Spencer penny bazaar, which opened there in 1900. The Galleries and Marketgate initially operated as separate centres despite their physical connection. Wigan Council sold The Galleries to private interests in 1996 for more than £90 million. Prime Commercial Properties acquired the two connected shopping centres jointly in 2002, and Propinvest Limited purchased them in 2006 before also acquiring Makinson Arcade. Colony Capital bought the entire complex in October 2015 as part of a portfolio transaction. Ellandi was appointed to manage the property. By then, the retail environment had become increasingly difficult. The nearby Grand Arcade opened in 2007 less than 100 yards away, and several major tenants, including Boots and River Island, moved from The Galleries to the newer centre. Argos and Morrisons later announced closures in 2016. The loss of tenants, low rents and declining footfall led to much of Marketgate being closed off in late 2016. By 2020, only around 50 of the complex's 144 units were occupied. Concerned that the property could become a permanently underused or mothballed site, Wigan Council reacquired it in March 2018 for £8 million. The purchase was financed through the council's Manchester Airport dividend and formed part of The Deal, a local programme intended to revitalize Wigan town centre. The council considered a range of replacement uses, including leisure, food and drink, residential accommodation and cultural facilities. An earlier redevelopment concept, approved in outline in 2014, had proposed a £60 million Makinson Quarter with a new mall containing 26 larger retail units. That plan was later abandoned after the council took ownership. In 2020, the council sought a development partner for a much broader £125 million regeneration of the eight-acre complex. The estimated investment later rose to approximately £135 million. The plans described a mixed-use destination with a multimedia centre, multiplex cinema, bowling alley, indoor climbing wall, 483 homes, a 144-bedroom hotel and a new Wigan Market hall. The Makinson Arcade was to be retained. Temporary cultural uses provided an alternative to the site's declining retail function. In 2019, The Fire Within Festival used six vacant upper-floor units for art, exhibitions and live performance. The programme was directed by local artists AL and AL and demonstrated how empty retail space could be used for cultural activity while longer-term plans were developed. The complex closed to the public in 2022, with demolition beginning in November. The original retail centre subsequently ceased to operate as a brand or commercial destination. The redevelopment continued as a separate regeneration project, and in 2025 it was renamed Fettlers. The new name evokes craft workers connected with industries that shaped Wigan's economic history. The Makinson Arcade remains the principal historic element associated with the former complex, while the wider site is being transformed into a mixed-use urban quarter.
- 2025
Regeneration project renamed Fettlers
[1]The redevelopment of the former Galleries site adopted the name Fettlers.
- 2022
Closure and demolition
[1]The complex closed to the public and demolition began in November.
- 2019
The Fire Within Festival uses vacant units
[1]Six empty upper-floor spaces hosted art, performance and exhibitions.
- 2018
Wigan Council reacquires the property
[1]The council bought the complex for £8 million as part of its town-centre regeneration strategy.
- 2015
Colony Capital purchases the complex
[1]Colony Capital acquired the whole complex through a portfolio transaction and appointed Ellandi as manager.
- 2014
Makinson Quarter receives outline planning approval
[1]A proposed £60 million redevelopment would have created a new mall with 26 larger retail units.
- 2007
Grand Arcade opens nearby
[1]The opening of the nearby Grand Arcade intensified competition and later attracted retailers away from The Galleries.
- 2006
Propinvest acquires the complex and Makinson Arcade
[1]Propinvest Limited bought the connected shopping centres and the neighbouring historic arcade.
- 2002
Prime Commercial Properties acquires the connected centres
[1]The Galleries and Marketgate were acquired jointly after previously operating independently.
- 1996
Wigan Council sells The Galleries
[1]The council transferred the Galleries to private-sector ownership for more than £90 million.
Products and positioning
A large town-centre retail and pedestrian complex serving Wigan and the surrounding area, later repositioned as a regeneration site combining retail, culture, leisure, housing and hospitality.
Shopping centre · 1990
The Galleries Shopping Centre
The principal modern retail section of the complex, completed in 1990 and opened in 1991. It contained approximately 60 retail spaces within a network of enclosed malls, pedestrian routes and open squares. The centre accommodated national chains and independent businesses before declining occupancy led to its closure and eventual demolition.
Shopping centre · 1974
Marketgate Shopping Centre
Originally opened in 1974 as the Wigan Centre Arcade, Marketgate was the earliest major part of the complex. It was extensively remodelled in 1988 and later connected operationally with The Galleries. Falling occupancy led to sections being closed in 2016, and the centre ceased operating with the wider complex in 2022.
Historic shopping arcade · 1898
The Makinson Arcade
A Victorian glazed arcade built in 1898 and later incorporated into the wider property complex. Its terracotta frontage and historic retail associations distinguished it from the modern Galleries and Marketgate buildings. The arcade was planned for retention during the redevelopment and remained open after the former shopping centre closed.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019The Fire Within Festival
Wigan · United Kingdom
A temporary arts programme used six vacant upper-floor retail units for exhibitions, performances and other cultural activity. The festival was directed by local artists AL and AL and formed part of the site's interim cultural use during a period of commercial decline.
Outcome. The festival demonstrated an alternative community and cultural use for vacant shopping-centre space while redevelopment plans were being considered.
Brand decisions
2022
Closure and demolition of the shopping complexStrategyBackground
The centre had experienced sustained vacancy and decline, and the council's regeneration plans required a fundamental change to the site.
Action taken
The Galleries was closed to the public and demolition commenced in November.
Aftermath
The original shopping-centre operation ended and the property transitioned into a wider urban-regeneration project.
2020
Council launches procurement for a comprehensive redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The former retail complex had high vacancy levels and the earlier Makinson Quarter proposal had been abandoned.
Action taken
The council began seeking a development partner for a projected £125 million, seven-year regeneration programme covering the eight-acre site.
Aftermath
The plans evolved into a mixed-use scheme involving housing, hospitality, leisure, a multimedia centre and a new market hall. Later estimates placed the cost at approximately £135 million.
Initial redevelopment estimate. £125 million (2020)
2018
Wigan Council reacquires the complexM&ABackground
The complex had suffered years of stagnation, tenant departures and declining occupancy. The council was concerned that continued deterioration could leave the site closed or mothballed.
Action taken
Wigan Council purchased the Galleries, Marketgate and associated Makinson Arcade property for £8 million using its Manchester Airport dividend.
Aftermath
The purchase placed the site under public ownership and enabled the council to pursue a broader mixed-use regeneration strategy.
Acquisition price. £8 million (March 2018)
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