Middlebrook is the UK’s largest retail and leisure park. Located in Horwich, Bolton it boast easy access by car from the M61, train and bus and offers over 60 high street stores, restaurants and leisure facilities including Hollywood Bowl and Vue cinema.
It covers over 200 acres and is a fully integrated mixed use development. Home to top brand head offices such as AO.com, Keoghs, Axa, NHS and RBS as well as over 700 residential homes.
Middlebrook sits beside the Macron Stadium, home to Bolton Wanderers Football Club and also has two on site hotels, the Premier Inn Bolton and Bolton Whites Hotel.
The Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park offer free seasonal events for all the family. It also has an onsite chaplaincy team, The Middlebrook Angels, who work with retailers and also support and organise their own events and are fully involved with the local community and charities.
Cinema, Macron Stadium, and Leisure Facilities
Middlebrook boasts the largest concentration of entertainment and leisure facilities in Bolton. These include the 12-screen Vue cinema, the Hollywood Bowl bowling alley, the USN Bolton Arena, and the Macron Stadium (formerly the Reebok Stadium), the home ground of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
List of Shops
Shops at Middlebrook at the time of writing (July 2021) include:
- American Golf – Golf clubs, equipment, and clothing.
- ASDA – Supermarket.
- Bensons for Beds – Beds, mattresses, and bedroom furniture.
- Boots – Healthcare products and services.
- Card Factory – Cards, gifts, and party supplies.
- Clarks – Footwear.
- Currys PC World – Electronics and appliances.
- DFS and Dwell – Sofas and furniture.
- Dreams – Beds, mattresses, and bedroom furniture.
- EE – Mobile phones.
- Footasylum – Trainers, streetwear and sportswear.
- Furniture Village – Home furniture.
- Home Bargains – Discount store.
- Hurley – Fashion.
- JD – Sportswear and trainers.
- KIA Motors – Cars.
- M&S – Department store.
- Next
- O2 – Mobile phones.
- Oak Furniture Land – Quality wooden furniture.
- Pagazzi – Lighting and mirrors.
- Pets at Home – Pet supplies.
- River Island – Fashion.
- ScS – Sofas, carpets, and flooring.
- Smyths – Toys.
- Sofology – Sofas (formerly Sofaworks).
- Specsavers – Opticians.
- Sports Direct – Sportswear, sports footwear and equipment.
- Starplan – Beds and bedroom furniture.
- Superdrug – Beauty, health, skincare, and perfume.
- Tapi – Carpets and flooring.
- TK Maxx – Discount store offering men’s and women’s clothing, footwear, accessories, and home decor.
- Tog 24 – Outdoor clothing and footwear.
- TUI – Holidays.
- Wilko – Homeware and household goods.
Opening times vary by store but most are open until 8 pm Monday to Friday, 6 pm on Saturday, and from 11 am to 5 pm Sunday.
Places to Eat and Drink
Restaurants, cafes and other places to eat and drink at Middlebrook (July 2021) include:
- Abacus – Contemporary oriental restaurant.
- Bella Italia – Italian restaurant.
- Chiquito – Mexican and Tex-Mex.
- Costa – Coffee shop.
- Greggs – Bakery.
- Harvester – Family-friendly pub restaurant.
- KFC – Fried chicken.
- Luciano’s – Italian.
- McDonald’s – Fast food.
- Nando’s – Specialises in Portuguese chicken.
- Pizza Hut – Pizza restaurant.
- Starbucks – Coffeehouse.
- Subway – Subs made to order.
- Fridays – American.
- The Confessional – Burgers.
- Wagamama – Asian.
Hotels
There are two hotels at Middlebrook; the Bolton Whites and the Premier Inn Bolton. The Bolton is a 4-star hotel situated within the South Stand of the Macron Stadium. The Premier Inn is next to Bolton Arena and just a short walk from the football ground and Horwich Parkway train station.
Facilities
Middlebrook offers free parking for over 3,000 cars. Other facilities include a petrol station, and cash machines (outside Asda and at the Vue).
Location & Directions
To reach the Middlebrook Retail Park by car leave the M61 at Junction 6 and follow the signs. Satellite navigation owners should use the postcode BL6 6JA.
The park also boasts its own train station, Horwich Parkway, offering regular services from Bolton, Preston, and Manchester.
I notice there is no direct bus route from Wigan to Middlebrook. As we are losing Marks and Spencers clothing I think there is a need for a bus service.
I visited Pets at Home. Service was great.
Looking forward to attending the park on what is my first visit north of Bournemouth. I hope this park and its amenities live up to the great reviews and my own personal high expectations.
Last week I went to Luciano’s at Middlebrook and was very impressed and surprised to find an authentic family-style Italian restaurant on what is essentially a modern shopping park. The food was excellent and the staff very attentive. I heard from friends that the afternoon tea here is great and will give that a try on my next visit.
Try Bella Italia restaurant on Middlebrook. The food is fantastic!
Nice day out with the family on a sunday,
Yes I go there all the time
I think Middlebrook is a well planned environment and it caters for different tastes.
I stayed at the De Vere Whites hotel with a friend a few years ago. It was beautiful. Great service and very elegant. I now live near Middlebrook Retail Park. It is so handy. There’s so much to do and so many shops. Everything I need. It’s great!