Halloween spectacular to reopen Ashton’s historic Clarence Arcade

New businesses, family entertainment, and a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man will take centre stage as Ashton-under-Lyne’s historic Clarence Arcade celebrates its grand reopening.

The Stamford Street Central landmark will host its grand opening on Saturday, October 31st, with 13 new businesses, live music, family activities, horror characters, and a packed programme of free entertainment running from 10am until 11pm.

Behind the Halloween extravaganza lies a much bigger ambition: to restore one of Ashton’s historic shopping buildings and help breathe new life into the town. Entrepreneur Andy Kleek is leading the transformation as part of his wider efforts to regenerate Ashton-under-Lyne through his 'Make Ashton Great Again' initiative.

The building is being returned to a more traditional Victorian shopping arcade style, with a racing-green and gold colour scheme, gold-leaf lettering, ornate lanterns, and period-inspired fittings replacing its former grey, office-style appearance. The aim is to create an attractive destination where independent businesses, shopping, food, and entertainment can sit alongside one another.

The opening day has been designed to appeal to all ages, with the festivities building from family-friendly activities in the morning to a full-scale Halloween party in the evening. One of the biggest attractions will be a towering 15-metre-tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, accompanied by a Ghostbusters-themed cinema screening and recreated sets and props.

Horror characters supplied by Central Legion will be appearing between 10am and 1.30pm, giving visitors the opportunity to encounter some familiar faces from the world of film and television.

Younger visitors will also be able to tackle a child-friendly scare maze, with sessions scheduled for 2pm to 3pm and 5pm to 6pm. A more terrifying version will take over after dark, with three sessions planned between 7pm and 11pm.

There will be Halloween face painting throughout the day, alongside creative workshops offering activities such as magical potion making, building miniature haunted houses, creating mystical mushroom gardens, and designing Halloween doors.

Live entertainment will provide the soundtrack to the celebrations. Lea will perform acoustic music from noon until 6pm, before a DJ-led Mad Monster Party takes over from 6pm until 11pm, featuring Halloween anthems and a party atmosphere.

The grand opening will also introduce 13 new businesses, bringing a varied mix of independent retail, leisure, and hospitality to the arcade. The planned line-up includes a retro and vintage toy shop, a baby boutique, a tearoom, a cocktail lounge, and a mini cinema. Other ventures include a shop selling pop-culture-inspired clothing, a specialist seasonal decorations and gifts business, and outlets focused on wellbeing, cards, gifts, and posters.

The variety reflects the wider vision for Clarence Arcade; a place offering experiences beyond conventional high-street shopping, with independent traders and distinctive attractions helping to give the building its own identity.

Clarence Arcade is the latest major development associated with Mr. Kleek’s efforts to reinvigorate Ashton-under-Lyne through the 'Make Ashton Great Again' initiative and its regular Street Life events.

The wider initiative has also focused on bringing underused buildings and spaces back into activity, encouraging people to return to the town centre and creating opportunities for local businesses to benefit from increased footfall.

The arcade’s planned programme of free live entertainment every Saturday is intended to build on that approach beyond the opening celebrations. Acoustic bands, piano players and other performers are expected to feature, with communal seating designed to encourage visitors to linger, meet friends and enjoy refreshments. The arcade has ordered 29 Chesterfield armchairs and six sofas to help create welcoming spaces.

Mr. Kleek’s regeneration ambitions also extend to the former Metro Majestic Cinema on Old Street. Plans have been put forward to restore the long-disused landmark as a mixed-use entertainment venue incorporating a cinema, restaurant and bar, theatre, and live music space. The proposal remains subject to planning, with the aim of returning another historic building to use.

A further section of Clarence Arcade is also expected to open in the new year, providing smaller independent units in a format intended to evoke Manchester’s Afflecks, linked to the main arcade.

Together, the developments could help establish a broader destination connecting shopping, hospitality, live entertainment, and heritage buildings across this oft-ignored part of Ashton.

The projects come as Ashton continues its wider town-centre transformation, including improvements to the market square and public spaces.

While the long-term success of the regeneration will depend on attracting sustained visitor numbers and supporting businesses beyond the initial excitement, the arcade’s opening represents a tangible new chapter for a historic building.

For now, the immediate focus is on Halloween, with a full day of activities designed to make a dramatic first impression.

Clarence Arcade is located on Stamford Street Central in Ashton-under-Lyne (OL6 7PT). The grand opening is being held on Saturday, October 31st, from 10am until 11pm.