[2026] Therme Manchester | [202X] Modern Surf?

[Danny]

A planning application has been approved for a large indoor tropical spa and water park on the site of EventCityUK, next door to the two Manchester Merlin Midway attractions.

Most importantly to note is the 'swim up bars' aspect. Excellent. Full extract from BBC News:

Plans to build a £250m tropical spa resort next to the Trafford Centre have been approved.

Proposals for Therme Manchester - billed as the UK's first "wellbeing-resort" - have been backed by Trafford Council planning committee.

The 28 acre site will boast indoor swimming pools, steam rooms and saunas landscaped with plants and trees.

The German-based Therme Group said the development is scheduled to open in 2023.

The firm has a similar centre in Bucharest, Romania, which attracts 1.2m visitors a year.

It predicts the UK site, earmarked for undeveloped land in Trafford, would attract two million visitors annually.

The company added that people could pay a single fee to access the whole area or to just visit a single zone although prices have not yet been confirmed.

'Huge scheme'
The central focus of the Trafford project is a two-acre wellbeing bio-diverse garden in the shape of a rose which is billed as "an evolving work of art," with petal-shaped terraces, pools and water features.

The firm said there will also be a large family zone with waterslides, a wave pool, indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms, exotic palm tree relaxation areas.

It added activities and programmes would include water-based fitness classes and gardens with spaces for yoga, pilates and other activities.

Stelian Iacob, Senior Vice President of Therme Group Worldwide, claimed the development would "transform life for city residents and people further afield, ...with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all."

Andrew Western, Trafford Council leader said he was "delighted" the "huge scheme" was coming to Trafford with the benefits of creating thousands of jobs and bringing millions of visitors each year.

 

[Jonathan]

Swim-up bars?

Closed season mini-meet when it opens, anyone?

 

[Danny]

Well it'll be open before the London Resort.

 

[Benjsh]

I live 6 miles from the Trafford Centre. Will be fantastic for the area this if it does go ahead.

 

[Craig]

This looks fantastic, and what the UK really needs. Bonus with this compared to the likes of London Resort is that it's an already established operator. Therme Group have four sites already, with a further four including this one in development. Each iteration since their first site in Germany seems to get better and better, and this is certainly looking like it'll be a decent size.

 

[Danny]

The only foreseeable issue with this I can think of is traffic.

There are particular events throughout the year on at EventCity that makes the TC and Merlin staff both equally tremble. It used to add up to two hours on a bad day to my commute home....

With EventCity moving and the addition of this, it's going to be a nightmare; even with the tweaked road layouts and the addition of the Metrolink.

 

[venny]

Hopefully shifting EventCity to the other side of the area will help with the traffic. Although I’m not hopeful.

Its certainly looking like a fantastic and impressive development though. The slide complex in the planning application does only appear to be a small constituent of the overall development, so I’m not sure there’s too much to get excited about from a hardware perspective, more the overall environment.

 

[Dan]

I visited Therme Erding a few years ago and it is one of the best water parks I’ve been too. It was really big, had about six swim up bars, plenty of jacuzzis and saunas, 3 restaurants, about 10 other food outlets, 27 slides and an adult only up charge area where you scanned your wrist band to get in.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they do in Manchester!



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[Benjsh]

I visited Therme Erding a few years ago and it is one of the best water parks I’ve been too. It was really big, had about six swim up bars, plenty of jacuzzis and saunas, 3 restaurants, about 10 other food outlets, 27 slides and an adult only up charge area where you scanned your wrist band to get in.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they do in Manchester!



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Good to know this. When the wife fancies a few hrs retail therapy in the TC me and the boy will be in the water park. Hahahaha

 

[Matt N]

In a rather good piece of news, Therme Group have apparently said that they are still planning to begin construction next year, and are well on schedule for a 2023 opening in spite of the pandemic: https://constructionmaguk.co.uk/therme-manchester-remains-on-track-for-2023-opening/

This is very good news, in my opinion! However, my only concern is that Intu, the owner of the Trafford Centre, recently went into administration; doesn’t this project have links with the Trafford Centre?

 

[Danny]

It is not linked to Intu other than it's across the road from Barton Square.

Glad to see it's still going ahead!

 

[Matt N]

Ah, that’s relieving to know! I was a bit worried that Intu’s administration would affect this, but it would seem not.

When this opens in 2023, I think this will offer a really welcome boost to the UK leisure industry! I know it’s a water park, but I do like a good water park, and Therme’s European properties seem quite well received; has anyone on here been to a Therme water park?

 

[Alsty]

I thought this was a parody of the London Resort thread until I checked it out

 

[MattyH]

However, my only concern is that Intu, the owner of the Trafford Centre, recently went into administration; doesn’t this project have links with the Trafford Centre?

I'm sure there are plenty of companies who might be willing to purchase the Trafford Centre, it's not likely to be demolished!

 

[Tim]

Is this the same group that owns Therme Erding? I can only see new projects on their website.

If it is I haven't been but my parents have multiple times. They love the place, it's their equivalent to Europa Park. And that's high praise as they also love Europa Park.
It has a good water park section as well although It's not been enough to convince me to go over there and check it out. I always got the impression it's spa first, water park second, much like the water park at Alton Towers is not the main reason you go there. Could be wrong though.

 

[venny]

Great news. I seriously thought this would at best go quiet for a while, if not disappear entirely given the circumstances. The insolvency of Intu felt like it could be the final nail in the coffin, even though I don’t believe there would be little long term impact - investors don’t usually like that sort of uncertainty.

 

[Benjsh]

The Trafford Centre won't remain closed. There will be a new buyer and everything starts again. Rumours are that the company that sold the TC in the first place to Intu, The Peel Group, might take it back from the administrators for a cut price.

This project I don't see having any issues. There's nothing like it for miles and Greater Manchester area (where I live) is a booming area.

 

[Dan]

I’ve been to Therme Erding and have to say it’s one of the best water parks I’ve been to outside Florida. Plenty of slides, swim up bars, massive spa area including adult only areas. Not much theming but plenty to do to fill up a full day. Therme Erding is 20 times bigger than Splash Landings and nearly 5 times bigger than Rulantica

 

[Tim]

There is no real reason this project should be affected by the current situation. Not unless the parent company has financial problems. It's not due to open until after the recovery and construction is at an early stage so unlikely to be held up.

If anything it could be to their advantage to open right at the point other operators are still struggling.

 

[Matt N]

As far as I’m aware, water parks are allowed to open again in Germany, aren’t they? So in theory, Therme as a group should have the worst of the COVID crisis behind them!