Hamleys is to open a store at the Intu Trafford Centre ahead of the crucial Christmas shopping period.

The store will open in two phases, with the first part comprising 16,000 sq ft as it takes over the JJB store on Peel Avenue. It will open on November 28.

This will then be extended in January to include Ann Summers’ existing 2,500 sq ft store. Ann Summers is relocating to 52 Peel Avenue adjacent to Hollister and opposite Superdry and Foot Asylum’s new store. In total the store will be 19,000 sq ft

Last year Hamleys opened a 13,000 sq ft store at St David’s in Cardiff. Hamleys has eight stores in the UK in locations such as St Enochs in Glasgow and at the York Designer Outlet, as well as its famous flagship at on Regent Street, London.

Hamleys chief executive Gudjon Reynisson said: “We have been looking for the next location to complement our UK growth strategy and believe Intu Trafford Centre fits perfectly with our unique retail proposition of fun, theatre and entertainment.”

Property agent Cushman& Wakefield acted for Intu. Jones Lang LaSalle acted for Hamleys.