Latest news with #KirkgateMarket
BBC News
07-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shipping container food venue to launch at market in Leeds
A new food and drink venue built from "stacked" repurposed shipping containers is set to open in Leeds. The venue will become part of Kirkgate Market and will be spread over two floors and feature 10 food outlets, six bars, a coffee shop, large screens and a stage. Leeds City Council has confirmed that once all licences and planning applications are approved work could start in early 2026 with a view to the venue opening later that year.A council spokesperson said the new venue would be "very much part of Kirkgate Market" and part of the local authority's commitment to backing and investing in it. The development – which is also expected to create 160 jobs – will increase footfall and "broaden the customer base" for the whole market site, they added. The construction costs will be paid for by leisure company STACK and the rental payments will generate a new income stream for the outdoor market currently has room 185 stalls but only around 85 of those are filled, even on its busiest when STAACK launches, the number of pitches would be reduced and the reconfigured area would still be able to "comfortably accommodate" all existing traders – as well as new arrivals, confirmed the council. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader, said: "Every person heading to STACK Leeds will also be a potential shopper, whether that's on the day or during a return visit."It is this kind of new custom – combined with the much-appreciated support of existing shoppers – that will help the site's many and varied businesses prosper for years to come."Further STACK venues opened in 2024 in Lincoln, Middlesbrough and at Newcastle United's St James' Park Winch, STACK's chief executive officer, said: "While STACK continues to grow across the UK, our focus remains on creating spaces that celebrate local culture, support independent businesses and provide somewhere people can come together to enjoy great food, drink and live entertainment." He added: "Our offer will complement the fantastic outdoor and indoor market by attracting a new audience and, by opening seven days a week from early morning until late, we'll help drive footfall and support the market's wider ecosystem." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New market and food hall opening brought forward
The opening date for Bradford's Darley Street Market has been brought forward to 10 July. The market was due to open on Saturday, with two days of events scheduled, but the first day of trading will now be Thursday. Darley Street Market replaces Kirkgate Market and Oastler Market, which closed on 28 June. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: "The weekend is going to be so busy, it was important to give traders the time with a soft launch of two days during the week." Darley Street Market will officially be open for business from 10 July at 10:30 BST. From 11 July the opening hours for the Fresh Food Hall and Lifestyle Hall will be from 09:00 BST to 17:30 BST Monday to Saturday Darley Street Kitchen will be open from 11:00 BST; closing at 21:00 BST from Monday to Thursday; 22:00 BST on Friday and Saturday; and 20:00 BST on Sunday. A food court is on the top floor with stalls offering diverse cuisines including Mexican, Greek, Italian and Thai. West Yorkshire brewery Northern Monk is also represented at the market, selling beer in the city it came from. The middle floor will include butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers, while the ground floor will sell clothes, haberdashery and jewellery. Businesses from the traditional markets will move over to Darley Street, including Taplin's Butchers, Priestley Fish and Solly's fruit and veg. Both Kirkgate Market and the Oastler Centre in Bradford closed permanently on 28 June after decades of trading. The two sites are earmarked for demolition as part of a wider regeneration project, which will include the construction of new homes. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. 'This market was once so busy - but things have changed' Jerk chicken and Mexican stands for new market
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
City centre loses TWO historic markets in one day but shoppers only have to wait two weeks for swanky replacement
A CITY centre has lost two historic markets in one day but shoppers only have to wait two weeks for a swanky replacement. This weekend marked the final day of trading for stallholders at the Kirkgate and Oastler markets in Bradford. 3 3 Both markets shut on Saturday, June 28 and some traders have been offered stands at the new Darley Street Market. The historic Kirkgate Market opened in the 19th century and Oastler Market in the 1930s. Both have been important destinations over the years before online shopping saw a downturn in footfall. The old sites will eventually be demolished to make way for 1,000 new homes as part of a regeneration scheme. But after seven years Darley Market will open next month on July 12 and 13 after the scheme was first approved in 2018 by Bradford Council. The new market will feature spaces for eating, drinking, live entertainment in addition to traditional stalls. Some traders, such as the fishmongers, butchers, greengrocers and the iconic Roswitha's deli will be moving to the more modern market. People could be seen visiting Kirkgate and Oastler for the final time as they took photos around the long-standing sites. It's a historic juncture in Bradford city centre's constantly evolving story. Traders could be seen speaking with customers about what the next chapter might hold and enquiring whether they would be moving to the new market. Kamran Ali, 35, has repaired watches at Finesse Jewellers for 12 years. Based in Kirkgate Market, the jewellers has traded there for more than three decades but will now move to Darley Street. Ali told the BBC: "Bradford needs something to bring people back, the new market is, hopefully, going to help. "At the same time I'm sad, because some people here are not going to go to the new market." Kasiano Wonzer, a tailor, was not successful in applying for a new stall at the new Darley Street Market. He told the Telegraph & Argus: "This is my professional job and my life depends on this. "Since it is going to close down I am so sad, I started tailoring since I was small. "For now I've packed my things and I'll go back to my house." One couple who have run a stall at Kirkgate Market for more than 50 years, said: "It was one of the best markets in the UK." "When they opened it was a beautiful market - lovely people came, they felt so happy.' They're now packing up, giving their wares to charity and retiring. But other traders are looking into new plans after not being offered a stalls at the swanky replacement market. One trader said he was "feeling sad" and looking at the possibility of another shop but "the rent is high". He said: "Before it was busy, very nice. "The last two years, after Primark's gone, it's dead.' Fruit World opened is Oastler Market in 1994 and is also moving to Darley Market. Their team said: "It was a very good market, bustling, very busy because a lot of people used to go into the Morrisons. "Slowly over time it's kind of died down." But they said they were "very excited" to make the move and said while the new market is different, it's "beautiful" and "new over there". Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "Darley Street Market has always been significantly more than a simple like for like replacement of the markets it's replacing. "It helps modernise our retail offer, but it also reshapes the city centre with a new market square." 3
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford traders reflect as historic markets close for good
Times are changing in Bradford's markets, and this weekend marks the final day of trading for the stallholders in the Kirkgate and Oastler halls. Kirkgate Market opened in the 19th Century and Oastler Market in the 1930s, and both were important destinations in the years before online shopping saw footfall 28 June, they will shut and will eventually be demolished to make way for 1,000 new homes as part of a regeneration have instead been offered stands at the new Darley Street Market, and many told the BBC they were optimistic about moving to a more modern space. Kamran Ali, 35, has been repairing watches at Finesse Jewellers for the last 12 jewellers has been based at Kirkgate Market for more than 30 years, but will move to Darley Street after the weekend. "Bradford needs something to bring people back," Mr Ali said. "The new market is, hopefully, going to help."At the same time I'm sad, because some people here are not going to go to the new market." This sentiment was echoed by Lynn Hodgen, who was teasing her neighbour Mr Ali from her perfume stall while he was being interviewed. "They are your family, at the end of the day," Ms Hodgen, 59, said. "It's sad they're not coming with us, but it's still exciting to go and be in the new one." One of those not joining Mr Ali and Ms Hodgen is 67-year-old Altaf Hussain. He started selling children's clothes at Kirkgate Market in 1973, shortly after arriving in the UK from Pakistan. Mr Hussain was offered a spot in Darley Street, but said it was too small for his business. "It was so busy at one time," he told the BBC, reflecting on the market's glory days in the 1970s and 80s. "It was good before, but gradually after the 90s it started changing a lot, because everything was going online." Halimah Patel, 23, grew up playing around Kirkgate Market while her parents ran Essentials Hardware."It was always a nice place to come, a nice environment. It was really busy and it's really sad that it's quietened down in the last few years."Many of the stores that her family used to own have closed, but have not been said that the closure of a café across from the shop in December saw footfall drop dramatically. Their family has now taken over a launderette, which they said was a more reliable source of income. At Oastler Market, the views of the traders were similar. Vinesh Chauhan, 33, works at A&J Shoe Repairs, a family business based at the market since 1987. It was set up by his parents."I've got mixed emotions really," Mr Chauhan said. "I am looking forward to a new fresh start in the new market."Since I've been a little boy, I've known this place A-Z really."There's been a lot of shops here, but slowly they've all just gone."It's sad to be leaving because I've known this place all my life." Khalid Mahmood, 68, set up Solly's Fruit and Veg - named after his father - in 1994. "It's sad," he said. "I'm really going to miss it here."We've been here 31 years and since starting here we've had really good days."But now it's very quiet here and we have to go to the new site, where it will hopefully be more busy because it's near to the banks and the Broadway shopping centre."His son Imti, 42, who has been working at the market for more than 15 years, added: "It's quite odd really, because we've been here for so long and serviced the community for such a long time."But, as traders, I think we're all very excited to go to a brand new market, which is a little bit more central in location to the city. "Over the years, we've found the top end of the centre, where this market is, has been quite difficult for consumers to get to."All the consumer and retail interest has shifted towards Broadway and the bottom end of town, so I think it's quite an exciting prospect that we are going to be more central." The Darley Street Market scheme was approved by Bradford Council in July 2018, but has since been beset by delays. After seven years, the market is set to open for its first weekend on 12 has been designed with spaces for eating, drinking and live entertainment as well as traditional Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "Darley Street Market has always been significantly more than a simple like-for-like replacement of the markets it's replacing."It helps modernise our retail offer, but it also reshapes the city centre with a new market square." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
