Market reaps rewards of multimillion-pound investment

An ongoing multimillion-pound investment in Leeds Kirkgate Market is paying off with footfall figures continuing to rise.

Footfall figures show the market received more than 2.9m visits in the first six months of this year – six per cent up on the same period in 2023.

There were 506,451 visits recorded in March alone, while the totals for May and June stood at 498,786 and 493,047 respectively.

Businesses are also heading to the market in numbers, with a beauty salon, a bookshop and a Syrian food store among the eight new indoor arrivals since the start of the year.

A further seven businesses – selling everything from suitcases to Vietnamese groceries – are in the process of agreeing deals for indoor units.

There has also been an eight per cent increase in outdoor stall occupation compared to this time last year.

Recent improvements at the market include the completion of the first phase of a £10m refurbishment of its 19th-century ‘blockshops’ area.

Work is now well under way on the second phase of the Leeds City Council scheme, with the latest batch of new-look units expected to be ready to let early next year.

Efforts to ensure the market caters for as wide a range of people as possible are also having a positive impact on footfall numbers.

Family-friendly activities – including life-sized arcade game sessions – helped push the visits total for May half-term week past 110,000.

A programme of free entertainment for youngsters is also being laid on at the market between now and the end of August.

Visitors of all ages, meanwhile, will be able to sample various tasty treats at a Caribbean and African Food Festival on August 24 and a Leeds Indian Food Festival on August 31.

Cllr Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: Our significant investments in Leeds Kirkgate Market have been designed to ensure it has a future to match its long and proud past.

“It’s really pleasing, therefore, to see visitor numbers on the up-and-up as the latest phase of improvement work continues.

“The unprecedented number of enquiries that are being received from businesses wanting to move into the market is also very encouraging.”