Briggate
Encyclopedia
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
in central Leeds
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
, England. Most of Leeds' department stores are on Briggate, including the Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
branch. It is home to a number of major high street retailers as well as banks, restaurants and cafes. Recently there have been some residential developments above the shops. The street is known for the old alleyways that branch off it and are home to a number of public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s such as Whitelocks that have changed little over the years. Other pubs include The Ship, The Packhorse and The Angel Inn. Originally, the back entrances to these alleyways were called 'low ins', or 'loins', which is where the term Loiner
Loiner
-History:Natives of Leeds are known as Loiners and there are several theories as to the origin of the term but nobody can be certain where the word comes from.There are three competing theories....
(a resident of Leeds) is suspected to originate from. It refers to the people who would 'hang around in the loins'.
The northern non-pedestrianised part of Briggate between The Headrow and Merrion Street is known as New Briggate and is home to some small retailers, bars, pubs, nightclubs, takeaways and the Grand Theatre
Grand Theatre Leeds
The Grand Theatre is a theatre and Opera house in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was designed by James Robinson Watson, chief assistant in the office of Leeds-based architect George Corson, and opened on 18 November 1878...
. There is also a non-pedestrianised stretch of Briggate on the south side between Boar Lane and Call Lane known as Lower Briggate. It was home to Dysons Chambers, the Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus was a government agency for working-age people in Great Britain. The agency was formed when the Employment Service, which operated Jobcentres, merged with the Benefits Agency, which ran social security offices, and was re-named Jobcentre Plus on 1 April 2002...
office (before it closed), restaurants, small shops, bars, pubs and a small gay enclave
Gay village
A gay village is an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries where a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people live or frequent...
. In 2007, Briggate was decorated in lights to celebrate its 800th birthday.
History
Leeds Bridge
Leeds Bridge is a historic river crossing in Leeds, England. The present cast iron road bridge dates from 1730. It is Grade II listed.The medieval town of Leeds centred on 13th century burgess building plots either side of a wide road from the river crossing called Bridge Gate, now Briggate...
over the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
. The name 'Briggate' derives from 'the road to the bridge'. It was at Leeds Bridge in 1888 that Louis Le Prince
Louis Le Prince
Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince was an inventor who is considered by many film historians as the true father of motion pictures, who shot the first moving pictures on paper film using a single lens camera....
filmed some of the worlds first moving pictures.
It was built to be extraordinarily wide so that it could host a market, although this was later moved to a new building on Vicar Lane, Kirkgate Market
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Leeds Kirkgate Market is a market in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England located on Vicar Lane. It is the largest covered market in Europe. There are currently 800 stalls which attract over 100,000 visitors a week.-History:...
, that still exists as the City Markets today.
Briggate was originally the main north-south thoroughfare in Leeds from where the city grew. Trams ran along the street until the 1950s when the Leeds Tramway
Leeds Tramway
Leeds Corporation Tramways formerly served the city of Leeds, England. The original trams were horse-drawn, however by 1901 electrification had been completed. The tramway opened on 29 October 1891-Routes:...
closed. For many years the street was open to traffic but it was gradually pedestrianised - in 1993, only public transport vehicles were allowed to use the street, and in 1996 it was closed altogether to all except pedestrian traffic. This was done to attract new retailers to the street and to encourage more shoppers. In phases from 2004 to 2006, Briggate was properly pedestrianised with paving in York Stone, removing the roadway and pavements that remained. It was the first phase of a wider repaving scheme across the city centre that is ongoing.
In 1938, an art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
skyscraper was proposed for Briggate but never built due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The tower would have been around 25 storeys high and had a large art deco motif on top. There were never any plans to resurrect the scheme.
Arcades
- Grand ArcadeGrand Arcade (Leeds)The Grand Arcade is a shopping arcade in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was built by New Briggate Arcade Company Ltd in 1897, with Smith & Tweedal as architects. The arcade originally consisted of two parallel rows of shops, although one of these has now been converted into a nightclub...
was built by New Briggate Arcade Company Ltd in 1897, with Smith & Tweedal as architects. It is home to a number of small, independent retailers on the non-pedestrianised New Briggate. - Thorntons Arcade was completed in May 1878 and designed by Charles Fowler, a Leeds architect. William Potts and Son designed and made a clock with four life size figures that stands above the western exit onto Lands Lane.
- Queens Arcade was opened in 1889, named after Queen Victoria. The Briggate entrance was enlarged in 1895. It is particularly light and airy, and tenants are largely designer or upper-class novelty shops similar to those found on London's Carnaby StreetCarnaby StreetCarnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in London, United Kingdom, located in the Soho district, near Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques...
. - County Arcade was completed in 1903 and is particularly grand when compared to the other arcades. Featuring marble floors, intricate stonework and elegant iron domes, it makes up part of the modern day Victoria QuarterVictoria QuarterThe Victoria Quarter is an upmarket shopping area in Leeds, England. It consists of three blocks situated between Briggate and Vicar Lane, comprising the County Arcade, Cross Arcade, Queen Victoria Street and King Edward Street....
complex. The architect was Frank MatchamFrank MatchamFrank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
. - Queen Victoria Street has been arcaded since 1990. The largest expanse of stained glass in Europe was designed by Brian Clark and provides an impressive covering. It is also part of the larger Victoria Quarter, and is linked to County Arcade by Cross Arcade which is of the same design as County Arcade.
Developments
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the run-down County and Cross Arcades, and Queen Victoria Street, were redeveloped to create the Victoria Quarter, which included arcading Queen Victoria Street. It was originally intended to be a centre for independent retailers, but its excellence in design has led to it becoming a centre for designer brands.Following the Victoria Quarter developments, the Empire Palace was demolished to make way for the glass-fronted flagship Harvey Nichols department store that now characterises the street.
In 2004, transformation started on the Grand Theatre on New Briggate. The project will give an enlarged and higher quality home to Opera North
Opera North
Opera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle...
, as well as regenerating New Briggate.
In 2008, demolition work started on the 1970s Burton Arcade at the southern end of Briggate to make way for the Trinity Quarter. Marks and Spencer and Topshop will be enlarged as part of the project, which will open in 2010.
As of 2008, Market Street Arcade which faces the Burton Arcade at the southern end of Briggate and leading to Central Road was closed to make way for a redeveloped arcade with an extra level, glass roof and new tenants. Hoarding on the current development suggests this arcade is to be renamed 'Central Arcade' with an opening date of Spring 2011.
New Briggate
New Briggate hosts Leeds' Grand Theatre, famous for Opera North- the only Opera organisation outside of London. New Briggate was previously home to an Odeon cinema which has since closed and been redeveloped as a flagship PrimarkPrimark
Primark is a clothing retailer, operating over 223 stores in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium...
branch.
Briggate
The main stretch of Briggate is known mainly for retailing but also features the City VarietiesLeeds City Varieties
The Leeds City Varieties is a Grade II* listed music hall in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.It was built in 1865 as an adjunct to the White Swan Inn in Swan Street and the original interior is largely unaltered. Along with Hoxton Hall and Wilton's Music Hall , it is a rare surviving example of the...
, the UK's oldest and only surviving Music Hall. A project is currently planned to renovate the City Varieties and raise its profile further. The site of Harvey Nichols was previously home to Frank Matcham's Empire Theatre before being demolished in the 1960s.
Current retailers on Briggate between The Headrow and Boar Lane
- Alliance & LeicesterAlliance & LeicesterAlliance & Leicester was a former UK-based bank and PLC, which in later years operated as a trading name of Santander UK before being rebranded as Santander. Alliance & Leicester was legally acquired in May 2010 by Santander UK, and was fully incorporated by 2011...
- American ApparelAmerican ApparelAmerican Apparel is a clothing manufacturer in the United States. It is a vertically integrated clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer that also performs its own design, advertising, and marketing...
- Aspecto
- Bella ItaliaBella ItaliaBella Italia is a chain of over 80 Italian restaurants operating in the United Kingdom. The chain is part of the Tragus Group, who also own Café Rouge and Strada....
- The Body ShopThe Body ShopThe Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
- Burger KingBurger KingBurger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
- BurtonBurton (clothes retailer)Burton is a large United Kingdom high street clothing retailer. The company was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index, but is now part of the Arcadia Group.-History:...
- Carphone Warehouse
- Currys.digitalCurrys.digitalCurrys Digital is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom, that is owned by DSG International plc.With its origins in a photographic shop opened by Charles Kalms, the chain now has a store in most towns and cities across the UK and Ireland...
- DebenhamsDebenhamsDebenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
- Dorothy PerkinsDorothy PerkinsDorothy Perkins, whose trading name was inspired by a rambler rose of the same name, is a large British women's clothing retailer, active mostly in the United Kingdom.- History :...
- Fat FaceFat FaceFat Face is a chain of clothing retailers selling its own branded products. The company has over 190 stores in the United Kingdom, with international stores in Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, France, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The chain sells clothes aimed at men, women and...
- GapGap (clothing retailer)The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
- H&MH&MH & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
- Harvey NicholsHarvey NicholsHarvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
- H. SamuelH. SamuelH. Samuel is a mass-market jewellery chain, operating in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is the number one middle mass-market jewellery store in the United Kingdom. There are 375 stores as at 23rd Feb 2008. An increasing number of the chain's stores trade in a new format known...
- House of FraserHouse of FraserHouse of Fraser is a British department store group with over 60 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established in Glasgow, Scotland in 1849 as Arthur and Fraser. By 1891 it was known as Fraser & Sons. The company grew steadily during the early 20th century, but after the Second...
- KookaiKookaiKookai is a French fashion label founded in 1983 by Jean-Lou Tepper, Jacques Nataf and Philippe de Hesdin. It has a simple philosophy: "to supply young women with affordable apparel for their wardrobes". It has stores in Europe, Asia, America and Australia...
- Louis VuittonLouis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
- Marks & SpencerMarks & SpencerMarks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
- McDonalds (two outlets)
- MujiMUJI, or is a Japanese retail company which sells a wide variety of household and consumer goods.Muji is distinguished by its design minimalism, emphasis on recycling, avoidance of waste in production and packaging, and no-logo or "no-brand" policy....
- Nando'sNando'sNando's is a casual dining restaurant group originating from South Africa with a Portuguese/Mozambican theme. Founded in 1987, Nando's operates in thirty countries on five continents....
- O2O2 plcTelefónica Europe plc is a European broadband and telecommunications company that trades as O2 . The company originated as a collection of worldwide telecommunications companies, known in the later half of the 1990s as BT Wireless, and a global mobile data business known then as Genie Internet,...
- Office
- OrangeOrange UKOrange is a mobile network operator and internet service provider in the United Kingdom, which launched in 1994. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was purchased by France Télécom in 2000, which then adopted the Orange brand for all its other mobile communications activities...
- SchuhSchuhSchuh is a Scottish high street and internet branded footwear retailer, operating throughout the British Isles.-History:Schuh was established by Founding Director Sandy Alexander in 1981, with a single shop in North Bridge Arcade, Edinburgh. The company became part of the Glasgow-based Goldbergs...
- The Sofa Warehouse
- Sole
- StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
- TopshopTopshopTopshop is a British clothes retailer with shops in over 20 countries and online operations in a number of its markets. Its sales come primarily from women's clothing and fashion accessories...
/ TopmanTopmanTOPMAN is the stand-alone fashion business counterpart of Topshop that caters exclusively to men’s clothing. A part of the Arcadia Group, which also owns Burton, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans, British Home Stores and Dorothy Perkins, Topman has a chain of high-street men's clothing stores located... - Ultimate Outdoors Outlet
- USC
- Vision ExpressVision ExpressVision Express is one of the four major opticians that control 70% of the British market for spectacles and contact lenses.The company opened its first store in 1988 at the MetroCentre. After buying out LensCrafters' UK base, they further increased their number of stores. They had over 220 stores...
- Yorkshire Building SocietyYorkshire Building SocietyThe Yorkshire Building Society is the second largest building society in the UK, with its headquarters in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Assets now exceed £20 billion....
- ZaraZara (clothing)Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia, and founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. It is the flagship chain store of the Inditex group; the fashion group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and...