Leeds‘ £165 million Victoria Gate shopping centre has opened its doors to the public today.
Located adjacent to the Victoria Quarter arcade, the new complex forms part of the new 57,4792sq ft Victoria Leeds shopping destination.
Owned by Hamerson, the complex is anchored by a flagship John Lewis store – the department store chain‘s first in Leeds and the largest outside of London.
Victoria Gate‘s two street arcades also boasts 30 new retail brands and restaurants as well as a casino.
Ninety per cent of the retail spaces have been let and the line-up includes Russell & Bromley, Nespresso, Gant, Hackett, Tommy Hilfiger, Joules, Aspinal of London, Le Pain Quotidien, Neom Organics, T2, Anthropologie and international restaurant group D&D. 77 per cent of the retailers in the line-up are debuting in Leeds.
Designed by architects Acme, Victioria Gates pays homage to Leeds‘ merchandising and textile history with a façade that takes inspiration from the surrounding architecture, using a mixture of white terracotta and red bricks manufactured in Yorkshire and Staffordshire.
The shopping centre has delivered over 1500 job opportunities and throughout its development, the Victoria Gate Fund contributed £30,000 of funding and supported 12 local projects in Leeds that help develop the employment skills and experience of young people.
“This is a truly unique development and there is nothing else like it in the UK,” Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said.
“We are confident that Victoria Gate will set new standards for retail across Europe as it becomes an iconic piece of Leeds‘ retail heritage.
“Whilst transforming the city‘s luxury and aspirational shopping and dining offer, Victoria Gate will also provide a significant contribution to Leeds‘ local economy with the city now set to become the undisputed regional shopping capital of the north.”
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