Plans revealed for new Kirkgate Market Food Village, STACK Leeds

A new food village is set to take over Kirkgate Market’s outdoor space, STACK Leeds.

STACK was one of three private operators that submitted formal bids to the council in relation to the Leeds site. The development is hoped to boost footfall across the whole market site and help attract a new customer base to this historic jewel in the centre of Leeds.

The new space will create jobs and deliver increased opportunities for independent traders, thanks to a seven-day-a-week operation that would extend into the evenings.

The outdoor market currently has room for a total of 185 stalls, with around 85 being filled on its busiest days. The reconfigured area will still be able to accommodate existing traders – as well as new arrivals – and will also remain one of the largest sites of its kind in the region.

Since STACK Seaburn opened on the North East coast in 2020, made of reused shipping containers, has drawn more than 2.5 million visitors. Two new STACK venues in Newcastle’s downtown are now being built, one of which will be a “fan zone” close to Newcastle United’s St. James’ Park stadium.

Additionally, STACK has locations in Lincoln, Bishop Auckland, Middlesborough, Whitley Bay, Durham, Carlisle, Northampton, Manchester, Wigan and Sheffield, all of which are in varying states of construction.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education, said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm STACK as our preferred operator for what will be, subject to the necessary planning and licensing approvals, a really exciting addition to Leeds Kirkgate Market.

STACK’s track record and proposals make it an ideal fit for a scheme that would complement other major improvements in the market – improvements that recently helped push monthly visitor numbers past 500,000.

The council is also committed to continuing to work with the market’s existing traders to ensure they can reap the maximum benefit from the proposed food village.”

Neill Winch, STACK’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We at STACK are thrilled to be selected as the preferred operator for the new food village at Leeds Kirkgate Market. Our passion for creating vibrant, community-focused destinations aligns perfectly with the council’s vision for regeneration and cultural enrichment.

We’re committed to ensuring that the new container village will be a place where both existing and new traders can thrive, enhancing the overall market and ensuring it remains a key attraction in Leeds.

We look forward to working closely with the council and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality.”

No confirmed date for the opening of STACK Leeds has been announced yet.

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