No tags yet.
Hidden away from the busy hustle of the city centre streets, Leeds’ Kirkgate Market is filled with diversity and offers over 170 traders. The markets offer a wide variety of flavour and independent stores, each with something different to offer. As soon as you walk in you’re hit with the smell of food, whether you’re looking for some classic Vietnamese or some rustic jerk chicken, the market has a lot to offer.
First opening in 1822 as an open-air market, it has come a long way and has been revamped to offer modern themes with a hint of its rustic beginning still on show. The market still pays homage to Marks and Spencer, due to it being the founding location of the superstore in 1884, with a tall green centenary clock which bear’s the shops name. Refurbishments of the markets have taken place for decades with the hope to keep the original Victorian style. However in 2010 Leeds City council attempted to reduce the size of the markets to make room for Victoria Gate shopping centre which was met with protest from vendors and market goers. After Victoria Gate was built, the Council planned to capitalise on the changes and remodelled the market to allow more street food vendors to operate and adding an event space.
This new space for food vendors has been used well, with food from all over the world being available in the dining room area. People can enjoy freshly made food from vendors such as Manjit’s Kitchen, Jenny’s Jerk Chicken and Maxi’s Rotisserie, which all offer a varied style of food. With such a diverse food option, people can pick and choose, whichever style of food they would like and enjoy it all in one place. The smell of food fills the air of the large room as you sit and eat while watching performances at the event space.
Street food isn’t the only thing the markets have to offer however. With hundreds of stalls including fruit and veg, children’s toys and kitchen electronics, you can find anything you can think of in Kirkgate markets, and all usually at a reasonable price. Besides shopping, the markets offer live events such as musical acts, dancing and even rollerblading. There is a sudden sense of community when walking around the stalls which you just don’t get in supermarkets. Most people greeted me with a smile and even posed for pictures. With so many local business’, you felt the appreciation from vendors by choosing to purchase from them instead of large chain shops. While I went into the markets with the misconception that the markets didn’t have much to offer for young people, the store were full of cheap produce that challenged brand-names and used much less plastic packaging. Just walking around the stalls made me notice how much the markets have to offer at such a low price and high convenience.
Whether you’re looking for delicious street food, cheap produce, electronic gadgets or even a new carpet, Kirkgate market has it all to offer along with a sense of community. It’s the perfect place to go for a relaxing and not-bank breaking shopping day out and has more to offer than most people realise.