Kirkgate Market, can it survive?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 26 Jul, 2014 9:02 am

urban rambler wrote: Someone suggested that since the railway station is losing the tourist information centre, to relocate to under the steps of the Art Gallery, wouldn't it make more sense to utilise the Market spare capacity to open one there, adjacent to the bus station (and the new shopping centre) It would make more sense indeed - but what would make even more sense would be to leave the present splendid facility with obliging staff exactly where it it in its ideal situation - "cost savings" gone to a new level of lunacy !!

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 26 Jul, 2014 5:32 pm

BLAKEY wrote: urban rambler wrote: Someone suggested that since the railway station is losing the tourist information centre, to relocate to under the steps of the Art Gallery, wouldn't it make more sense to utilise the Market spare capacity to open one there, adjacent to the bus station (and the new shopping centre) It would make more sense indeed - but what would make even more sense would be to leave the present splendid facility with obliging staff exactly where it it in its ideal situation - "cost savings" gone to a new level of lunacy !! As usual the bean counters in ivory towers can only see value on paper, and therefore they look at the information centre and only see ££££ signs to save.The Information Centre is in absolutely the correct place, NOT the Headrow.The station is where most long distance travellers arrive into Leeds (who are not driving) and im sure it being situated on the station is a of great benefit to the visitor and is a great boon for the citys image as the visitor will note, and probably pass on not only its convenient location but also the fact that their possible first time visit has been made simpler by having the information centre at the point of arrival.THAT is the true value of the Information Centre being on the station, you cant out a figure on it for the returns it will make and that why the "Bean Counters" will see it as somewhere to make a cut back.I understand teh council are having huge cuts in their budgets but this facility brings money into the city because it adds to the overall offer and experience for an visitor, a visitor who will hopefully come back or recommend the city to their friends.Oh dear, i got started again didnt i?

simong · Post by **simong** » Sat 26 Jul, 2014 7:37 pm

There's a business called marketdelivered.co.uk who will deliver stuff from the market to your door for a lot cheaper than the cost of parking. We use it for veg mostly and get a good selection of seasonal produce from Neil's for a tenner. They also have Hayes' Seafood and a few of the butchers on board, but can get anything for cost if you ask them. They're a one man band at the moment but will deliver anywhere in the Leeds area in a three hour time slot.

sparky415 · Post by **sparky415** » Fri 15 Aug, 2014 10:19 pm

I hope I'm wrong as I have many happy memeoriesof being dragged around leeds market every saturday as a boy in the late 70's early 80's, but i cannot see the council having long term plans for the market in the markets favour. What i can see is the rent rises, followed by a lack of stall holders, followed by a lack of customers. Then, once LCC can state that the market is being under-used and ran at a 'substantial loss' then the market will be 'redeveloped', probably into yet another (edited for content) shopping centre or some yuppy flats. I hope I am wrong of course, but at the end of the day the council only seems to think about money, money, money.

Flickerfree · Post by **Flickerfree** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 9:58 am

OLDIn my view the market has never been right since the fire, always an air of temporary buildings (metal shed), the top end has a elegance about itYou used to get off the bus in the green station, walk in to the open area just looking no point in buying heavy veg to carry all day long.Butchers Row for the Sunday joint, Leg of lamb from New Zealand via “Busy Bs” upto the biscuits shop for 2lb of mixedStringers book shop to take some books back and buy a few more, commando picture books. (to read on bus going home)Always had a look in pet row, maybe pie and peas with lots of mint sauce for a treat.The to the outdoor market, always looked in on the tool stall, and for some reason the stall that sold car seat cover.What about the man selling crockery. That was a show in itself always hoping to see a complete set smash to the ground. I never saw that.Than to the sides looking a the fruit and veg, before plastic bags, the man used to weigh them out and tip straight into your bag, first spuds, then carrots, other veg then apples and last of all a bunch of bananasI look in Kennedys for ex juke box singlesAlways looked at the ice cream stall I think was the last stall before the bus stationGood affordable goods, even bag a bargain if you waited until the end of trending.Good qualityNow replaced by some cheap looking shop out to rip you off (not all I should add)NEWI would love to see the top end of the market on vicar lane to house a Betty's Cafe, I think the grandeur of the building needs something solid like Betty's.Keep the flower sellers, butchers row, and fresh fish both trade and retail, Leeds restaurants should be proud to shout out produce obtained from Leeds Market. Upgrade the bottom section to be blend in with the top section.Scrap the outdoor Market reduce the footprint by moving all into the covered market.Replace with a free 1/2 hour car park as long as you spend £10/20 in market. the more you spend the longer the free parking. £25 per half hour for non market shopping.Increase rent for new traders, Half rent after 5 years, and half again after a further 5 years.People will pay for good quality at good prices, week after weekPeople will buy cheap goods once or twice the look somewhere else.

j.c.d. · Post by **j.c.d.** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 5:52 pm

The suggestions put forward by Flickertree are very sensible (shame he or she is not on the Leeds Council) but the realities are that over the last 10 or 15 years or so thing have changed dramatically where retail Markets are concerned. The advent of Aldi, Lidl , Pound shops and main Supermarkets doing rows of £1 lines has effectively killed off a great portion of the revenue enjoyed by Markets, especially open air ones. The idea of getting a "Bargain" on Market days has gone and sadly it will, like Public House being a way of life, never return. We were all brought up with a Market somewhere nearby and it was an occasion to go there, nowadays young people have different shopping habits and lots of them would not be seen dead in places like Kirkgate Market. It does not give me pleasure to write this as I have been a Market Trader for most of my life. I actually worked in Leeds Market in 1950 as a school boy (Saturday job). Many of my friends still are in the "Game" grafting on the "Gaffs" but when I speak to them they are of a similar voice, either can't wait to get out or just running down their stock. The large markets here in the South West of England have, by and large, turned into glorified Car Boot /Markets. Sorry to be so Doom and Gloom but I can't see any future for Traders in this business, if only the Market Operators would see some of this and stop pricing Traders out of their livelihood. I will say that Kirkgate market hold a special place in my heart and though I have worked in outdoor Markets from Leeds to Bristol that is still my favourite, Sorry to be long winded. Good Luck to all those trying to keep it going.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 6:15 pm

I still get all my fruit and veg at the outside market, still cheaper than supermarkets. This weekend three lamb shanks to £9, still cheaper than tescos. Can get the shopping done in half an hour, parking £1. But it does need more help from the council to keep it going.

j.c.d. · Post by **j.c.d.** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 6:50 pm

Cardiarms wrote: I still get all my fruit and veg at the outside market, still cheaper than supermarkets. This weekend three lamb shanks to £9, still cheaper than tescos. Can get the shopping done in half an hour, parking £1. But it does need more help from the council to keep it going. That's excellent, and the Veg. will certainly fresher. Its the Tattiness and not much variety in the goods being offered in the bottom half that I have found off putting,.Is there somewhere to put stories on about Kirkgate Market please

Dalehelms · Post by **Dalehelms** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 8:33 pm

Hi there, j.c.d. Why don't you start your own thread on Kirkgate Market Tales?

j.c.d. · Post by **j.c.d.** » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 10:38 pm

Dalehelms wrote: Hi there, j.c.d. Why don't you start your own thread on Kirkgate Market Tales? Am bit of a novice around here but will give it a go.