Briggate, Leeds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Briggate is a shopping street in Leeds, England. It is located in the centre of the city and for a long time has been regarded as one of the major shopping streets in the city. .
It is one of the oldest streets in the city of Leeds and was founded in 1207 when the road began on the north side of the Leeds Bridge over the River Aire.
It is home to a number of major high street retailers as well as some banks, restaurants and cafes. Recently there have been some residential developments above the shops. The street is known for its historic arcades such as the County Arcade and Thornton's Arcade, and for a number of old alleyways (locally known as ginnels) that branch off Briggate and are home to a number of Public Houses such as Whitelocks that has changed little since the 18th Century.
For many years the street was open to traffic but 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.
The non pedestrianised part of Briggate between The Headrow and Merrion Street, Leeds is known as New Briggate and is home to some small retailers, bars, pubs, nightclubs, takeaways and the Grand Theatre. There is also a non pedestrianised stretch of Briggate on the south side between Boar Lane and Call Lane known as Lower Briggate. It is home to the Dysons Chambers Jobcentre Plus office, small shops, bars, pubs and a small Gay Enclave.
[edit] Current retailers on Briggate between The Headrow and Boar Lane
- Alliance & Leicester
- Bella Italia
- The Body Shop
- Borders
- Burger King
- Burton
- Carphone Warehouse
- Currys.digital
- Debenhams
- Dorothy Perkins
- Envy
- French Connection
- Gap
- H&M
- Harvey Nichols
- H. Samuel
- House of Fraser
- The Link
- Marks & Spencer
- McDonalds
- Muji
- Nando's
- Northern Rock
- O2
- Pizza Hut
- Primark
- Principles
- Schuh
- The Sofa Warehouse
- Starbucks
- Topshop
- USC
- Yorkshire Building Society
- Zara
