Wapentake Kirkgate to close on 23rd June

A Kirkgate cafe and bar based on the oldest street in Leeds has announced its imminent closure.

Transcript

00:00Leeds City Centre cafe and bar Wappentake has announced it will shut down on Sunday

00:06the 23rd of June. Its owners said the Kirkgate business had fallen on hard times, with ongoing

00:13building work and the current climate leading to the decision.

00:17Leeds Civic Trust director Martin Hamilton has said there is no doubt that the collapse

00:21of the property at the bottom of Kirkgate in April, and the subsequent hoardings, give

00:26the impression that Kirkgate is closed for business. He added that buses are being diverted

00:31and pedestrians are also avoiding the area, meaning there is a lack of passing trade.

00:37A Leeds City Council spokesperson has said a huge amount of regeneration activity has

00:41taken place on Kirkgate over the last decade, and the council are considering all options

00:46for a long-term restoration and regeneration solution to properties on the street.

00:53Wappentake are planning a weekend-long farewell bash to mark the end of an era.