The Grand Arcade in Leeds has undergone a £500k refurbishment.
The refurbishment of the Grand Arcade, which is designed in the Renaissance style with Art Noveau decorative details, includes the laying of a Yorkshire Stone floor, from Rand & Asquith Yorkshire Stone Quarry, throughout. Seventeen handmade brass period lanterns have been hung from the roof trusses, and the arcade has been painted throughout with a new colour scheme and period signage, from Leeds based West Riding Engravers.
In addition, many of the businesses within the arcade, including Lords Barbers with its Domini Club below stairs, and West Yorkshire Cameras, all of whom enjoyed great success prior to lockdown, have taken the opportunity to refurbish their own units in readiness for the lockdown being completely lifted.
The refurbishment coincides with a planned £2.5m facelift for New Briggate, as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zones programme, and the multi-million-pound development of Opera North’s Howard Opera Centre, next to the Grand Theatre.
Tim Watts of ATC, said: “The Arcade is home to many local independents, and we believe the works we have made to the arcade has brought it to another level in terms of quality and feel. For too long we have been the lesser known of the Leeds arcades, but I believe our refurbishment and the money being spent on New Briggate & Vicar Lane as a whole will only raise the area’s profile for independents making it a destination of choice for shoppers and diners.”