- Victoria Gate in Leeds welcomes its first shoppers today
- The £165m development is anchored by John Lewis
- More than three-quarters of retailers and restaurants opening are new to Leeds
Victoria Gate will welcome shoppers for the first time today as the only major retail scheme to launch in the UK in 2016 throws open its doors.
The £165m development in Leeds lies adjacent to the existing Victoria Quarter arcade – both of which are owned by shopping centre landlord Hammerson.
The launch of the scheme forms part of a new 574,790 sq ft Victoria Leeds shopping destination, propelling the city up to third in the Javelin’s UK retail rankings.
Anchored by the city’s first ever John Lewis store – the retailer’s largest outside of London – Victoria Gate will also host 30 retailers and restaurants that are new entrants to Leeds.
Joules, Russell & Bromley, Anthropologie, Hackett, Gant and Tommy Hilfiger are among the brands that have taken space within the mall, which is now 90% let.
The development has created 1,000 permanent retail and leisure jobs.
Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said: “This is a truly unique development and there is nothing else like it in the UK. We are confident that Victoria Gate will set new standards for retail across Europe as it becomes an iconic piece of Leeds’ retail heritage.”
3 Readers' comments