'Leeds doesn’t need copies' – City hospitality sector unites to oppose Kirkgate Market STACK development
A coalition of over 30 Leeds hospitality businesses has voiced strong opposition to Leeds City Council’s partnership with STACK for a new food, drink, and entertainment village at Kirkgate Market.
The planned development would see shipping containers converted into a venue featuring up to ten street food vendors, six bars, a coffee shop, and a stage for live entertainment.
However, local business owners argue the project could cause irreparable harm to existing hospitality venues rather than boost overall city centre footfall.
In a joint letter to the council, the collective - which includes well-known names such as North Bar, House of Koko, Roxy Ball Room and The Domino Club - warned that STACK Leeds could displace customers from existing bars, cafes and restaurants instead of attracting new visitors.
The group pointed to the example of STACK Newcastle, which they claim caused “significant and sustained damage” to independent businesses in the city centre. A legal challenge has since been mounted against that scheme’s expansion.
The letter states: “Hospitality has been faced with the most challenging conditions to operate in imaginable for the last five years: COVID lockdowns, spiralling energy costs, inflated employment taxation, falling city centre footfall and office occupancy, to name but a few.
“Leeds has no requirement for a new artificially implemented ‘fanzone’. The city centre has numerous vacant units that could supplement the existing hospitality offering if demand were present. Demand simply is not present at this time.
“If and when it returns, some creative and flexible action from the council would easily enable new, diverse and innovative operators to repopulate these units and enrich the city’s panorama in a way far more atmospheric and sustainable than a pile of homogenous freight containers deposited next to one of Leeds' most significant architectural buildings.”
The signatories also criticised the public consultation process, claiming it ignored prior objections from Kirkgate Market traders and failed to engage with affected local businesses.
They questioned why the lease for the site had been granted before planning permission was approved, describing the decision as “myopic” and “preordained”.
The letter concluded: “The Leeds hospitality sector has produced several notable businesses that have become national brands. Making the landscape even more challenging for new local startups is counterproductive; it stymies the local economy and ultimately demeans the city.
“The rich diversity of hospitality offerings spread around the city surely bolsters the city’s attraction to visitors, both domestic and international. Stack merely offers a repetition of what is available elsewhere. Why would we, as a city, simply follow others?”
The letter was signed by:
House of Koko, Distrikt Bar, Forde, The Brotherhood, North Bar, Roland’s, The Domino Club, Fuji Hiro, Roxy Ball Room Merrion Street, Roxy Ball Room Boar Lane, Roxy Lanes, Parkside Tavern, Pinnacle Sports & Games, Jake’s Bar, Oporto, Neon Cactus, Fat Annie’s, SALT Granary Wharf, The Hop, Archie’s, SALT Call Landing, SALT East Parade, Istanbul Bakery, Mr Mackerel, Chicken Gate, Banh & Mee, Zaap, Sukhotai, Verve, Mean Eyed Cat, Call Lane Social, Cuckoo, Tiki Hideaway, Brooklyn, The Maven, MOJO, Banyan, Manahatta, The Box
Leeds City Council responds
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We recognise and fully appreciate the part our brilliant hospitality businesses play in the vibrancy and success of Leeds city centre, as well as the difficulties that their sector has faced nationally in recent years.
“Should it secure the necessary planning approvals, Stack Leeds would bring increased footfall to the market and help safeguard the long-term sustainability of this much-loved retail destination.
“By adding a new element to the local food and drink offer, we are confident it would also benefit the wider city centre – and its existing hospitality businesses – by making Leeds an even more attractive place to spend time and money.
“We strongly refute the suggestion that the consultation exercise carried out in late 2022 was flawed or in any way designed to deliver a particular set of results.
“More than 2,000 online questionnaires were completed, with members of the public giving overwhelmingly positive backing to the general idea of bringing a container-style venue to the market.
“Engagement was also carried out with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Leeds Hotels and Venues Association, Leeds BID, Leeds Civic Trust and independent licensed premises located near the market.
“Local hospitality businesses, like all other interested parties, will have an additional opportunity to raise concerns or voice support for this scheme during the planning process.”
What Stack says
A spokesperson for Stack said: “Stack has a proven track record of driving regeneration and increasing city centre visits. In customer surveys across our venues, 93 per cent of visitors said Stack has had a positive impact on regeneration and 77 cent told us it makes them more likely to visit the city.
"Importantly, our customers don’t just come to Stack – 70 cent also visit other bars, 47 per cent dine in other restaurants or cafés and nearly half go shopping as part of their trip.
“We are fully committed to working with the existing market and ensuring Stack Leeds complements and supports this much-loved destination. By creating a new attraction that brings more people into the area, we believe we can help increase footfall and drive additional spend that benefits traders and the wider city centre.
“Stack attracts a wide audience all year round, with over 30 per cent of visits including families thanks to our programme of family-friendly events alongside live music and entertainment. We also act as an incubator for independent street food traders, helping small businesses grow and even move on to launch their own high street restaurants.