STACK signs with Leeds
A formal lease agreement has been completed between the container-style leisure destination operator and the city council, meaning plans for Kirkgate Market can move forward.
Leeds City Council confirmed North East-based STACK in March last year as its preferred operator for the proposed venue, which will offer a mix of food, drink and entertainment in part of the market’s outdoor trading area.
Now, following further design and preparatory work, the parties have agreed a lease deal. Subject to licensing and planning approvals, the start of construction on the scheme could be just months away.
STACK made its name operating a ‘meanwhile use’ at the Pilgrim Quarter in Newcastle, and has since expanded rapidly with schemes across the North and Midlands – some following the shipping container compound model, some in spaces previously taken up by retail or other uses.
Under current plans, STACK Leeds would be spread across two floors, with a central plaza seating area covered by a ‘stretch tent’ providing shelter, when needed, from the elements.
The plaza would be home to two large digital screens as well as a stage that would be used for a programme of live music and other entertainment. Ten street food outlets, six bars and a coffee shop are expected.
A premises licence application has already been submitted for the scheme, with a planning application expected to follow shortly. If both are approved, building work could start in early 2026 with a view to the venue opening later in the year.
Construction costs would be met by STACK, with rental payments generating a new income stream for the council.
Leeds hopes the scheme will increase footfall and broaden the customer base for the whole market site, where only around 85 of the outdoor trading area’s 185 stall spaces are being filled on its busiest days.
Should STACK Leeds secure the necessary licensing and planning approvals, the number of pitches would be reduced and the freed-up space used as the location for the scheme.
LCC said that the reconfigured area would still be able to comfortably accommodate all existing traders, as well as new arrivals, and would also remain one of the largest sites of its kind in the region.
Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “The plans for STACK Leeds are really exciting and underline our ongoing commitment to backing and investing in Leeds Kirkgate Market.
“I’m delighted, therefore, that the project has now reached this important milestone, thanks to a great deal of hard work from both the council and STACK.
“Together we are determined to ensure that the new venue is very much part of the market, rather than a standalone attraction. Every person heading to STACK Leeds will also be a potential shopper, whether that’s on the day or during a return visit.
“Some may even start making regular trips to the market for the first time, having previously been unaware of the recent retail improvements there. It is this kind of new custom – combined with the much-appreciated support of existing shoppers – that will help the site’s many and varied businesses prosper for years to come.”
More than 2.5m people have visited STACK Seaburn since it opened on the North East coast in 2020. Further venues opened last year in Lincoln, Middlesbrough and at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park ground, where it has recently been granted an extension until 2031.
STACK also has sites at various stages of development or planning in places such as Bishop Auckland, Durham, Whitley Bay, Manchester, Sheffield, Wigan and Carlisle. It is also returning to the Pilgrim Quarter masterplan area where the STACK story began, opening a venue in the listed Worswick Chambers building.
Neill Winch, STACK’s chief executive officer, said: “We’re delighted to be taking this important step towards bringing STACK to Leeds. This is a city with incredible energy and a proud sense of community, which makes it a perfect location for our concept.
“While STACK continues to grow across the UK, our focus remains on creating spaces that celebrate local culture, support independent businesses and provide somewhere people can come together to enjoy great food, drink and live entertainment.
“Importantly, our offer will complement the fantastic outdoor and indoor market by attracting a new audience and, by opening seven days a week from early morning until late, we’ll help drive footfall and support the market’s wider ecosystem.
“We’re excited to work with Leeds City Council to deliver a destination that adds real value to Kirkgate Market and the city centre.”
Recent improvements at the market include an ongoing £10m project to repair, conserve and enhance the 1875 ‘blockshops’, the oldest surviving structures on the site. Phase one of this scheme was finished in 2023, with the second and final stage now nearing completion.
The area will also see a Premier Inn hotel come forward, while the council is taking action to protect some of Kirkgate’s heritage buildings.
