The historic market is extending its hours for the first time ever, starting this October
The City Centre’s historic Kirkgate Market is preparing for a new lease of life, having announced the first four months of Night Market events.
The Food Hall and events space - which was completed in Spring 2016 and hosts permanent pop-ups from street food traders such as Manjit’s Kitchen and The Yorkshire Wrap Company - will be home to the events on the third Thursday of every month between October and January.
This is the first time shoppers have been able to use the market’s facilities - which are funded in part by Leeds City Council - outside of Monday - Saturday’s usual opening hours of 8am - 5:30pm, making it more accessible to potential customers on a 9-5 schedule.
The free-to-enter events are expected to provide a bit of a relaxed party atmosphere for customers, providing live music and communal seating, as well as bars stocked with local craft beers, prosecco, gin & tonic, and cocktails.
Although no list of participating traders has been released by Leeds Markets, up to 20 stalls are expected to be extending their hours to take part in the new Night Market events, as well as the Food Hall’s street market stalls.
Update: The stalls taking part inthe first Night Market on Thursday 26 October are Neils Fruits, Tarbetts Fishmonger, Bluebird Bakery, Kakes and Bakes by Katie, Malcolm Michaels Quality Butchers, and Herbsville. Food will be available from Grub & Grog Shop, Honest Edibles, Café Moor, Manjit's Kitchen, Fat Annies, Banh and Mee, Jenny's Jerk Chicken, The Yorkshire Wrap Company, Tea Pot Tea or Coffee, and Zm Zm Bakery. Vincenzo the Prosecco Van, Latitude Wine Merchants, Udders Orchard Cider, and Little Black Dog Beer Company will be selling wines, beers, and spirits.
Manjit’s Kitchen owner Manjit Kaur has played a vital role in organising and promoting the Night Market, noting the venue’s potential as a leisure attraction as well as a retail destination, and hopes a big turn-out at initial events encourage more traders to follow suit.
Examples of similar night markets include London’s Mercato Metropolitano, Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market, Mercado San Miguel in Madrid, and Mackie Mayor in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, which launched this week in a Grade-II listed building dating back to 1858.
Kirkgate Night Market, 5:30pm - 11pm, Thursday 26 October 2017, Thursday 30 November 2017, Thursday 21 December 2017, Thursday 25 January 2018
