Leeds’ Victoria Gate celebrates 10th anniversary
Victoria Gate, part of Redical’s Victoria Leeds shopping destination in Leeds, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The destination, which opened in October 2016 following a £165m development, sits alongside the Grade II-listed Victoria Quarter to create Victoria Leeds.
Anchored by the only John Lewis store in the region, the Redical-owned Victoria Leeds was named as the World’s Best Shopping Centre at MIPIM in 2017 and as the UK’s number one shopping centre on Tripadvisor earlier this year.
Since opening, the destination has welcomed over 135 million visits, driven by an active leasing strategy which has seen Redical lease 70,400 sq ft of previously vacant floorspace since acquiring the scheme, reducing vacancy from around 15% by floor area to less than 5% today.
More than 35 new brands have arrived at the shopping centre during Redical’s ownership. Pour Moi, Aesop, APM Monaco, Lisa Angel, AS Colour, and Randox have all made their northern debuts at the destination, while Wax London, Missoma, Monica Vinader, Byredo, and Le Labo chose Victoria Leeds for their first stores outside London. Alo, Nobody’s Child, Arabian Oud, and ARNE have since chosen the scheme for their second stores outside of London, with ARNE opening its third permanent UK store in Victoria Leeds later this year.
Local and regional businesses also make up part of the tenant mix, with Allertons, North Star Coffee, Uyare, Michelsberg Tailoring, and Yorkshire Jeweller all trading alongside national and international retailers.
The new arrivals join an established line-up of luxury and premium brands, including Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, Coach, and Boodles, which sit alongside John Lewis & Partners, The White Company, &Other Stories, and Reiss. The dining offer includes The Ivy, The Ivy Asia, Cut & Craft, and Uyare by Tharavadu.
James Edmondson, asset manager at Redical, said: “Victoria Gate set a new standard for retail in the North when it opened ten years ago, and that ambition remains at the heart of how Redical manages Victoria Leeds today. When we acquired the destination, around 15% of the floorspace was vacant, compared to less than 5% today. That turnaround is the result of hands-on, intelligent asset management and a leasing strategy built on securing the right brands, in the right space, to satisfy the needs and wants of a loyal and affluent customer base. As we look ahead to the next decade, our focus is on continuing to evolve the offer and cementing Victoria Leeds’ position as a prime, best-in-class destination.”