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Community-run arcade's opening date confirmed

Sarah WakefieldDewsbury
News imageLucille Moore A stone Victorian archway with decorative iron bars inside. Above the archway is The Arcade engraved into the stone masonry. There are windows in the building with stone mullions.Lucille Moore
Managers of The Arcade in Dewsbury are hoping to attract independent, local businesses ahead of its grand reopening

Final preparations are being made to reopen a Grade-II listed Victorian arcade following a major restoration.

The Dewsbury Arcade was purchased by Kirklees Council in 2020 after standing empty for four years and has been transformed into the UK's first community-run shopping centre.

The grand opening is scheduled to take place on 5 September, with live performances and family activities.

Arcade manager Jenny Holden Stokes said: "We've been very careful with the restoration and a lot of it does look the same, especially the glass roof which looks amazing from inside the building, so that's a real legacy story."

News imageThe Arcade A Victorian image of the arcade's interiorsThe Arcade
The roof of the arcade is one of the Victorian features that has been carefully restored

The flagship project is a collaboration between Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board, the Arcade Group and the council.

Work started in April 2024 with help from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, but the original date for opening in autumn 2025 was delayed due to issues with rot and decay, which were "far more significant" than first anticipated.

News imageKirklees Council An artists impression of a revamped Victorian shopping arcade with small shop windows either side of a walkway with a glass roof aboveKirklees Council
An artist's impression of what the finished arcade will look like

As well as restoring the Victorian features, there are more up-to-date spaces included as well.

"We now have a community room, event space and a meeting room which people can hire out, that's all new. We want to make it a really nice community space with lots going on in there for people," said Holden Stokes.

News imageLucille Moore A man in a yellow high-vis vest and a hard hat and dark trousers stands with his back to the camera looking at a room with beams and exposed brick work. There is scaffolding to the right of the picture and the floor is dustyLucille Moore
The original opening date was pushed back because of dry rot and decay

Holden Stokes said she is still keen to hear from any traders who would like to lease one of the available shop units.

"We want to attract businesses which are a bit different to anywhere else, for example we have a Pokemon shop which specialises in Pokemon cards, things that are a little bit niche and being independent and local is important to us as well.

"There's a lot of nostalgia around the arcade and I think a lot of people want to see some of the same things that were there before, like a coffee shop. There will be a coffee shop. Somebody else wanted to see a shoe shop and a music shop so if anybody is interested in bringing one then it would be great to see that."

The Arcade is the first project in a 10-year town centre investment plan by Kirklees Council that includes refurbishment of the market, creation of green space and improved security.

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