Redical’s Victoria Gate celebrates 10 years in Leeds city centre

Victoria Gate, the award-winning contemporary shopping destination that forms part of Redical’s Victoria Leeds, is celebrating its  10th anniversary. Opened in October 2016 following a £165m development, Victoria Gate has reshaped Leeds city centre’s retail offer and, together with the Grade II listed Victoria Quarter, creates Victoria Leeds, the North’s leading premium retail, leisure and dining destination.

Anchored by the region’s only John Lewis, it was named the World’s Best Shopping Centre at MIPIM in 2017 and, under Redical’s ownership, the destination has gone from strength to strength, culminating in being named the UK’s number one shopping centre on Tripadvisor earlier this year. Its architecture, featuring curved glass shopfronts, terracotta panels and herringbone floors referencing the city’s textile heritage, remains a benchmark for urban retail design.

Since opening, the destination has welcomed more than 135 million visits, and its evolution under Redical’s ownership has been driven by an active leasing strategy. Redical has leased 70,400 sq ft of previously vacant floorspace since acquiring Victoria Leeds, reducing vacancy from around 15 percent by floor area to less than 5 percent today.

That activity has reshaped the line-up, with more than 35 new brands arriving under 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 opened their second stores outside the capital, with ARNE opening its third permanent UK store in Victoria Leeds later this year.

Local and regional businesses remain an important part of the mix, with Allertons, North Star Coffee, Uyare, Michelsberg Tailoring and Yorkshire Jeweller all trading alongside the national and international names.

Community has also been central to the destination’s evolution. Throughout Redical’s ownership, Victoria Leeds has hosted events, from its open-air space on Sidney Street to rooftop celebrations with views across the city, bringing together brands, shoppers and the wider community, and regularly raising funds for charity partners including Smart Works, Zarach and the Yorkshire Children’s Charity.

The new arrivals join an established line-up of luxury and premium brands, including Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, Coach and Boodles; alongside John Lewis & Partners, The White Company, &Other Stories and Reiss, all within a compact, walkable area of the city centre. The dining offer includes The Ivy, The Ivy Asia, Cut & Craft and Uyare by Tharavadu, helping to make Victoria Leeds a true lifestyle destination.

James Edmondson, Asset Manager at Redical, commented: “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 percent 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.”

Photography: Bevan Cockerill.