Aladdin's Cave celebrates 45 years as a family jewellers in Queens Arcade, Leeds
Leeds is rightly proud of its Victorian arcades, and part of what keeps them special is the independent shops that have traded there for decades. Aladdin's Cave in Queens Arcade is one of them, a family-run jewellery and antiques business that has now reached 45 years.
The shop sits at 19 Queens Arcade and sells an assortment of jewellery, including antique pieces, alongside clocks. It also offers a valuation service, which makes it a useful stop for anyone wondering about the story behind an inherited ring or an old watch.
The business has been in the same family for three generations. It was originally run by Jess Spencer's grandparents and aunt before being passed down to her parents. Today Jess co-owns the shop with her mother, Roberta Swift.
That kind of continuity is increasingly rare on any high street. Many family shops close when one generation retires, so to see a business carried forward by a daughter and her mother is a heartening thing, and it speaks to the loyalty of customers who keep coming back.
The setting helps too. Queens Arcade is a Grade II listed Victorian arcade that has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment and rebrand, and in 2025 the Yorkshire Evening Post listed Aladdin's Cave among the arcade's line-up of independents.
Shops like this have a particular appeal. Buying jewellery is often tied to big moments in life, from engagements and anniversaries to gifts for a new arrival, and many people prefer to make those purchases somewhere with a personal touch and a long memory.
There is also something lovely about browsing antique pieces in a building that is itself a piece of the city's history. Each item has a past, and in a shop that has been part of Leeds life for 45 years, the shop has a story of its own too.
If you are in the city centre, call in at Aladdin's Cave in Queens Arcade to browse the jewellery and clocks or ask about a valuation, and help a family business carry on into its next chapter.