Leeds Kirkgate Market looks ahead with a new five-year plan

Few places capture the everyday life of Leeds quite like Kirkgate Market. Generations of shoppers have wandered its aisles for fresh food, a chat with a familiar stallholder and the kind of bargains that keep people coming back. This year the market has a fresh plan for its future.

In February 2026, Leeds City Council announced that senior councillors would be asked to approve a new five-year strategy for the historic market, covering the period from 2026 to 2031.

Importantly, the plan was built on consultation with the people who know the market best. Traders and customers were both asked for their views, and their feedback helped to shape the priorities for the years ahead.

The strategy arrives on the back of encouraging figures. Reporting on the previous year, the Yorkshire Post said the market welcomed more than 5.9 million visitors, a rise of four per cent on 2023.

Even more striking was the number of newcomers. Twenty new businesses arrived at the market during that year, the highest annual total on record, bringing fresh faces and new ideas to the halls alongside long-established stalls.

That is not to say every day is easy. In a Yorkshire Evening Post feature this year, some traders said the market is not as busy as it used to be and has yet to fully recover from the pandemic. Others spoke up for the building and its future, with one remark summing up the mood: there is still a lot of life in this building.

Rents have been a talking point too. Some stallholders told the Yorkshire Post they felt rents were too high, while the council has pointed to the discounted rents it offered as part of its support package for traders.

What shines through all of this is how much the market matters to the city. People care about its future because it is woven into so many of their weekly routines, from the Saturday food shop to a quick lunch at a favourite counter.

The best way to support it is simple: pop in, browse the stalls and say hello to the traders. With a new plan in place, Kirkgate Market is ready for its next chapter.