Left Bank Leeds gives a former Cardigan Road church a creative new life

Some buildings seem made for a second life, and the former St Margaret's Church on Cardigan Road is one of them. Today it is Left Bank Leeds, a multi-use arts and community venue that brings people together under one remarkable roof.

The building is Grade II* listed and was home to an Anglican congregation for 85 years before the church closed in 1995. Left Bank Leeds CIC was launched in 2015 to bring the charity's vision for the space to life, and it has been filling the building with activity ever since.

The range of what happens here is striking. The programme has included festivals, dances, circus skills training, open mic nights, film screenings, printmaking workshops, yoga classes, comedy gigs, Christmas markets, vintage fairs and children's clubs.

One of the most popular fixtures is the Night Market. The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that the market was due to return on 25 September 2026, describing it as a lovely opportunity for people to experience the space.

Exhibitions and trails add another layer. The venue's news has featured a Northern Soul exhibition in August 2025 and Framed in Leeds, an architectural arts trail, in September 2025.

The building is also a place for celebrations. Weddings take place here, and in spring 2026 volunteers from GoodGym Leeds helped wash around 400 chairs ahead of the wedding season, a lovely example of the community goodwill that surrounds the venue.

What makes Left Bank so appealing is the sense that everyone is welcome. Whether you are browsing a market, joining a class or simply admiring the architecture, the building invites you to slow down and look up.

Projects like this show how much a historic building can offer when a community gets behind it. Rather than standing empty, the former church is once again a place where people gather, celebrate and share ideas, just in a very different way from before.

Left Bank Leeds shares its upcoming events and hire information on its website, which is the best place to check what is on before visiting.