Briggate is a shopping street in Leeds, England. It is located in the centre of the city and for a long time has been regarded as one of the major shopping streets in the city. For many years the street was open to traffic but was gradually pedestrianised where in 1993, private traffic were prevented from using Briggate and in 1996, the street was closed altoghter to all forms of traffic and remains pedestrian only. This was done to attract new retailers to the street and to encourage more shoppers.
It is one of the oldest streets in the city of Leeds and was founded in 1207. It is home to a number of major high street retailers as well as some banks, restaurants and cafes. Recently some residential development above the shops have been occurring. The street is known for its historic arcades such as the County Arcade and Thornton Arcade and for a number of old alleyways (locally known as ginnels) that branch off Briggate and are home to a number of Public Houses such as Whitelocks that has changed little since the 18th Century.
The non pedestrianised part of Briggate between The Headrow and Merrion Street is known as New Briggate and is home to some small retailers, bars, pubs, nightclubs, takeaways and the Grand Theatre. There is also a non pedestrianised stretch of Briggate between Boar Lane and Call Lane that is home to small shops, bars, pubs and a small Gay Enclave.
Current retailers on Briggate between The Headrow and Boar Lane include,
- Alliance & Leicester
- Bella Italia
- The Body Shop
- Borders
- Burger King
- Burton
- Carphone Warehouse
- Currys.digital
- Debenhams
- Dorothy Perkins
- Envy
- Gap
- H&M
- Harvey Nichols
- H. Samuel
- House of Fraser
- The Link
- Marks & Spencer
- McDonalds
- Muji
- Music Zone
- Nando’s
- Northern Rock
- O2
- Pizza Hut
- Primark
- Principles
- Schuh
- The Sofa Warehouse
- Starbucks
- Topshop
- USC
- Yorkshire Building Society
- Zara
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