Leeds Taking the Lead - by Richard Handscombe

I was at school in Leeds and spent my very important formative teenage years living here during the 1960’s.  That’s so far back now, that it really does qualify as the “black and white days”.  I remember the city as a fairly grim place – blackened from the soot of industry, with journeys home from school through dense “pea-souper” fogs;  The high street food offer back then was limited to prawn cocktail, steak and chips and Black Forest gateau at Jacomelli’s, or the delights of the Wimpy Bar – oh yes, and there was one Chinese Restaurant!

But my, how things have changed…..
The big changes began around 17 years ago, with the completion of the Victoria Quarter retail development.  Quite quickly, Leeds became a mecca for trendy shoppers visiting the growing number of designer shops, and of course Harvey Nick’s.  Retail growth continued strongly and today Leeds leads the retail race in the north.  In the same year (1996) the Royal Armouries Museum, a spectacular extension of the Tower of London’s collections opened, bringing a truly remarkable tourist attraction into Leeds.

The city now has a vibrant, continental feel, with dozens of quality restaurants, and alfresco dining wherever you look – something that would have led to ridicule had you suggested it in the ‘60’s!  Nightlife is also superb, with top quality theatres, dining and clubs.

But recent times have seen a step-change in the city’s fortunes and ambitions, and the future is much more than just rosy….

The huge Trinity shopping mall opened its doors in March this year, boosting the already strong retail offer of this great city.  The spectacular 12,000-seat First Direct Arena, a long-overdue major entertainment venue for Leeds, opens in September, a development which is already catalysing hotel and restaurant developments around it.  The NGT (New Generation Transport) system is at an advanced stage of planning with construction beginning in the next couple of years, bringing space-age electric-powered buses running in exclusive bus lanes in several directions across the city.  In July 2014, the world’s biggest annual sporting event, the Tour de France starts right here in Leeds, with a potential 3 billion TV viewers enjoying the sights and sounds of Leeds and Yorkshire, apart from the excitement of the race itself!

The Leeds of today is almost unrecognisable from the town I grew up in – thank goodness.  Leeds is ambitious and confident, and it shows!  I’m not normally known for banging on about my old home town but looking around, I really am proud to be from Leeds, and to be promoting the benefits of Leeds as a venue for major conferences and events.

And if you’ve not been to Leeds, don’t take my word for it – come and see for yourself!