Experience Kirkgate Market after hours with new Night Market

Visitors will be able to see Leeds historic Kirkgate Market in a new light when it opens its doors after dark with a new Night Market this week.

The first Night Market which takes place on Thursday 26 October, will see the events space and food hall section of Kirkgate open until 11pm.

Joining the existing popular food stalls will be around 20 pop-up stalls, including food-to-go, fresh produce and bars, as well as entertainment for the whole family.

This is the first of four monthly night markets which have been organised to enable people visiting Leeds city centre on an evening to see what Kirkgate has to offer as a social venue - somewhere to eat and relax after work or on a night out with friends. Musical entertainment will be provided by a live DJ.

Joining the popular Manjit’s Kitchen, Bahn and Mee, Jenny’s Jerk Chicken and Yorkshire Wrap Company will be:

• Ghiath, selling olives and baklava and sweets
• A South African supermarket and food to go
• Neil’s Fruit and Veg.
• Grub and Grog Shop: Offering food and a range of cocktails with homemade cordials.
• Honest Edibles: Providing ethically sourced gourmet vegan super-foods that are sustainable, organic, local and seasonal.
• Tarbet’s Shellfish.
• Bluebird Bakery
• Kakes and Bakes, selling cakes and biscuits.
• Little Black Dog Beer
• Udders Orchard, bottled cider.
• Chef in a Box: Mediterranean vegan food.
• Malcolm Michael’s deli counter.
• Herbsville, herbalist.
• Café Moor: Morrocan food
• Manjit’s bar
• Prosecco Bar.
• Latitude: Gin bar.

Home restaurant will also be bringing a taste of fine dining to Kirkgate’s first Night Market with a pop-up eatery.

Younger visitors will be able to get ready for Hallowe’en with free pumpkin carving at a special pop-up pumpkin patch, and free table tennis will also be on offer.

In addition to the delicious food and drinks on offer, cyclists will also be well catered for at the Night Market. West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s City Connect will be providing a free bike parking area and a bike maintenance gazebo, where visitors can get their bikes repaired whilst enjoying the rest of the market. Candlelighters, the Lord Mayor of Leeds chosen charity, who support families affected by childhood cancer, will have an activity stall and collection buckets at this week’s Night Market.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, lead member for markets said:

“We want Leeds residents and visitors to see what Kirkgate Market has to offer. By opening outside of the traditional operating hours, we hope to attract a whole new customer base, to what is an historic jewel in Leeds’ crown.

“The Night Market will be a great opportunity for visitors to discover some of the market’s popular traders whilst enjoying a night out with friends or family. We are confident that our new Night Market customers will like what they see and make the market a regular daytime shopping and eating destination.”

Further night markets have been initially planned for 30 November, 21 December and 25 January.