Watch: First look inside Dewsbury Arcade as large crowds gather for re-opening of 'architectural jewel'
Large crowds gathered over the weekend as Dewsbury Arcade re-opened its doors.
More than £10m – including from Kirklees Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Lottery Heritage Fund – has been invested into renovating the Grade-II listed Victorian building, which sits in the heart of Dewsbury town centre.
The property shut in 2016 and was subsequently bought by Kirklees Council.
Now it is back open as the UK’s first community-run shopping arcade, managed by not-for-profit community organisation, the Dewsbury Arcade Group. The group is leasing the property from the council.
Jenny Holden Stokes, manager of Dewsbury Arcade, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to enter this next exciting chapter.
“For decades, the arcade was the glittering centrepiece of our town centre, a true architectural jewel.
“Seeing it restored to its original grandeur is a moment of immense pride for everyone involved – a true springboard for local businesses and a destination Dewsbury can be proud of.”
Jackie Ramsay, chair of the Dewsbury Arcade Group, added: “It’s the start of a new beginning for Dewsbury.
“It’s the most beautiful building – I hope the people of Dewsbury treasure it now we’ve got it back to its original glory.”
William Birch and Sons, a Yorkshire-based construction company specialising in revitalising heritage buildings, carried out the main restoration work on Dewsbury Arcade.
It features 16 small shop units and four larger ones, as well as six upstairs studios which can be used by artists, as office spaces or for events.
One of the traders, artist Simon Dormand, said: “I feel so luck to be involved in the re-opening of Dewsbury Arcade.
“To see it with people in it, it’s really quite moving.”
Another trader, Emily Parkinson – who sells flowers and gifts – added: “It’s beautiful here.
“It’s the first step of bringing the magic back to Dewsbury.”
Caroline Sykes, one of the many shoppers who turned out for the opening day, described the renovated building as “absolutely amazing”.
“I used to come here when I was a teenager to buy records, so it’s very special to see it restored,” she added.
Her grandson, Theo Armstrong, said he liked how it has “brought the whole community together”.
Other people said they now wanted to see further investment and regeneration in Dewsbury, and more derelict buildings revitalised in the town centre.