Bar blames closure on building's collapse nearby

Wapentake, which first opened in 2015, will close on 23 June

Leeds Civic Trust has condemned the state of one of the city's oldest streets after a building collapse forced a popular bar and cafe to close.

Wapentake on Kirkgate opened up in 2015 in an 18th Century building which was formerly home to a cloth merchant.

But its owner said the business had "fallen on hard times", partly due to the road being shut after the shop nearby collapsed.

The civic trust said more businesses would close if Leeds City Council did not intervene - and neighbouring bars and restaurants have admitted that they are also struggling to attract custom.

The derelict building on Kirkgate collapsed in April

The authority said it was in discussions with the owner of the derelict property to ensure work was completed "as soon as possible".

Hoardings have remained around the site since the incident earlier this year and the bottom part of the street has been closed off.

A statement on Wapentake's Facebook page said: "Leeds Leeds Leeds, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we are announcing the closure of our beloved Little Piece of Yorkshire.

"With the current climate and the building works currently taking place on Kirkgate, our business has suffered a great deal and fallen on hard times."

Neighbouring businesses said they had also seen a big drop in customers since the road shut.

'Zero footfall'

William Venn, bar supervisor at the Doghouse Bar and Bagel Shop, said they had been left in the dark as to what was going on.

"The industry as a whole has been impacted post-Covid, but the road closure and lack of communication from the council has made the situation worse.

"The weekends have taken a big hit. We would normally get all the footfall traffic from the train station and music gig venues, but now we don't and that means we're probably losing a couple of hundred people on a Saturday night."

Cody Merrick, business development manager at West Indian bar and restaurant Jam Rock, said they had lost up to £30,000 in profit in the last few months.

"Business would normally drive up the street but since the closure, we're now having to pull it down.

"Wapentake are closing, they can't afford to stay open and there is zero footfall."

Leeds City Council said the restrictions were in place to protect public safety

Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said Wapentake had "led the renaissance of Kirkgate" and the closure was "extremely sad".

He said it was "unacceptable" that unrestored properties on Kirkgate remained in "a state of disrepair".

"Responsible owners - including those who own the building occupied by Wapentake - have done the right thing," he said.

"If the owner won’t act, the council must use all its powers to ensure that urgent action is taken so that these remaining properties are repaired and restored, otherwise more businesses will close and the area will decline."

A council spokesperson said it was "determined to continue driving forward the transformation of this important and historic street".

They added: "We are continuing to consider all options with a view to facilitating a long-term restoration and regeneration solution for both the collapsed building – which had been in a state of disrepair for a number of years – and other properties on Kirkgate that belong to the same owner.

“The current traffic restrictions are in place to help protect the safety of the public until work is completed on the collapsed building.

“We thank residents and businesses in the area for their patience while the situation is resolved."