Wakefield Exchange calls West Yorkshire’s food and drink operators and creative, digital businesses as the first purpose-designed units come up for grabs
Wakefield city centre gets its own, combined, day and night home for creativity, culture, innovation and street food this year
High street footfall, public transport connectivity, festivals, events and conferences bring the buzz to Wakefield Exchange and its tenant businesses
West Yorkshire’s brightest start-ups and established creative, digital and food and drink business are all invited to take a look behind the doors of WX – Wakefield Exchange, Wakefield city centre’s exciting home for new ideas and free time, as its purpose-designed commercial units are made available for the first time. Refurbished, repurposed and revived, the architecturally-striking Union Street building will welcome its first tenants this year.
Looking to attract new business as well as those whose success means their current premises can’t contain their ambition, Wakefield Council has released nine spaces to the market, including five units set-up to bring in the best regional, independent food and beverage operators. Becoming a cornerstone of the WX concept, traders will bring casual daytime, family-friendly and grown-up nighttime food and drink options to families, students, workers and audiences attending an exciting programme of events and activity at the site.
Having proven its suitability for hosting major events, including 2019’s The Festival of The Moon, complete with nationally renowned bands, DJ’s and art installations, and the city’s famous Rhubarb Festival, the Wakefield Exchange has been developed with further creative opportunity for Wakefield’s residents and visitors at its heart. It is expected to play host to a launch programme this winter, as part of the district’s Our Year 2024 celebrations. .
More than a bar and kitchen and more than commercial space, Wakefield Exchange promises competitive rents, creative business support and access to fit-out-grants for tenants. The offer is not just for food and drink producers, but also the inventive businesses invited to take up one of three, Union Street-facing creative units. Spaces for making and development as well as selling, WX is designed to be a place where the route from studio to shop window is measured in footsteps rather than metres and miles. A statement, 400 square metre space, branded as The Factory, integrated into the WX ecosystem yet with its own staff conveniences, including a kitchen and private meeting rooms, stands as a rare opportunity for organisations sharing the vision for a vibrant and innovative future Wakefield to establish a prominent city centre HQ.
Located next door to Wakefield Bus Station and only a short walk from both of the city’s train stations, WX’s fully accessible, super fast Wi-Fi-enabled building allows for visitors from across the region and nationally to reach building events and meet-ups with or without use of a car.
Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “We are very excited to be offering opportunities for forward-thinking businesses to be part of our innovative new Wakefield Exchange. The venue will support our city’s growing reputation for culture and creativity, and play its part in the regeneration of our city centre.
“By having creative and digital businesses in the same centrally-located building as major events, where hand-picked, innovative food and drink suppliers are open during the day and evening, will mean that our vision for a truly-innovative, multi-use destination is about to become a reality.”
Now open to expressions of interest, Wakefield and West Yorkshire businesses in the food and drink sectors, as well as creative, digital and cultural industries are invited to apply for any of the following WX business tenancies by end of play Monday 26th August 2024.
· Three Creative Units: From 31 – 45 sqm with windows fronting Union Street, each unit will benefit from passing trade from The Bull Ring, Trinity Walk and Wakefield Bus Station. Offered on a competitive rental basis.
· Five Food and Beverage Units: From 18 – 28 sqm and over two floors, with access to waste disposal, digital point of sale, staff changing areas and more, the food and drink preparation spaces will serve WX’s large communal dining and meeting space. Ground floor units feature Union Street-facing serving hatches. Offered on a profit-share basis.
· The Factory: A 408 sqm city centre landmark. A perfect location for the next stage of business growth, creative commune or a contemporary office, studio or workshop that is only footsteps from Wakefield Bus Station. Offered on a competitive rental basis.
Correlating with the WX ambition to ensure that the development becomes a place where businesses owners of all sectors and stages feel capable of growth, the establishment of the Xcellerator programme, providing specialist support, and the sewn-in collaboration of Creative Wakefield with advice and networking opportunities, makes clear the project’s future-facing ambition.
For all up-to-date information on business opportunities at WX as well as signing up for future news, including the opening date and events, connect online at: