Baroness Warsi performed the official ribbon cutting alongside key dignitaries, including the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Karen Allison, stained-glass artist Martin Donlin, and Carol Pyrah, Trustee and Chair of the England, North Committee at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, who unveiled our official Heritage Fund plaques.

Our early visitors snapped up exclusive goodie bags and cupcakes, while families enjoyed character meet-and-greets, historical street performers Meryl & Beryl, and stained-glass craft workshops with MakerWorld.

Reflecting on the turnout, Jenny Holden-Stokes, Manager of The Arcade, said: “To see over 5,000 people filling The Arcade, smiling, shopping, and celebrating together was beyond anything we could have hoped for. The atmosphere was electric from the moment the doors opened. This restoration has been a true labour of love for the community, and seeing the building buzzing with life again proves just how much this space means to the people of Dewsbury.”

Reaction from our attendees captured the town’s pride:

“I remember the original Arcade, we used to shop here when I was a child. It is fantastic to see it brought back to life.“

“What a great day for Dewsbury.“

“The Arcade Group should be really proud of what they have done – we can’t wait to see what comes next.“

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“With thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to have helped bring this amazing heritage building back to life and see it restored to its former glory with its beautiful roof and ironwork. At the Heritage Fund, we don’t define heritage but let communities tell us what they hold dear. Dewsbury Arcade is clearly close to many people’s hearts. It is a credit to all those involved to see their ambition achieved with independent retailers open for business and The Arcade bustling with people once again.”

The launch has sparked huge commercial interest, with over 20 active conversations underway with local businesses looking to take our remaining units. Looking ahead, our dedicated event and community rooms will officially launch in October, kicking off with a major national art exhibition.

There are many more to come with over 20 active conversations to occupy the available units and studios. We also have our arcade museum where you can pop in and find out more about The Arcade or the available units. And Arcade in the Arcade with Pacman, air hockey and table football.

Our event room, community space and meeting rooms will open at the beginning of October, drop us a message if you are interested to find out more.

Thank you for all your support and positivity

AROMA FIRES – a family-run fragrance brand specialising in handcrafted incense sticks, incense cones, bakhoor, and premium perfume oils

ATTAR – handcrafted traditional Arabian and Asian perfumed oils

Molly Drake Hypnotherapy

NextDeck – Pokémon TCG and trading card shop and community hub for fans, families, and collectors of all ages

NUR CAFE BY MEENA MOO – handcrafted desserts, rich cakes, and refreshing specialty beverages!

Personalised by Emily – thoughtful, handcrafted gifts and custom creations, specialising in personalised printing and embroidery.

Phoenix at No 4 – a vibrant boutique with handcrafted treasures and unique giftware

Woven in Kirklees – workshops, Calico dress exhibition and regular clothes swap events.

Built by Victorians in 1899 and saved through the determination of local residents, this historic landmark is taking its first steps into an exciting new era as the UK’s first community-owned shopping arcade.

We are inviting everyone across the community and beyond to join us from 10:00 AM to celebrate the rebirth of our beloved local treasure. Come explore the restored grade-II listed setting, meet the incredible independent traders and makers taking up residence, and see what happens when a community comes together to rebuild its high street.

By removing the cost of expensive tech rentals, we’re making sure local artists, small businesses, and community groups have a professional place to shine.

Why we need your support:

Free Tech for All: We’ll provide state-of-the-art equipment at no cost to users.

Inclusive Space: From wellness classes to business workshops and live performances, we’re creating an affordable home for every activity.

Boost Dewsbury: High-quality facilities attract bigger events, more visitors, and local pride.

Your donation directly funds the purchase and installation of this equipment, ensuring the UK’s first community-owned arcade is truly equipped to serve the town.

Dewsbury Arcade is more than just a home for shops and cafes – it’s a space for the community. We are crowdfunding to transform our two event spaces into high-tech hubs equipped with free-to-use smart screens, projectors, and professional stage lighting.

Thank you for your support!

Calling all knitters and crocheters! To celebrate International Knit in Public Day on 13th June 2026, we’re launching a massive community project and we need your help to make it happen.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, we’re inviting you to contribute to our Giant Community Blanket. We are also looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us “yarn bomb” Dewsbury town centre with colourful creations!

How to get involved:

Knit or Crochet

We need 10cm x 10cm squares in any colour or pattern.

Hand your completed squares in by 30th May 2026 at: The Arcade Pop-Up OR Creative Craft Centre, Wesley Chambers, Union Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1AJ

Yarn Bombing

If you want to help us decorate the town, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch:

Email us at knitcroday26@gmail.com to register your interest or ask any questions.

150+ visitors
160 items of clothing saved from landfill!

We asked the attendees what they thought.

Describe the day in 3 words:
fab, fun, thrifty
fun day out
chilled, relaxed, interesting

What did you enjoy about the event:
the people
friendliness
bargains
the atmosphere

What we could do better:
More clothes

Would you visit again?
100% yes!

We hope to see you on Saturday 28th March!

Next month we hope to publicise the pathway to opening with the events we have lined up.

We have 40 live expressions of interest in units and once the scaffolding is down, we’ll be showing them around again, signing heads of terms on units.

Images courtesy of Dewsbury’s own talented professional photographer Lucille Moore. More of her Arcade photos can be seen here.

Lucille is part of a photography group that is tracking the work at the Arcade

A selection of the work can be seen in The Arcade Pop-Up in the Princess of Wales Precinct. Come and take a look during our scheduled opening hours of 10am to 3pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The article explores The Arcade’s journey from its prosperous past to its current renaissance, highlighting our innovative community-led approach. It really captures the essence of how we, alongside Kirklees Council, are working to bring this tarnished jewel back to life as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, set to open in Spring 2026.

We encourage you to click through and read the full story of The Arcade’s transformation and its vision for a vibrant new chapter for Dewsbury town centre.

Click here to view the magazine

The first presentations took place at Purlwell Infant & Nursery School, where two groups of 30 younger pupils participated in a ‘mystery objects’ challenge. After listening to a brief summary of the history of The Arcade, the pupils worked in groups to identify objects that would have once been sold in The Arcade: vinyl records, a Sony Walkman, a shoehorn, trouser braces, a Stylophone, and more. The pupils were quite skilled at figuring out what the objects were, although a couple of items left them puzzled! 

The second presentations were held at Hanging Heaton J&I School, where two classes of Year 3 and Year 4 pupils engaged in a quiz about shopping in Victorian Dewsbury. Mike revealed the answers by showcasing some amazing photos of shops in 19th-century Dewsbury, including some in the Arcade.  Pupils at both schools thoroughly enjoyed the presentations, and we hope to maintain a relationship with these schools – and work with many more – in the future.