Hosted by NextDeck in partnership with Kirklees Council, Kirklees Families Together, and Kirklees School’s Out!, this workshop is tailored specifically for children aged 8 to 12 years old.

What’s On? 

Over the two-day club, children will take part in a packed schedule of hands-on gaming and creative sessions:

• Learn to Play Pokémon Trading Card Game: Perfect for beginners and budding trainers looking to master the cards!
• Board Games & Group Activities: A wide variety of tabletop games to play with friends new and old.
• Food Included: Every attendee will receive a delicious lunch plus an afternoon snack each day!

Key Event Details 

• Dates: Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd December 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM each day
• Age Group: 8 – 12 years
• Location: Next Deck, The Arcade, Market Place, Dewsbury, WF13 1AB
• Admission / Pricing:
  • FREE ENTRY for eligible children receiving benefits-related Free School Meals (via Kirklees School’s Out!)
  • £20 per child general admission

How to Book 

Spaces are strictly limited to ensure an engaging experience for everyone.

To secure your child’s place, email hello.nextdeck@outlook.com today with your booking enquiry!

This festive season, The Arcade is opening its doors to fill our stunning historic canopy with the sounds of Christmas! We are looking for local choirs to perform on late night shopping Wednesdays in the lead-up to Christmas.

Why perform at The Arcade?

Sing beneath our restored Victorian glass-roofed arcade walkway.

Bring joy to shoppers and support our vibrant community of independent retailers.

A covered, central town-centre space to showcase your group’s talent to visitors of all ages. Whether you’re an established choral society, a youth choir, or a community singing group, we would love to feature you!

Interested in performing?

Send us an email to find out more:
jenny.holdenstokes@arcade-dewsbury.org

Join us at The Arcade Dewsbury in partnership with WOVEN in Kirklees for our regular Clothes Swap & Knit and Natter! Whether you’re looking to update your style sustainably or want to connect with fellow crafters, this monthly event is the perfect place to drop in, chat, and swap.

Event Details

• When: Last Saturday of every month
• Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: The Arcade, Market Place, Dewsbury, WF13 1AB
• Admission: FREE

What to Expect

👗 Clothes Swap

Bring along gently worn, pre-loved clothing items you no longer wear and swap them for fresh-to-you pieces. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to revamp your wardrobe without spending a penny!

🧶 Knit and Natter

Bring your current knitting, crochet, embroidery, or crafting project down to The Arcade! Settle in for a cosy session, share tips and ideas, and enjoy a warm drink and chat with friendly locals.

How to Join

No advance booking is required, just pop in anytime between 10am and 3pm on the last Saturday of the month!

To find out more about regional textiles and sustainable craft initiatives, visit woveninkirklees.co.uk.

Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, a unique date idea, or a cosy seasonal craft, there’s a session for everyone.

Upcoming Event Schedule

🎀 November

• Saturday 7th November (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Pottery Painting
• Saturday 14th November (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Sip & Paint
• Saturday 28th November (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Bedazzling Workshop

🍪 December

• Saturday 12th December (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Pottery Painting
• Thursday 18th December (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Gingerbread House Making
• Saturday 19th December (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Gingerbread House Making

🎟️ Booking Information

Limited spaces are available for each session!

To reserve your spot, send a direct message to @talktomeabout.events on Instagram.

Get ready for a wickedly fun day out for the whole family! Whether you’re hunting for sweet treats, casting magical spells, or enjoying live music, there’s something for goblins and ghouls of all ages to enjoy.

Event Details

Date: Saturday 31 October

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location: The Arcade Dewsbury

Cost: FREE

What’s On

Meet Our Arcade Witches: Hubble & Bubble

Step into a realm of magic with our resident witches, Hubble and Bubble! They’ll be leading spell-binding storytime sessions, teaching budding witches and wizards how to cast magical spells, and playing delightfully spooky games throughout the day.

Trick or Treat Trail

Grab your trail map upon arrival and explore the independent shops inside The Arcade. Collect sweet treats along the way while discovering fantastic local traders!

Live & Local Music

Soak in the festive atmosphere with live music performance throughout the event. Come along, enjoy the tunes, and support amazing local talent!

Wicked Crafts & Spooky Games

Bring the whole family down for interactive crafts, Halloween magic, and plenty of hidden surprises!

Drop by to support local independents, enjoy free entertainment, and explore our lineup:

Dewsbury Market Outside The Arcade

Dewsbury Market is set up outside and this weekend is their first Saturday trading in their new location. Perfect for picking up local goods on your way in!

Clothes Swap with Woven

Refresh your wardrobe sustainably, bring quality pieces you no longer wear and swap them for something new-to-you.

Book Signing at Phoenix at No 4

Stop by to celebrate one of Phoenix’s very own shelf renters, who is launching and signing copies of their brand-new book!

Knit & Natter

Bring your yarn and needles for a relaxed, social crafting session with fellow locals.

Bea’s Hive Pop-Up

The team behind Mystic Essence (formerly in The Arcade) are returning for a special pop-up with their new venture!

First Saturday ‘Live & Local’

Enjoy live acoustic performances from local musicians, Ellie Stott, while you shop and explore.

See you this weekend at The Arcade!

Photo Credit: Lucille Moore

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.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, 5 September

Time: From 10:00 AM onwards

Location: The Dewsbury Arcade

Admission: Free for everyone

What’s Happening on the Day

We have an exciting lineup of events planned throughout the day to celebrate this momentous occasion:

Ribbon Cutting & Live Music: Join us at 10AM as we officially open the doors with a live performance from the Grange Moor Brass Band, followed by local live music throughout the day!

Golden Ticket Goodie Bags: Be one of the first through the doors! We have 50 limited-edition goodie bags to give out on a first-come, first-served basis, featuring Golden Tickets with exclusive launch-day offers.

Meet Our New Independent Tenants: Explore the restored Arcade and get to know our wonderful new independent traders and makers as they open their doors for the very first time.

Free Tea, Coffee & Cake with Meryl & Beryl: Grab a seat, enjoy free tea, coffee, and cake, and share your favourite local memories with Meryl & Beryl as we celebrate the Arcade’s rich heritage.

Stained Glass Unveiling & Craft Workshop: Be among the first to see our new bespoke stained-glass centrepiece by acclaimed artist Martin Donlin, then get creative with a stained-glass craft workshop hosted by MakerWorld.

Free Face Painting & Royal Guests: Treat the little ones to free face painting and meet Belle alongside two extra-special guests.

Woven Clothes Swap & Retro Arcade Games: Refresh your wardrobe at the community Clothes Swap hosted by Woven and test your skills in our retro Arcade inside the Arcade!

Arcade History Exhibition: Step back in time and discover the Arcade’s rich heritage through a special historical exhibition.

Kirklees College: Stop by and meet the team from Kirklees College, who will be joining us throughout the day to support the grand reopening.

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