Victoria Quarter
Encyclopedia
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It consists of three blocks situated between Briggate and Vicar Lane, comprising the County Arcade, Cross Arcade, Queen Victoria Street and King Edward Street.
This development was built around 1900 and designed by the theatre architect Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
, and originally it also included his Empire Palace Theatre, but this was demolished in the 1960s. The exteriors are largely of faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
from the Burmantofts Pottery
Burmantofts Pottery
Burmantofts Pottery was the common trading name of a manufacturer of ceramic pipes and construction materials, named after the Burmantofts district of Leeds, England....
works, and the interiors of the arcades contain a number of mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s and plentiful use of marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. The Quarter was restored in phases between 1990 and 1996, during which a glass roof was also erected over Queen Victoria Street.
Debuts
Confidence in the Victoria Quarter has seen occupancy reach 100%, with a number of stores making their out-of-London debuts.The latest opening is Arrogant Cat Boutique, its first store outside London, and a dedicated accessories branch of Reiss
Reiss (brand)
Reiss is a UK-based fashion brand owned and run by founder, David Reiss. The brand produces men's and women's clothing. It has 65 stores, located primarily in the UK, but with stores in the USA, Ireland, UAE, China and Malaysia. One store is located in Multrees Walk in Edinburgh, another in Marina...
is planned to open opposite its main Leeds store on County Arcade. Church's shoes also opened its first store outside London in the Victoria Quarter, as did Firetrap and Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur (lingerie)
Agent Provocateur is a British lingerie retailer founded in 1994 by Joseph Corré and Serena Rees. The first shop was opened on London's Broadwick Street in the Soho district in 1994. Since then, the company has opened 30 stores in 13 countries across the globe. In 2007, Agent Provocateur was...
.
Harvey Nichols's Leeds store opened in 1996; this was the first provincial move for an upmarket department store. It occupies the site of the former Empire Palace, and for a time Leeds was described as 'The Knightsbridge of the North'. Also in 2006, Louis Vuitton opened its first store to have a VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
area. Paul Smith
Paul Smith (fashion designer)
Sir Paul Smith jr, RDI, is an English fashion designer, whose business and reputation is founded upon his menswear. He is both commercially successful and highly respected within the fashion industry....
opened his third flagship store in the UK in Leeds, while Religion chose the Victoria Quarter as the location for its first-ever store.
Stores in the VQ
- AdeccoAdeccoAdecco S.A. is a human resources company, based in Glattbrugg near Zurich, Switzerland. Adecco employs 700,000 temporary workers and contractors who are supplied to business clients, and has over 32,000 employees and 5,500 offices in 60 countries and territories around the world...
, Agent ProvocateurAgent Provocateur (lingerie)Agent Provocateur is a British lingerie retailer founded in 1994 by Joseph Corré and Serena Rees. The first shop was opened on London's Broadwick Street in the Soho district in 1994. Since then, the company has opened 30 stores in 13 countries across the globe. In 2007, Agent Provocateur was...
, All Saints Men's StoreAll SaintsAll Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, All Saints Women's StoreAll SaintsAll Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, Anthony's Patisserie, Aqua Couture, Aspecto, Austravel, Autumn & May, Azendi, Arrogant Cat - B&RB&RB&R is an Austrian company founded as a Ges.m.b.H in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer. Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik Ges.m.b.H., with development and production headquarters in Eggelsberg , is currently one of the largest private companies in the field of automation and process...
, Bayliffe & Lupton, Berrys, Boodle-am, BravissimoBravissimo (company)Bravissimo is a British lingerie company founded in 1995 by Sarah Tremellen. In 2011 it placed eighth on the Sunday Times’ annual Best Companies list....
, BroraBroraBrora is a village in the east of Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland. The village is situated where the A9 road and the Far North Line bridge the River Brora...
, Brossgill Opticians - Cadeaux, Charbonnel Et WalkerCharbonnel et WalkerCharbonnel et Walker Chocolatier is a firm of chocolate makers based in Bond Street London. Its current Chairman, Galvin Weston, has greatly expanded the business and has made Charbonnel a very 'high end' chocolate and its chocolates have even been presented to Queen Elizabeth II.- History...
, Chinelli, Coast, Crabtree & EvelynCrabtree & EvelynCrabtree & Evelyn is an American retailer of body and home products with stores globally. According to its website, Crabtree & Evelyn uses over 160 “natural botanical ingredients” in its skin care products. It is wholly owned by KLK, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad., a Malaysian company that also owns... - Daisy ChainDaisy chainDaisy chain may refer to a daisy garland created from daisy flowers, the original meaning and the one from which the following derive by analogy:*Daisy chain *Daisy chain *Daisy chain...
, Diesel - East
- FCUK, FiretrapFiretrapFiretrap is a British clothing company, founded in 1991, specialising in premium menswear and accessories. It is the main brand within the WDT company , which also owns its sister brand Fullcircle along with previous brands SC51 and Sonnetti.Firetrap is firmly established internationally and is...
, Formes, French RevolutionBrandThe American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
, French Revolution Bagels, Folli FollieFolli FollieFolli Follie Group is a Greek-based international company which designs, manufactures and distributes jewellery, watches and fashion accessories. Through its subsidiaries it also operates duty-free shops and sporting goods retail outlets.-History:... - G Lovis, Gieves & HawkesGieves & HawkesGieves & Hawkes are a bespoke gentleman's tailor located at №1 Savile Row, London.Founded in 1771 and owned by Hong Kong conglomerate USI Holdings Limited, they are one of the oldest continual bespoke tailoring companies in the world....
- Hair Plus, Harvey NicholsHarvey NicholsHarvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
, Hawes and Curtis, High & MightyHigh & MightyHigh & Mighty is an album released by Gov't Mule on August 22, 2006.-Track listing:All songs written by Warren Haynes.#"Mr. High & Mighty" – 5:33#"Brand New Angel" – 6:53#"So Weak, So Strong" – 5:08#"Streamline Woman" – 4:06...
, HL Brown, Hobbs - Itiz
- Jack WillsJack Wills__NOEDITSECTION__Jack Wills is a mid-range British clothing brand aimed at university students. The fashion label uses the brand and registered trademark "Jack Wills – University Outfitters" to reflect the heritage and inspiration behind the brand....
, James Macintyr & Co Ltd, Jeffery-West, Jigsaw, Jo Malone - Karen MillenKaren MillenKaren Millen is an Icelandic owned women’s designer clothing brand, specialising in tailoring, coats and eveningwear. Karen Millen stores are found throughout the United Kingdom, America, Austria, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and many other European countries.-History:The company was founded in...
, KookaiKookaiKookai is a French fashion label founded in 1983 by Jean-Lou Tepper, Jacques Nataf and Philippe de Hesdin. It has a simple philosophy: "to supply young women with affordable apparel for their wardrobes". It has stores in Europe, Asia, America and Australia...
, Kurt Geiger - Lacoste, Life, Links of London, LK Bennett, Louis VuittonLouis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
- MulberryMulberry (company)Mulberry is a British fashion company known for its luxury leather goods.-Background:The company was founded in 1971 by Roger Saul and his mother Joan—in 1973 they opened a factory in Chilcompton, Somerset, England. Mulberry established itself as a British lifestyle brand, noted for its leather...
, Moda in Pelle, Molton Brown - Neal's Yard RemediesNeal's Yard RemediesNeal's Yard Remedies is a leading independent British retailer of organic natural health and beauty products. Founded in 1981 in Covent Garden, London, they have 40 stores across the UK. They also have branches in Japan and the USA...
, Nicholas Deakins, Nicky ClarkeNicky ClarkeNicky Clarke OBE is an English hair stylist and media personality, who owns well known hair salons. He initially became famous for styling the hair of various celebrities on several television shows, before earning fame in his own right....
, North Face - Olivers, Oliver Sweeney, Optical ExpressOptical ExpressOptical Express is a retail optical services company in the United Kingdom. Optical Express is part of the Optical Express Group, which operates in the optical, dental and cosmetic industries. It is the forth largest high street retail optician in the UK, which, combined, account for 55% of the...
- Paul SmithPaul Smith (fashion designer)Sir Paul Smith jr, RDI, is an English fashion designer, whose business and reputation is founded upon his menswear. He is both commercially successful and highly respected within the fashion industry....
- QuiksilverQuiksilverQuiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
- RadleyRadleyRadley is a village and civil parish about northwest of the centre of Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Lower Radley on the River Thames. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire....
, ReissReiss (brand)Reiss is a UK-based fashion brand owned and run by founder, David Reiss. The brand produces men's and women's clothing. It has 65 stores, located primarily in the UK, but with stores in the USA, Ireland, UAE, China and Malaysia. One store is located in Multrees Walk in Edinburgh, another in Marina...
, Religion, Rose & Co - Shade Station, Space NK Apothercary, SwarovskiSwarovskiSwarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
- Thomas Sabo, T.M. Lewin, Ted BakerTed BakerTed Baker is a British clothing retail company, known for applying twists to its products, and has become a UK designer label through word of mouth rather than advertising.-History:...
, Teddy & Co, The VIP Lounge, The White CompanyThe White CompanyThe White Company is a historical adventure by Arthur Conan Doyle set during the Hundred Years' War. The story is set in England, France, and Spain, in the years 1366 and 1367, against the background of the campaign of Edward, the Black Prince to restore Peter of Castile to the throne of the... - Vicky Martin, Vivienne WestwoodVivienne WestwoodDame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
- WhistlesWhistlesWhistles is a clothing brand with 40 stores across Britain. It was founded in the early 1980s by Lucille and Richard Lewin.In January 2008, Jane Shepherdson, former Topshop director, signed a deal to purchase a 20 per cent stake in Whistles and was appointed the job of chief executive.-Style:In the...
, World of Dance - Yorkshire Jewellery Limited