This Is How You Kill A City.

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Made in Britain - • The Last of the Great ...
Episode 13 - Death of the High Street / Leeds
This video has brought me to Leeds. A city which once was super famous for its shopping. It had a huge number of shopping arcades so I was intrigued to see what shape they were in.
I also made a visit to the White Rose centre, a giant out of town shopping mall. It was actually in a lot better shape than I thought. There was one strip of boarded up shops but that was it really.
I talk about rents in this video. How the reluctance to lower rent on property is such a factor in the decline of town centres. Even though we know the buildings don't hold that value any more, they still don't budge.
Driving into Leeds was a night mare and the parking was tricky too, all factors which make places like the White Rose more appealing.
New culprits falling as well, with Matalan going the end of the month. Another empty shop ready to take its place on the high street.
Until next time,
W.T
#Leeds #high #street #urban #decay #shopping #retail #abadoned #shopping #city #explore #explorepage

[@wanderingturnip]

You should check out my Made in Britain episode here 😀 The Last of the Great Furniture Makers kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4HWeaOufr91p7c

[@martinsolomon5500]

Great video. Keep up the great work.

[@smokefromsevenorifices8782]

Politicians have had plenty of time to (1) address online businesses, like Amazon under cutting shops and (2) address landlords raising rents.!

[@Magic-Florence]

Made in Britain episode is magic! 🙏

[@zandert7327]

Btw the reason the core is empty and people and closing is cus it’s being knocked down

[@zandert7327]

All the shut green bit in kirkgate market is also brand new I don’t even think you can let them yet

[@philsonhtc2871]

"The buildings aren't worth what they say they are" Never a truer word.

[@andrewjames9996]

Landlords love to be millionaires on PAPER.

[@winter5490]

Wad s shoiit whole

[@misscoutts6193]

Same with houses.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

@andrewjames9996 People are millionaires ON PAPER. That's pretty much the definition. As he says, if they lower the rent to fill the premises, they are acknowledging that the building isn't worth as much as they hope. The government does nothing to help fill the shops because of the concomitant drop in commercial property value. A large chunk of the "size" of the UK economy is the "value" of property. Therefore they keep up the illusion of being a "wealthy" country by inflated property prices and all its knock on effects, i.e. high rents and therefore empty high streets.

[@nicholasweaver7809]

No building is currently worth anywhere near what they think it is. Average house prices are £120k over market value

[@makramsaati7298]

Don't think you're being negative. This is top class journalism.

[@alihenderson5910]

I agree. It's honest reporting on a very negative situation. There are no 'journalists' in the mainstream, just lying propandists.

[@devanman7920]

Exactly. Its not negative or positive when you're just showing reality.

[@abdaljabbarhusayn610]

Spot on mate. The longer we remain in denial we long it’s stays ugly.

[@Benji567891]

@@abdaljabbarhusayn610But it isn't reality, Leeds as a city is booming, it's doing better then ever. Shops are closing because people don't go shopping anymore, a lot of the buildings are changing use, that entire empty shopping centre for example is being knocked down and some very nice appartments are being built.

[@Innocenttazlet]

​@@Benji567891leeds very busy still, but a lot of places that are unique independant shops, market stalls and shops poorer people went are closing closed, they stuggle with sky high rent.., A lot new places are just fancy high price eateries pushing unhealthy junk food and student accomodation plus booze. Also more public spaces getting fenced of for private places. But they put up lots fancy tat stalls and run many expensive events and fancy lights bubble tea and stuff for those that have a few quid.

[@balto8111]

2:58 A painted on "Come in, we're open" is quite dystopian 😵‍💫

[@uniktbrukernavn]

Might as well cover the buildings in flat screens showing people inside. In the future down town will be a ghost town with holograms of people and a big rotating wheel.

[@jumpstar9000]

In Amsterdam they allow people to set up pop-up shops in the unused retail space. A lot of the time that brings in creative people who bring a lot of culture and novelty to a town. Whatever happens we need to do something to bring back the sense of community and excitement in our towns. Really appreciate you highlighting these problems.

[@ProfileP246]

The higher ups don’t want that.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

@@ProfileP246you’re both correct 👍🏻

[@monabear7287]

US/UK are too greedy & stupid for that.

[@TruthWillOut-hb9vc]

Netherlands is a functional democracy whereas the UK is rapidly becoming a kleptocracy

[@t84t748748t6]

easy enough destroy the internet

[@30m3]

Foreign investment firms own most of these buildings and that's the problem. They can sit on these properties for decades because to them they are just collateral.

[@plynn136]

Yep. That is the unspoken truth about real estate in Europe and the U.S.

[@LawrenceTimme]

They should not allow anyone foreign to own freehold property in the UK.

[@Thats_him_with_the_daft_hat]

A lot of retail properties are owned by Hedge funds.

[@plynn136]

@@Thats_him_with_the_daft_hat As REITs.

[@Etaoinshrdlu69]

​@@LawrenceTimmeIt's free development money. Higher land values means a wealthier society.

[@evak4683]

Same thing happening in Munich. A small community restaurant that organized events for seniors (like dancing classes, chess, small concerts etc) could not pay their rent due to Corona closures and instead of reducing the rent, they forced them to close and 4 years later the space is still empty. Who profits from this???

[@RadmanTheWise]

Well the owner of the building still claims to have something worth 20 million and takes loans out using it as collateral.

[@simontist]

The spreadsheet jockeys

[@malthus101]

Blackrock.

[@harrybillingham-zm1vv]

A problem that I don't see anyone discussing is that many of the local councils in the UK have the pensions invested in indexes that are mostly hedged into commercial property. Long term prospects required are for higher rents and council taxes; if the price of the property goes down, everything goes down with it, the pensions, therefore the social support, the tax revenues from the businesses, all of it. One or two years rent is nothing compared to all of that; people hold their moves and boards go up while they wait for the market adjustments.

[@culturevulturepapi8948]

naaaaa it's all immigrants fault 😂

[@sakikogookheng]

I dated a girl from Leeds in 2016/2017. We were both college at the time and were fairly skint, so we spent a lot of time dossing around Leeds City centre. This was like a sad game of spot the difference. The Halifax branch closing surpirsed me, I knew I recognised the location and shape of the building, but it's not until you showed the Google street view that the memories came back.

[@EvgeneXI]

Same but earlier and in a city up north. 2010 ish. We would hang around the city centre and it was packed. The mall was packed. Shops all over and selling all sorts. Vintage shops, camera shops, independent fashion shops, game shops, comic shops etc etc. Now, it’s either an empty lot or a food outlet. Even the Disney shop closed… Intu has a lot to answer for because they bought most of the city centre malls in the country during the recession, did them all out and used the renovation to hike up rents. And we can see how that worked out.

[@JacobJordanst]

Ignore the haters. Your videos are great and quite genuine. Keep up the great work

[@bettyswallocks6411]

Interesting to note that the faux stick-on shops are all in the style of the kind of shop you’d hope to find in your local high street, rather than the glass-fronted mall shops that would be opened in the mall. It’s as if they know they aren’t offering what people really want.

[@Fintoman]

Mind thoughts too.

[@spankeyfish]

It's probably the local Business Improvement District that does up the shops. That's what the Harrogate BID does.

[@uniktbrukernavn]

Dead malls look nicer than the real ones 😅

[@chicchitammuottocifa]

Yes that is just crazy, it's like a kick in the face...and for what?

[@malthus101]

Exactly - they paint a picture (literally) of how England used to be when it was a beautiful and wonderful country, yet it's fake, and inside a multi-cultural, multi-unit retail space Hell-hole. It's like some sick psychological torture technique, designed to crush the spirit.

[@1973Washu]

American malls died because it was an oversaturated market and when Amazon came along malls that were only just scraping by because of the competition from other malls suddenly could not scrape by any more.

[@martybee6701]

I think we're just discovering this in UK , the more shopping malls you walk round, once vibrant cathedrals of consumerism, you now see at least one third of the outlets vacated or boarded up. Maybe we were thinking too big when we built them. There's only so much money in circulation at any given time. Only so much people have to actually spend. Less so now than ever.

[@glazedbeachbro3926]

This issue of empty shops on high streets is a problem in many parts of the world

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Correct. Let's not pretend that this is UK-only.

[@teran1237]

Yes, this also happens in French towns besides Paris, Lyon & Marseille for example.

[@timeprotector4320]

Its quite simple the solution. The city centres are too big where I live we have the city centre, two side markets and a shopping centre. Why we aren't a big city so the centre is struggling lots of boarded up areas. Bless the city council though they tried to rent it out to small popups but nothing ever stuck. Too many people just buy from online shops. Real shops cant and wont ever be able to compete. Its the free market baby ! the online shops don't need to pay high rents and floor room staff. Take the advantage of city centres reduce it, beef up security and make it a wholesome small area rather than trekking all over town to each little small sections.

[@alexphelps7042]

We have so few of what you call high streets even when the economy is bad they stay generally full but EVERY American city has atleast 1 dead mall. Structurally these are usually as cheap as it gets so they tend to disintegrate as soon as the maintenance stops leaving behind a costly liability for a municipality with fewer resources than it once had

[@orbitaloutcast9878]

Locally (Barbados - Ex Brittish Colony) I remember as a young lad going up the escalator in diamond mall and experiencing a small array of shops, but at some point the escalator broke down and it's been quardened off ever since. An entire portion of the upper levels, just completely abandoned. It's been well over 7-10 years since then

[@FRASERMCGREGOR72]

I personally love your channel. You are creating a legacy library of videos that in future years will be a wonderful resource. You are creating a snapshot of what life is like socially and culturally in real time in the 2020s. I wish more people could see the bigger picture and the value that you bring to social history. Never stop. You are a wonderful presenter and you are authentic and balanced in your viewpoint.

[@RegiyThornton]

He should literally have his own show on TV

[@GoldiLocks-rm9lg]

YES!! @@RegiyThornton

[@yuriythebest]

this looks like a good title for an Indiana Jones movie or children's mystery storybook: "Wondering Turnip and the Lost Shops of Leeds"

[@zzhughesd]

V.

[@democracyforall]

Well what do you expect. USA spend 600 billions on war in Iraq and that had to come from somewhere , then spent another 400 billions in Afghanistan and that had to come from somewhere then spend another 200 billions in Ukaine and againg that had to come from somewhere and UK played along like a little USA miniture toy. All that money that was spent on wars abroad including the 40 billion Mrs May gave to greece in one year because the EU said so, this is the effect of it.

[@buy.to.let.britain]

or perhaps instead of star wars return of the jedi, it could be shop wars. return of the shopper 😅

[@anubusx]

lol Harry Potter as well.

[@johncaldwell-wq1hp]

HEY !!--I'D GO AND SEE THAT !!-& IN "3D"-TOO !!

[@musicilike69]

It's the people also, so many seeming downcast unhappy people. Keep it up, you're covering an important aspect of urban decay that has greed and landlords and online shopping as major problems.

[@magsk6721]

Hi Davey 😊 My towns the same and it seems so sad to see its all-over .Heartbreaking !❤😢

[@shnicky4ever]

Been waiting for this one, so thank you! As a Leeds girl born and bred who has lived here all my life, I could write an essay on your 'findings' as I know so much about the history of my city but no one wants to be bored 😂 The Core (the one that was virtually empty) is proposed to become student flats with retail at ground level so they will not be doing anything with it now either way (hence the gym closing); but they destroyed what was the Schofields/Headrow Centre by booting nearly all the retailers out years ago to reconfigure it into the weird, clinical, soulless space it is now, instead of just freshening it up and modernising it a bit. Still miss that food court at the top (Johnny Wong's Chinese outlet was the bomb; iykyk 😜). That row at the side of the market is proposed to become a new Premier Inn, hence partly the reason it remains empty. Shame you didn't get a proper look at the Merrion Centre; think you caught them at a bad time as those alarms were because there was a small fire in the Morrisons store and they had to evacuate the whole centre so were stressed! And finally, yes driving in Leeds has always been a pain in the backside, but the last couple of years it has got especially terrible, particularly in the direction you had to travel in from the White Rose due to ongoing roadworks, pedestrianisation, cycle lanes etc; I was stuck on a bus back from there nearly an hour a couple of months ago, usually takes around 20 minutes. And they wonder why people, if they choose physical retail, go to out of town places 🙄 And there completes the essay I said I wouldn't write. Thanks to anyone who read it all! 🤣

[@thecinesister]

I read it all! I’m a Leeds lass too and thank you for mentioning the Schofield Centre because I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it used to be called! I spent so much time in the HMV there.

[@katewolfspirit6722]

Thanks, that was interesting to read even though I live in the South. It's the same story down here, so many towns and cities have lost their character and charm. Just the same generic, homogenised shops everywhere you go - Dullsville.

[@MrKingkz]

Am a leeds lad and am sick of student flats there are lots of homeless but no lets house people who come from middle class homes and can live almost anywhere

[@misscoutts6193]

@@MrKingkz foreign investment.

[@YorkshireYobbo]

Johnny Wongs, how many years ago did that shut? A decade? Jesus i feel old. Loved it in there back in the day!

[@felicityscarth3153]

You do a brilliant job……not at all depressing, just truthful and informative. Inspiring scenery, when not in cities! Plus excellent dry stone walls, when the arcades have been left behind! Keep going please!

[@jonnydoeson5562]

How dare you show me how depressing the high street is!

[@jonnydoeson5562]

@@markcollinson5665 who’s the clown letting his properties sit empty? Why do they do this? Surely they’re losing money?

[@davidv.8655]

Just found you. I am an instant subscriber. As a person who has worked in retail all my life ,i have a big interest in the subject. Online shopping will be the death of your city. The first thing to say , everyone wants the best price. If you are selling a box ,online wins nearly everytime. The city centre shopping is not designed for modern retailing. The companies that have a real chance to survive are specialist stores,somebody who can offer knowledge and range .if you have range you need storage. If you have a product that requires installation you need access to park a vehicle .not just for a customer but for the installer collecting the customers appliance. The problem for the city centre now,however, it had now become unfit for purpose . You cant park in front of the shop and the companies dont have large stock rooms . The businesses that could use the city centre (me by the way) cant get in there to use them). Councils have massively inflated rates systems for the city centres that are now 40 to 50 years out of date. Beautiful old buildings are now crumbling before our eyes. What can we do about it? . There is plenty that can be done . Not to rescue it all .most properties WILL have to change to residential. Councils need to be made to rethink on design . Parking has to be free and available and artisan companies should be given space for free or even paid to put their shops there. Vibrancy and a level of excitement needs to replace apathy on so many levels. Councils are 100% the last people who are needed to save their own towns . We need different thinkers involved. Major retailers M&S Hammonds Debenhams woolworths HMV C&A have all gone or going so the question is ,what could go there and more importantly who will facilitate its happening. I have hundreds of ideas that would work,i just fear that council reluctance would stop most of it. By the way please come to Hull . This is a view of all your futures in another 10 years time. !!

[@tigerv88]

Just before warhammer the closed up restaurant was actually a really important building historically for retail. That was the original Montague Burtons of Burtons Menswear. Queen even visited! Great video, some of the shops like Patesserie Valerie and Clinton’s only shut in last few weeks. The indoor market also had to have a refurb due to leaking roof and a lot of traders relocated for new fit outs so hopefully those units will soon be filled.

[@supersonicsjm]

As someone who lives in Leeds, White Rose has been declining for a while now, didn't know they had the strip of boarded up shops though. But yeah, the vast majority of the White Rose is clothes shops, maybe a few other things on top. Driving to Leeds City Centre is a nightmare with almost nowhere to park without paying an arm and a leg. It's madness. What's worse is a lot of spaces that contain retail are being turned into student flats. Multiple buildings have either been set up or are in the process of being converted into student flats, in fact what was recently the House of Fraser is now becoming student flats. The Core is being proposed as a new space for student flats. What's worse is The Core used to be really nice when it used to be known as the Headrow Centre. You can still find pictures of it online when it existed as that. But when it became the Core, it took away all the lovely charm and decor of it and it became a soulless space. The Core also used to have our HMV which was huge, 2 floors with one for music, and another for DVD's, blu-rays and games. Now, that space is half empty, half One Below and the HMV is in a tiny space in the St. Johns Centre.

[@daroniussubdeviant3869]

outer ring road garden centres with craft and farmers markets would suit me. i've lived here five years and never been into town once. it was easier when i lived in the calder valley to get the train into leeds than it is to drive those few miles now.

[@mecx7322]

It was once supposed to be the motorway capital of England.

[@supersonicsjm]

@@daroniussubdeviant3869 That doesn't surprise me. That's probably true for even some of the outer suburbs of Leeds like Morley, Cottingley etc. as they have train stations. You could literally get a train in and out, but it is a barrier for some to go into the city centre.

[@r8gg]

yeah

[@chaosflower4892]

Wait till they start building flats for illegals..

[@jamesdeacon7908]

Problem with Leeds City centre is that they keep on opening new shopping centres and the others die. Now Trinity is *the* shopping centre of Leeds - Merriorn Centre, The Core, The Light, St John's Centre and Victoria Gate - meanwhile there's no green space in the city at all and the riverside is underitilised.

[@usainengland]

Apparently, Leeds Council wants to knock down the Core to make student flats. Just mental. I’m near University of Leeds and I can’t see all the students who now walk to campus, moving to the Centre and using the bus.

[@sigmaslaughter1441]

I'm so glad that Leeds Council, property developers and directors at Leeds Council spent millions on building apartments and upgrades in prep for HS2.. Which now isn't coming to Leeds. It's a nice little F you that warms my heart..

[@hannahsakura4487]

Thanks for this thought-provoking video! I moved to Leeds over a year ago & a lot of local people complain about the nightmare of driving into the centre (there are constant diversions, road works and new cycle lanes etc). I don’t drive myself but the public transport is extremely unreliable and it’s not unusual to wait for 40 mins or even over an hour to get the bus. It’s the largest city in Europe without a metro or tram system (it used to have a tram network decades ago apparently). I think transport plays a role in the decline of footfall to the city centre in the case of Leeds. I’m definitely interested to watch your other videos too. Keep up the good work!

[@morgantrias3103]

Absolutely, it's riddiculous how much damage is done by underinvestment in functional transit and the fantasy that every person can bring a 9-20 cubic meters of wasted space in a 1-2 tonne machinery with them everywhere they want to travel.

[@darrenwareing5715]

Well done, thank you for your work

[@peppybocan]

Have you heard of Louis Rossmann here on youtube? He noted that many landlords in New York are doing the same. They will keep it vacant rather than lower the rent. There is an entire series here on youtube as he goes through the Commercial Real Estate in New York. Mostly during the pandemic - 2020-2021.

[@D_B_Cooper]

He also showed how they would out and out lie about the size of the unit

[@alihenderson5910]

So what's the long-term point of this strategy? It doesn't seem to make financial sense for the owners unless they know something we don't.

[@peppybocan]

imagine you are an owner of building and the retail space is worth on the market, let's say 20 million. You can go back to bank, and get a mortgage against that retail space worth of 20 million. Now that's all good and dandy if the market is stable. If it is not, and your valuation drops from 20 million down to 5 million. Now the bank is losing money on your mortgage. So nobody wants to come to terms that the properties were overvalued and everybody tries to weather the storm and live in denial as long as they can. @@alihenderson5910

[@D_B_Cooper]

@@alihenderson5910 Seems to me they are just putting off the inevitable as is human nature

[@alihenderson5910]

@@D_B_Cooper That doesn't make any sense.

[@Crabby303]

Dude I don't think these vids are depressing at all, it's shining a light on what's going on in reality. Keep it up!

[@TanaThaku]

honestly whoever said that probably lives a rich and sheltered life. Reality is anything but friendly.

[@AboveInspiration95]

These videos aren’t depressing they’re good bro, I like how you’ve an interest for outdoors and your knowledgeable and becoming more knowledgeable it’s all for good purpose if your enjoying yourself as well as teaching people about these places, love your videos keep em coming!!🤘

[@richardmattocks]

Used to visit Leeds all the time around 2000 when I was with my ex. It’s changed so much! The corn exchange was a dark and dingy place and now. Wow! Great video. Subbed!

[@waynerhodes360]

Wow, leeds was the place be 10/15 years ago 😳 if an amazing city like leeds can't survive, then there really is no hope for the rest of the uk ! Keep up the good lad 👦 great job .❤

[@GarethSewell1982]

Leeds is still thriving pal! 👍

[@Brynson87]

According to the data, Leeds is still growing and doing much better than the rest of the UK.

[@waynerhodes360]

@@Brynson87 true fact 💯 leeds is now the shop lifting 🫴 capital of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@kirksavva1748]

In all fairness. He gave trinity like 10 seconds of footage and it’s one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe

[@Benji567891]

Leeds isn't just surviving, it's booming, the video is pretty misleading.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

I love this channel, and watch avidly. It seems to be both depressing and hugely entertaining in equal measure.😀👍

[@freelyspeaking3975]

That Matalan has been there 2 minutes, it was a sports direct 😅...I live in Leeds but never go to the city centre and I'm shocked at how much has changed!

[@aro4491]

I live fairly close to White Rose and it is usually quite busy, both at weekends and during the week. I think it is helped by having a large Sainsbury's at one end which pulls the shoppers in. It's also outside of Leeds city centre, has lots of parking and is very close to the M62, which gives it a large catchment area. Not been into Leeds city centre for years. Nothing there that I need.

[@Magic-Florence]

I love being taken out and about on these interesting tours with Wandering Turnip! Thank you! 🙏

[@midoripaxton6000]

Your videos are outstanding! You get it so totally right - perfect balance of first hand investigation, light hearted comments, genuine outrage, balance, smooth delivery, research, imagination when it comes to editing, and a love for our country. Worth repeating - outstanding!

[@Magic-Florence]

Definitely! 👍

[@SuzanneO707]

Totally agree, I can't get "Hot milkshakes, what a load of twaddle" out of my head. Though 🤔😅

[@mattdasilva1085]

Big fan of the channel, thanks for visiting Leeds! There im is a huge population increase in the city centre and the core shopping centre is soon to be converted in to residential! The market is getting a hotel and the Kirk gate district is all getting regeneration! The merrion area has been transformed since the student resi towers have been built so I think a return visit in a couple of years will be a real positive one!

[@MishMash22]

I’m from further up the road and whenever I visit Leeds, it feels like a modern world class city. They always repurpose old buildings in Yorkshire, and it has some of the best architecture in the UK.

[@benrobertsuk]

"You Shall Own Nothing And Be Happy"😢 UK🇬🇧 Edit: Thank you all for the Likes💜

[@tentringer4065]

Owning is the problem. Large scale property portfolios owned by merchant banks that are massively over priced. Fair rents are the best option, not state subsidised 'property ladders' that only serve billionaire investors and buy to let multi millionaires.

[@buy.to.let.britain]

no private homes or private farms 2030

[@tonypuccio154]

@@buy.to.let.britain you have a Value point

[@LawrenceTimme]

@@tentringer4065 owning isn't a problem at all. In fact it is the best option when you plan on staying anywhere for a long time. The problem is when you get people owning who aren't in that area or have not interest in it other than making money.

[@tentringer4065]

@@LawrenceTimme investors in the market prefer a shortage of affordable properties. The market, that is ownership investment, incentivises a lack of affordable rented properties and puts mortgages beyond the reach of most working people. This all started when huge quantities of public owned rented homes were sold off.

[@mr.13zn83]

Greetings from a rapidly declining Southend. Thank you for the great vids.

[@solsticepilgrim]

I am watching from Colchester and it's the same here.

[@mr.13zn83]

So sad how it has deteriorated.@@solsticepilgrim

[@solsticepilgrim]

Colchester is starting to look the same as Leeds, a number of closed shops and out-of-town shopping@@mr.13zn83

[@mikeaistrop3408]

Same in Hull. I travel around the UK with work, mainly fishing towns and ports, they are all struggling

[@buy.to.let.britain]

this news gives me a rapidly declining erection

[@AWMulholland99]

The whole world is like this

[@rosab2655]

Thank you for making such an insightful video into the current state of retail. I’ve also watched some of your other videos on cheap houses for sale and it has really shone a light on how much under-use of existing buildings there currently is. So much could be done if our govt/local councils had the £££ to invest in revitalizing these spaces. Hopefully with more funding these spaces could be put to better use!

[@deedahinkent]

15 years ago Leeds city centre was the jewel of Yorkshire in my opinion , I'm originally from Sheffield but always prefered Leeds for shopping and drinking not been for about 6 years as I now live in Kent but as this video shows its on the slide such a shame ☹ Great video Dave thanks for the upload👍

[@Benji567891]

Leeds still is, this video absolutely doesn't do it justice.

[@deedahinkent]

@@Benji567891 Glad to hear it , like i said not been for a long time just going on this video ❤Leeds 👍

[@milo2324]

​@@Benji567891 A lot of vape shops in city centre

[@user-ie2ep9ig8t]

Love this channel!your only showing the disgusting reality of what the corporates and government have done...councils have a lot to answer for too they do not care,push people online so they can track us!keep speaking the truth and showing what's really happening😢

[@coolkitty2075]

I do wish people would stop saying the Government want to control us. Don t give them ideas

[@mimi64231]

Brexit means brexit. All the Best Frombork Poland.

[@haveanotherpinacolada]

​​@@mimi64231this all began long before we left the EU. We haven't even properly left it were still going along with the globalist bullshit. As usual they've sold out the people who voted for it.

[@balint4925]

from Leeds, that Halifax closed recently just moved like 3 streets down towards Trinity :D Nice to see others point of view of the city

[@alexguitarman100]

I'm actually gobsmacked. I went to uni in Leeds and did a full time job after for a year between 2014-2018. I absolutely loved my time there and pretty much all the stores that have been shown on this video were in business still. Used to love just walking around the shops and around the city with my earbuds on. Glad the market is still going I used to get the equivalent of about 40 chicken breasts for 20 quid. BARGIN! I recently found out that Wire nightclub had finally closed which is sad. Was an awesome little venue. It's really sad to see just the utter state our country has become. Videos like this really put into perspective of where our country is heading. Thank you for taking your time to make these videos. It really makes the people who have worked hard for these businesses seen and heard.

[@davidclark3603]

Your videos are honest and truthful. I look forward to your videos. I think that greed is not far away from the death of the high street! People are afraid of change? Excellent video!

[@LukeWarmwater-yb5lx]

Great Video Wandering Turnip, you are not depressing, the TRUTH is depressing, love the way you go back in time and show what a building once was, watching from Alberta.

[@tea.topzone]

Driving into Leeds is an experience in its own right. The nightmare started August 2019 with various roadworks and it got progressively worse even as the roads got completed.

[@joshmarsh2532]

Leeds is the largest city in Europe without any form of mass transit, not surprising there's so many cars on the road

[@tumslucks9781]

​@joshmarsh2532 Sheffields a hilly city and had a great bus service. It didn't need a tram system. It took 5 years to build and disrupted retail businesses everywhere. What Meadowhall started the Supertram finished. Sheffield City Council hitched their bets on vanity projects that never paid off.

[@joshmarsh2532]

@tumslucks9781 No city over 300k should ever rely on buses alone, buses just don't have the capacity that modern Tramways do. Sheffield's tram is minimal and desperately needs extending, a city of equivalent size in France like Toulouse has both 4 tram lines and two underground Metro lines. Having the bare minimum level of public transport is not a 'vanity project'

[@manoz6194]

The Matalan store wasn't open for long. Thanks for covering Leeds. I've been doing deliveroo in Leeds for 5 years so have seen the decline the of the city first hand. More and more areas have become dangerous to deliver to too.

[@AnonAtry]

You're doing an amazing job exposing the truth of the high street, hopefully at some point some MPs take notice and actually try and change something, we can but hope...

[@cheds1]

You not realised yet . They hate you.

[@chrissmith-td3iu]

😂

[@timeprotector4320]

Its quite simple the solution. The city centres are too big where I live we have the city centre, two side markets and a shopping centre. Why we aren't a big city so the centre is struggling lots of boarded up areas. Bless the city council though they tried to rent it out to small popups but nothing ever stuck. Too many people just buy from online shops. Real shops cant and wont ever be able to compete. Its the free market baby ! the online shops don't need to pay high rents and floor room staff. Take the advantage of city centres reduce it, beef up security and make it a wholesome small area rather than trekking all over town to each little small sections.

[@atilla4352]

It's great someone cares about the future of the UK, and it is time to talk about this...

[@Stev386]

Amazing video we need more channels like this. Stark showing of how modern shopping malls and outlets are designed to put consumers into this dreamlike haze of consumption. Surrounding structures are minimal and maximise views to more products. Interesting realities like product deliveries, renovation of a new opening stall, staff coming and going are all very purposefully obscured from shoppers. There's no natural urban life its just a shell. And online shopping takes that one step further

[@YooriUK]

I used to spend most of my time at Schofield Shopping centre (The Core) when I was a kid, and now look at those empty shops. It was even buzzing with a food court, kids play area and a massive HMV. Lillywhites was where Matalan was. Now they’re turning this shopping centre into more student flats.

[@Mrpjm200]

Your work reporting on the state of towns in Britain is amazing journalism

[@ladabingo7912]

This one stopped me in my tracks. I moved to Leeds in 1988 until 2014. There was a massive boost to the city in the 90s and everywhere was thriving. It was a fantastic time in my life as well. I’ve not been back since so this one was a real shock. In my mind it had not changed, it was still like the google earth version.

[@bigpickenergy5321]

14:34 Thank you for covering this. The closure was upsetting and the signs were there early on this would occur as it used to be accessible 24 hours which was stopped. Prob to save costs. Some time later it was permanently closed. What is happening to our high street? 😐

[@ytrogergt]

Loving all your video walks, nice warm voice, friendly and interesting

[@guyroberts8932]

Mate I love the videos you do. The stuff you and Wendall do is some of my favourite stuff on KZbin, highlighting the issues we all see in modern Britain. You are a credit to yourself and your nation ❤

[@Kellnino]

I’m an American who fell in love with Yorkshire a decade ago after visiting and have been nearly yearly besides during the pandemic. I can see the decline just in that short amount of time. But I still love coming! Just wanted to say I love your channel and your energy! I feel like I’m walking with you having a convo. Keep up the great work

[@loquek]

It's such an important and interesting topic and point. Thanks for sharing!

[@robertburgess3767]

Top man! Your videos are great....never felt them depressing! Informative and honest, just how we like you mate....thanks for another great video ❤

[@DMWBN3]

First one I’ve seen. Bit depressing at all, he’s simple shoring what’s happening in realtime to the high street in uk. I live in Hove, nr’ Brighton & same happening here. Church road, the main drag in Hove has Co-op, big Tesco & now a triple shop to be Sainsbury’s. Independent traders don’t stand a chance v’s these three shops. I try to shop local where I can, but the locals are just disappearing.

[@Julia_FK]

You are the first British person I understand. I am learning English, and I enjoy watching your videos even without subtitles. Thanks a lot! 🥰

[@NbNbNbNbNbNbNbNbNbNbNb]

Fantastic videos which I really enjoy. Forget the people who say you’re knocking towns and city’s which you’re not but documenting the reality of how things are and how people really feel about things. I love your knowledge and respect of architecture, buildings etc and how high st retail stands in 2023/24. I was I retail in the 80s/90s and know the sector very very well. You’re also correct that these shopping malls suck the life out of cities, just take Meadowhall in Sheffield for example which has killed the city centre as you showed in your vid. Thanks for your research and vids it’s appreciated 👌

[@dzejrid]

I've worked in Leeds in 2012 and 2013 as a contracted specialist for a development studio which had an office at The Headrow and I lived at Saxton. I would walk to and from work each day and really enjoyed it. The city was amazing back then, so much activity, shops, pubs, clubs and stuff to do around it, and a relatively short bike trip to Yorkshire Dales with its amazing trails. I would spend a lot of time at Kirkgate Market, Trinity, The Core and other places, visited Royal Armouries several times and would walk, run or ride along the Aire or do bike trips along Leeds-Liverpool Canal. So many good memories. I told myself that I would return one day for vacation to visit my favourite places and ride at Dales once again. Brexit and then the pandemic forced me to postpone those plans and now watching this video and seeing what happened to most of those places breaks my heart.

[@Jojobber]

Your content is absolutely top notch, well informed and well balanced, not just with this video but with every video of yours that I have watched. Your vibrant personality and genuine enthusiasm for what you are doing shines through in every video. Please don't let the occasional whinger in the comments section change your outlook. Do you realise that you are actually documenting the current state of our high streets, with reference to their individual history in such an accurate way that it will be a valuable resource for folk to enjoy learning from for decades to come. You should be proud of yourself. I wish you & your channel every success. Keep on keepin on pal.

[@daroniussubdeviant3869]

i moved from tod to leeds a few years ago. the best parts of leeds are around the edges. there are some grand old victorian builds in the centre. it would be great if the replacement to retail could do them justice. maybe leisure and education are the future of the inner city.

[@DMWBN3]

Good content, new Subscriber 👍🏼Internet also has had a huge impact on the high streets. As have all these Tesco, Sainsbury’s supermarkets & the smaller express stores. These is a Sainsbury’s opening near me, between Co-op & a big Tesco!!! Three in one 1/4 of mile road in Hove, Sussex.

[@jenniepeace5380]

The white rose centre of years ago was brilliant, now it’s absolutely dire! I used to live in Middlesbrough and when Binns (I think) closed down they opened the huge space up to small independent traders, letting them have a space for a reduced rent to build up their business and see if it was viable. It turned a huge empty space into a buzzing environment.

[@chelseagirl278]

Visiting the UK from Canada - my favourite thing to do is visiting the High Streets. So sad. Leeds is one of my fave cities!

[@chelseagirl278]

I forgot to add, I am a new sub :)

[@caroleplatts8674]

The corn exchange used to be an alternative shopping centre. The below floor used to be full of alternative shops and rows of black hoodies. It was amazing. Changed so much now.

[@haveanotherpinacolada]

Used to have all the emos hanging outside back in 2007 ish

[@bubba842]

The bottom and top floors were empty. Only the main floor had ships on it.

[@spankeyfish]

Cyberdog!

[@stonehorsegaming]

Dark Angel, Hippy Potter Mouse, Grin, Cyber Dog, etc... it was a great place to shop.

[@kungfuhugh]

Great find this page man. The speed of decline is astonishing. First person that seems to be documenting it. Great job.

[@dub604]

Human beings sleeping in the doorways of vacant buildings. Britain in a nutshell.

[@jackrichard8351]

Mate ignore the naysayers you are class, and you are raising awareness to these issues while also taking us on tours around these interesting areas. Our household loves your vids. Keep up the good work mate

[@zawarshah508]

This channel is one of the best channels around. Interesting and informative 👍 👌

[@claire9547]

I remember when the white rose centre opened. It killed Morley and the surrounding area. Exactly same as when Merry hill ( aka Merry hell locally) in Dudley West Midlands opened Dudley , Brierley hill and other high streets that were thriving and busy all dead. Brierley hill doesn’t have a bank anymore

[@JamesWilmott-ex8tz]

I was living in Leeds 10 years ago, it’s really shocking and quite sad to see how much has disappeared and still hasn’t been replaced. It used to be a busy city with absolutely loads to do but I feel like you could get round it within a couple of hours nowadays.

[@tedplatt8981]

Ive watched most of your vlogs..you put passion into them all whether it be the high street,wall building or the coal industry. You are informative interesting knowledgeable and pleasant to watch and listen to..All the best to you

[@pauljackson8540]

I like that you show real life and throw out thought provoking commentary 👏👏the Core in Leeds used to have a fab food court on the top floor...

[@SmithBoi1991-el1fs]

Hello mate, if you're looking for somewhere fascinating to visit, with all the things you look for (run down high street, deep and rich industrial history that you can visit, rejuvination project of the high street by the council) I recommend Chatham in Kent and the medway towns. Chatham dockyard was a naval dockyard built in the 1600s and was the primary source of employment in the medway towns until its closure (which hit the area very hard). Its now a maritime museum where you can visit and go onto old ships, a submarine, have a look in the old rope making factories etc. The council has recently started a rejuvenation project in the area, where they are trying to build up the town centre and revive the high street. It is run down at the moment. You also have fort amherst, which is the biggest napoleonic fort in britain, its open for visitors and is on the same road as the dockyard. Then a mile down the road you also have rochesters historic high street, castle and cathedral which is 1000 years old. Plenty to sink your teeth into

[@leonardgibney2997]

Where l live the Coop had a huge complex built in 1903, a department store. It closed in 2002 permanently. It's derelict, and now Debenhams has gone too.

[@simonballard6413]

I must admit, I thoroughly enjoy your videos, David. I certainly do not find them depressing, just interesting and factual. It is sad that our shopping habits are changing, but who knows? As you say, things might suddenly change again. In our town (Leamington Spa) we do pretty well and shops that do become vacant are generally soon rented out again. Keep up your marvellous trips and comments! All the best.

[@martinwhite8333]

Great video, as always.The reason why the Core was so empty as, in line with your thinking, the retail units and gym have all had to vacate as it is being re-developed as student accommodation.Hopefully the shops will move into some of the vacant units that you highlighted.

[@evo-yt]

What's compounding the problem is Business Rates too. They're based on the rental value before the sqm multiplier. The government charges rates on empty properties, but to keep the value high, some of these firms are absorbing those costs, and offsetting them elsewhere. Current trend by these firms, like CBRE/JLL/Mace etc., which own/manage many commercial assets are redirecting their interests to the rental markets. You might also be surprised to learn that banks and other firms are buying residential assets too, in the tens of thousands at a go.

[@anandmorris]

So many memories of Leeds. I grew up in Knaresborough in the 80s/90s, so Leeds was always a place my mates and i would go to. I do vividly remember being in Leeds on 9/11 2001, and in the corn exchange on that day too.

[@lesallison9047]

Fantastic show, so impressed how well Leeds is doing, compared to a lot of places. Keep up the good work of investigating what is actually happening in our country. 👍 ✌️💚🇬🇧

[@pimpozza]

Brilliant episode! Really enjoyed it! 👏 10:50 👏 The 'shouty' rude folk are a thorn in the side of hard working channels like this.. but even negative comments help the algorithm so we'll look on the positive side.. 🌹😄 Looking forward to the next _Made in Britain.._ This channel's going places!

[@pimpozza]

Depressing.. no!Just truthful.. When Turnip's buzzin' it lifts my spirits! 😅

[@HumanSynthetics]

Loving your vids @wanderingturnip, proper social history in action! Northampton might be worth a visit for it's nigh on desolate high street.

[@fl0rinescu]

I left Leeds and UK in 2021 after living there for about 5years. the highstreet wasn't doing great while I was there, but certainly better than what I see now sadly.. and yes, driving in the centre and finding decently priced parking was a bit of an ache. All the best mate!

[@samvartabandyopadhyay7976]

I have been watching your powerful videos. Just amazing!! Me being a retailer, cant feel less sadness for these fellows losing out to online menace and our selfish politicians. I personally know and spoke to some of those shopowners in Kirkgate , small butchers, fishmongers, bakery, they were almost forced out when they did the regeneration . Many closed ( like the butchers row, in your video) shamefully would have expected a labour run council to be more sympathetic to little people ,sadly no. But hats off to you mate ,doing a great job. Bring those bureaucrats, council bosses to the front. Let them answer whether a denerating city justifies their 3 figure salaries?

[@jaw2112]

Great content as always, look forward to the next one 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@sean65xjrurwin61]

I was born and live in Blackpool. Pretty bleak and derelict here too. 20 metres behind the cheerful fącade of the promenade, it's desperate... Great channel, I'm new to it, I'll look for your London visit.

[@davidgreenwood5427]

Thanks

[@caroleplatts8674]

Have to say i love your videos x don't find them depressing at all x your educating everyone how places are changing and unfortunately the high street is drying. Leeds used to be a great day out if you were alternative for all the amazing shops which have gone now unfortunately

[@IndigoJo]

Yesterday I saw a video about Yeovil which showed a whole district full of boarded-up shops, one or two small ones still open but all the big shops closed, both in the covered arcade and the actual high street. The high street itself was a building site; they'd ripped up the road surface and coned off the actual road so you were penned into the pavements. I bet the out-of-town privately-owned mall isn't like this. Our town centre isn't either, and that's mainly because there's no out-of-town big-box drive-in shopping centre nearby.

[@sirianofmorley]

The changed all the roads in Leeds centre recently and absolutely made it impossible to get where you want to go. Then, you have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford Qpark. I actively avoid going to Leeds at all now.

[@zzhughesd]

Leeds is a ok. Isn’t massively dilapidated whatsoever. I love a bit of Leeds. Moved back to Manchester but Leeds a solid city

[@GarethSewell1982]

I go Manc more, but Leeds has something about it. Underrated city imo.

[@zzhughesd]

Hard put finger on it. Leeds is rustic and small big city feel all in one. It's friendly. Or friendlier than other northern cities @@GarethSewell1982

[@GarethSewell1982]

@@zzhughesd deffo as good as anywhere in the north mate, good city! 👍

[@josh4236]

Mate I love your channel. You are showing the common frustration of many people in the UK. Also, I love your more positive stuff. Tom is a top-class furniture maker.

[@robertwhiteley-yv1sy]

Born and raised In Leeds, I moved away in 2007. You passed OK comics and it was great to see it still kicking. The guy who owns that small business has been in the game since I was a kid. Leeds can be so much more.

[@clairemcgibbon1729]

Ben we love your videos and look forward to seeing them. Wish you could do more. They and YOU 😊 get better every time. Us lot in Halifax love your gusto spirit.

[@GarethSewell1982]

For those who have not been to Leeds, don’t let this out you off. Leeds is as good as any city in England and feels really clean.

[@DMWBN3]

Leeds still have a football club 😒???

[@madwatermelon1316]

You need to get to Specsavers pal. Leeds city centre is filthy.

[@GarethSewell1982]

@@madwatermelon1316 it seems cleaner than Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow, which I regularly visit! 👍

[@ActuallyJamesS]

I like Leeds for the space and the architecture and the amount of stuff there is to do, but 'clean' is not a word I would use to describe it.

[@georgemacpherson1992]

@@DMWBN3Haha. Obviously we do.