The launch forms part of a £15m expansion and redevelopment of Trinity Kitchen, which opened in 2013 alongside the main Trinity Leeds shopping centre.
Landsec says its “hospitality-led” investment will transform the scheme — which currently features a mix of rotating street food vendors and permanent restaurants — into one of the UK’s most significant food, drink and leisure destinations.
Set to launch later this year, the Leeds site will become Freight Island’s fourth UK location, following the success of its flagship venue at Depot Mayfield in Manchester, Freight Island Brixton and a new opening in Newcastle later this year.
Freight Island says the partnership forms a key part of its national growth strategy and demonstrates its approach of “working collaboratively with leading landlords to bring its unique model to major urban centres and drive long-term footfall and performance”.
The expansion of Trinity Kitchen represents Landsec’s largest single investment in Trinity Leeds since it opened and will see the space increase by 30,000 sq ft to create a 63,000 sq ft food and leisure destination, anchored by independent operators and supported by a year-round programme of events and entertainment.
The redevelopment is expected to support significant job creation, attract new independent and regional brands and “further strengthen Trinity Kitchen’s position at the heart of Leeds’ hospitality and leisure landscape”.
Through the partnership, Freight Island will work closely with Trinity Leeds to build on the combined partnership’s legacy.
The expanded Trinity Kitchen will place a stronger emphasis on independent food and drink operators, flexible trading formats and curated, entertainment-led programming, with spaces designed for live music, DJs, sports screenings and cultural and community events.
The concept is intended to create clear pathways for emerging chefs and brands to scale within a prominent city-centre destination.
“Trinity Kitchen is an iconic Leeds destination with a decade-long reputation for championing independent food traders and creating a genuinely social dining experience. We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Freight Island to Trinity Leeds as part of this landmark expansion,” says Freight Island managing director Dan Morris.
“Leeds is a city with a powerful cultural identity and a thriving creative and food scene. We look forward to working closely with Landsec and Trinity Leeds to create a destination that supports local operators, creates jobs, nurtures homegrown talent and delivers something truly special for the city.”
Mark Warne, director of hospitality and leisure at Landsec, adds: “Our investment in Trinity Kitchen reflects the growing importance of food, drink and leisure in creating destinations where people want to spend time, not just shop, and aligns with our portfolio-wide ambition to deliver social dining environments across our major retail schemes.
“By partnering with Freight Island, we’re able to elevate the experience even further — introducing bigger, more dynamic spaces, new opportunities for traders and new reasons for people to visit and stay longer.”