The Bradford Council decided to demolish the centre after failed listing attempts and in April said demolition of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre will start towards the end of 2026
A shopping centre in Bradford is set to close shop after 50 years.
The Kirkgate Shopping Centre will permanently close on June 18, according to reports.
Some stores operating in the shopping centre, which opened 1976, have already shut or announced imminent closure dates.
A hand-written sign posted on the window of the Get Free Books shop in the mall reads: “Due to the planned demolition works to and of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, we are sorry to have to announce the charity shop’s closure. 13th June 2026 will be our last trading day.”
The New Look clothing store closed down on Monday. A sign in its window read: “Thanks for having us, Bradford. This store will be closing on Monday 8th June.”
Pound Bakery, located just outside the shopping centre, closed at the weekend. A sign on the bakery read: “Customer notice. This shop will be closed from the end of Saturday, June 6. Your nearest shops and now Leeds and Halifax. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
The mall, originally known as the Arndale Centre, won the European award from the International Council of Shopping Centres just years after opening.
It is known for its brutalist style and has been dubbed Bradford’s “space-age shopping centre”.
The centre has come under pressure in recent years.
The opening of Broadway Shopping Centre in late 2015 also posed a threat to Kirkgate Centre’s long-term viability.
Listing attempts were unsuccessful, with Historic England describing the building as “lacking architectural flair”.
The Bradford Council has decided to demolish the centre.
“We know there will be some affection for the Kirkgate Centre, it has been part of our city centre for decades,” a spokesperson for the council said in a statement in April.
“However, towns and city centres have been changing across the country for many years now and we started remodelling our city centre due to the seismic shift in retail trends some time ago.
“City centres now need much more than retail.
“To be successful, they need a mix of leisure, homes, business spaces, as well as hubs for culture and education.
“We’re already seeing this come to life in Bradford with the launch of Bradford Live, our stunning new entertainment venue and the new, fully occupied, award-winning Darley Street Market.
“The Kirkgate Shopping Centre will close later this year ahead of demolition starting towards the end of 2026.”
