Marks & Spencer has confirmed that it will close its Kirkgate store as part of changes to its national store estate. While this represents a change within Wakefield city centre, it reflects a wider shift in strategy taking place across the UK rather than a decision linked to local city-centre performance.
Across the country, M&S has been moving away from traditional city-centre department stores for a number of years, responding to changing shopping habits and focusing investment on different store formats. Similar closures and relocations have taken place in towns and cities nationwide as high streets continue to evolve.
How Wakefield city centre is performing
Despite the ongoing challenges facing high streets nationally, Wakefield city centre continues to attract consistent levels of activity across the year.
Headline insights from Wakefield city centre data for 2025 show:
- Over 70% of visitors stayed in the city centre for more than 30 minutes
- Almost one in three visitors stayed for more than two hours
- Friday and Saturday were consistently the busiest days
- Visitor patterns indicate Wakefield is being used as a place to spend time, not simply pass through
Taken together, this data shows a city centre that continues to be well-used, with visitors spending longer and engaging with a broad mix of businesses and activity.
A city centre that continues to change
Like many city centres, Wakefield is evolving. Traditional retail remains part of the offer, while leisure, food and drink, events and experiences are playing an increasingly important role in how the city centre functions and how people choose to spend their time.
This shift is reflected in how visitors use Wakefield city centre today – combining shopping with eating out, leisure and social activity, and spending longer in the city as part of a broader visit.
Championing Wakefield city centre
Wakefield BID’s role is to champion the city centre and the businesses operating within it, particularly during periods of change.
The focus remains on:
- supporting footfall and encouraging people to spend time in the city centre
- maintaining a safe, welcoming and well-looked-after environment
- representing city centre businesses in discussions about the future
Thomas Wales, Chief Executive of Wakefield BID, said:
“High streets across the country are changing, and Wakefield is no different. What matters is that the city centre continues to attract people who want to spend time here. The data shows that this is happening, and our focus remains on championing the city centre and supporting the businesses that make it work.”
Looking ahead
No single retailer defines the future of Wakefield city centre. Its strength lies in its mix of businesses, activity and experiences, and in its ability to adapt as patterns continue to change.
Wakefield BID will continue to champion the city centre, support its businesses and focus on keeping Wakefield a place people want to visit, spend time and do business.
