In the middle of 2011 I moved offices, from my base of seven years on Neville Street, to a building on The Headrow.
We all hate change, of course, but I must say that apart from the canteen, which is marginally worse, my new location is better for, amongst other things, its proximity to the top end of Leeds, where more of the shops, bars and restaurants are located.
At first, however, I missed my lunchtime canal- and river-side walks. No longer could I get out of the office for 40 minutes and see only a handful of other people. Now, it was streets chock-full of shoppers, workers, cars and buses. Slowly but surely, I have had to tweeze new routes of interest to occupy my lunchtime pedestrian urges.
And some of these locations have inevitably found their way through the lens of my camera...
The three pictures above were taken around Millennium Square. Home of the seasonal Christkindlmarkt, Leeds Museum, the Civic Hall, the Electric Press Theatre, and numerous bars and restaurants, this area of Leeds is actually one of my favourite spaces. The top photo is of a restaurant at The Spice Quarter, whilst the other two are of the 1930s Civic Hall.
Another nearby shopping centre, in fact the closest to my new office, is The Light. I appreciate the retention of the original buildings in the design.
Talking of shopping, the area to the north of Eastgate is earmarked for development into a new shopping 'quarter'. This would involve the destruction many of the existing streets and buildings, including the small Chinatown area. Presumably in anticipation of this, many of the businesses have either moved or closed down entirely, as evidence in the second picture. The first, meanwhile, shows the long empty British Road Services offices just off Eastgate.
One of the things I have had to do since moving offices is test the perimeters imposed by my lunch hour. I can easily reach both these colourful apartments just off North Street, or the Dental Hospital.
As well as the many thriving precincts and arcades Leeds boasts, there are also plenty of less well off relatives. The St. Johns and Merrion Centres fit the latter category, but one of my early probing jaunts led me to discover the delightful Merrion Market. Largely, though not wholly abandoned, I understand this forgotten consumer corner is set to be obliterated later this year.
Leeds has changed a great deal even in the few years it has been my home. The Civic Quarter and around the Universities are two areas that have seen much development. Tucked behind the Civic Hall is the Rose Bowl, whilst these distinct, shocking (in a good way, I think) student flats stand on the site formerly occupied by the BBC studios.
Here's the surprisingly quiet scene one lunchtime in the upstairs dining area of Bagel Nash, in Thornton's Arcade, off Briggate.
The final four snaps were taken from the top deck of the Woodhouse Lane Car Park. There's another view of Broadcasting Tower, plus views of Woodhouse Lane, The Ship (a pub in a boat) and the A58(M) Inner Ring-road.
There's always something new to notice, or a fresh angle to be had in a large city like Leeds, so I hope the recent wet and windy weather will cease soon, allowing me to recommence my lunchtime walks.
