Trinity Walk turns 10: Staff at Wakefield shopping centre promise to make the next decade 'even better than the last'

The manager of Trinity Walk has promised to make sure “the next decade is even better than the last”, as the centre marks its 10th anniversary.
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Now filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and more, Trinity Walk is a bustling centre at the heart of Wakefield - and it can be hard to imagine the city without it.

But today marks exactly 10 years since the centre opened for the first time.

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Though pandemic restrictions mean that staff at Trinity Walk cannot celebrate its anniversary in full, they are looking forward to a second decade as exciting as the first.

The manager of Trinity Walk has promised to make sure “the next decade is even better than the last”, as the centre marks its 10th anniversary. Trinity Walk is pictured in May 2011.The manager of Trinity Walk has promised to make sure “the next decade is even better than the last”, as the centre marks its 10th anniversary. Trinity Walk is pictured in May 2011.
The manager of Trinity Walk has promised to make sure “the next decade is even better than the last”, as the centre marks its 10th anniversary. Trinity Walk is pictured in May 2011.

Cormac Hamilton, who has managed the centre for seven years, said: "The Wakefield Metropolitan Borough coat of arms motto is 'persevere and prosper' and never has that been so true as now. And that's exactly what we intend to do.

"Given the past 12 to 18 months we've all experienced, it doesn't feel like the right time to celebrate turning 10 in a traditional sense, but we are all extremely proud as a team of what Trinity Walk has achieved in the last decade.

"This landmark birthday gives us the opportunity to look at where we have been and where we want to go as a centre and indeed as a whole city.

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"None of our success would have been possible without our team, our retailers and most importantly the Wakefield and Yorkshire public, who have supported us in growing numbers since day one.

Now filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and more, Trinity Walk is a bustling centre at the heart of Wakefield - and it can be hard to imagine the city without it. But today marks exactly 10 years since the centre opened for the first time.Now filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and more, Trinity Walk is a bustling centre at the heart of Wakefield - and it can be hard to imagine the city without it. But today marks exactly 10 years since the centre opened for the first time.
Now filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and more, Trinity Walk is a bustling centre at the heart of Wakefield - and it can be hard to imagine the city without it. But today marks exactly 10 years since the centre opened for the first time.

"We have tried to repay that faith by continually bringing new brands, events and keeping the centre clean and safe.

"Our main focus now isn't about looking back or celebrating, but looking forward to the next 10 years and working flat out to make sure the next decade is even better than the last."

And though the last year has proven tough - with the centre’s flagship Debenhams store set to close its doors for the final time this weekend, just weeks after popular shops Topshop and Dorothy Perkins closed down - Cormac is confident that Trinity Walk will continue to thrive.

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He said: "While some brands are leaving the high street nationally, we have secured four new lettings in recent months with the latest being Caffe Noor which will open soon with a very exciting business plan.

Councillor Denise Jeffery, who was then deputy leader of Wakefield Council, opened the centre's flagship Debenhams store on May 6, 2011. The shop will close its doors for the final time on May 8, 2021, almost exactly a decade after opening.Councillor Denise Jeffery, who was then deputy leader of Wakefield Council, opened the centre's flagship Debenhams store on May 6, 2011. The shop will close its doors for the final time on May 8, 2021, almost exactly a decade after opening.
Councillor Denise Jeffery, who was then deputy leader of Wakefield Council, opened the centre's flagship Debenhams store on May 6, 2011. The shop will close its doors for the final time on May 8, 2021, almost exactly a decade after opening.

"Having joined the centre myself in 2014 I already knew the history of Trinity Walk. But knocking on the door of a 100 million visits later, it's clear it's been a success both in terms of encouraging more people to come into Wakefield city centre and growing the economy, something which is a huge source of pride for us all. We still have at least two members of staff who began working here when we first opened our doors which is incredible.

"Since May 2011, the same time as The Hepworth Wakefield opened, we have played host to some incredible events and made some serious strides especially around our environmental work. We won a Green World Award in 2019 and we hope our major events will elicit fond memories among our visitors.

"Those ranged from our princess Guinness World Record attempt to Dr Ranj's Christmas lights switch on to when we brought 45 plus tonnes of real snow during one summer.

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"A particular highlight was our partnership with The Hepworth Wakefield when we installed Barbera Hepworth's Ascending Form sculpture here.

"From a retail point of view, we are looking to the future - and already in talks with new brands who are interested in joining Trinity Walk. None of this will happen overnight, but rest assured we are collectively on the case.

"We are also part of the High Street Task Force and look forward to the development of new investment in the city centre worth up to £75million in the coming years all of which will benefit businesses in the City."

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