Merrion Centre, Leeds
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The Merrion Centre in Leeds, England is a shopping centre opened in 1964. From construction to the present day the centre has been owned and managed by Town Centre Securities. Originally open air, the centre had since had a roof installed during the 1970s onwards. It is an early example of a mixed use development including offices, car parking, retail (including a Morrisons Supermarket) and entertainment including a bowling alley, a nightclub and several public houses. Currently most retail in the centre is aimed more towards the budget end of the market which means the centre is especially popular with working class people and students. The Merrion Market area features a range of independent stalls, shops and cafés ranging from mainstream but downmarket to idiosyncratic.
The centre had originally included an Odeon Cinema when it opened, however this closed in 1977 following a screening of Gone with the Wind. It remains empty and unused to this day only opening occasionally for events such as Heritage Open Days.
One of the nightclubs within The Merrion Centre was the now-legendary 'Bar Phono', widely reputed to be the birthplace of the Gothic subculture[1][2]. Bar Phono closed at the end of 2005.
[edit] Trivia
- The comedian Leigh Francis has named his character Avid Merrion after the centre.
