Wakefield Exchange now open

Wakefield Exchange (WX) is an exciting new space hosting events, street food, studios and more, which is now open in the heart of Wakefield city centre.

The building is opening today (Friday 21 February) for the Rhubarb Festival weekend, with a market, live music, activities and more.

And the Council has just announced a programme of regular events and activities taking place at WX. This includes Toddler Mondays, every week during term time, with free play activities for under 5’s. There will also be acoustic music on Thursday and live music on Friday evenings, creative sector networking opportunities throughout the year and adult evening creative classes led by regional artists.

As well as creating jobs in the food and drink sector, there will also be spaces on offer to small and medium-sized digital and creative businesses. The tenants, local residents and the wider economy will benefit from a programme of skills development, training and business support opportunities. 

Open seven days a week, the building will be home to five street food vendors and a bar. It will allow visitors to enjoy a casual dining experience throughout the day and into the evening.

Steph Shaw, from The Jolly Boys’ Brewery, said: “After 10 years we have moved our wonderful brewery from Barnsley to the centre of Wakefield. We are excited what this means for us as a brewery and is a really exciting development. We will be expanding our range, sharing our beers through The Exchange Tap, whilst exploring new projects within the brewing industry over the coming months and years. We’re here to stay and here to grow. We can’t wait to share this next step in our journey with the people of Wakefield and beyond in this fantastic new venue.”

Diana Sabag Asfura, from La Chingada Tex Mex, said: “We’re really excited for people to experience the magic of Mexico, right here in Wakefield Exchange. Whether you’re enjoying a family dinner, celebrating a special occasion, or simply unwinding with friends, joy and fun are at the heart of everything we do and what a brilliant place to do it.”

Giles Amos, from Gray's Coffee Shop, said: “We’re thrilled to join WX and be part of this exciting project. We’re really excited about the future and look forward to meeting the wondrous folk of Wakefield and beyond, so whether you're stopping for your morning coffee, lunch, or an afternoon snack, we've got you covered.”

WX will officially open on 21-23 February with a full weekend of Rhubarb Festival activity. Head over to WX as the famous food and drink market extends along Union Street and under the canopy, for even more rhubarb-themed treats and live music. Head inside for some family craft activity and warm-up with a hot drink as you experience Sentinel, by Studio Vertigo, a light artwork based on the district’s mining heritage.

 Other confirmed events at Wakefield Exchange include:

• 21 Feb – 2 March: Sentinel & the Heritage Commissions: Launching in WX alongside the opening weekend and Rhubarb Festival, Sentinel was commissioned by Wakefield Council as part of Light Up 2024. This unique light sculpture by Studio Vertigo is inspired by the district's coal mining heritage and will form the centre piece of a magical display in WX. It will be accompanied by sound installation Coal Lines, mixed reality experience Revealed: Triptych* and digital game Roller Bird, all created by local artists in response to Sentinel, creating a captivating and immersive storytelling experience for visitors.
• 8 - 9 March – Games weekend: Hosted by Game Republic, this free 2-day games event will feature exciting modern and retro console games to play, old-school arcade games and brand-new games developed by indie games companies based in Yorkshire and the North of England.
• 14 - 23 March – This Was Our Year: Our Year – Wakefield District 2024 was a celebration of the amazing culture, heritage and community of our district. This Was Our Year will be an opportunity to reflect and celebrate. Our Year is supported with funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Arts Council England.
• 4 – 21 April: The Sleeping Tree: The Sleeping Tree is a long form, durational, sound experience by Invisible Flock, connecting audiences with the distant and fragile ecosystem of North Sumatra. Audiences will be invited into the Sumatran ecosystem, to lay and be absorbed into the enveloping soundscape of the rainforest.
• 20 June – 7 September: Jason Wilsher-Mills exhibition: Born and raised in Wakefield, Jason Wilsher-Mills’s work celebrates disability, his northern working-class heritage and popular culture, through cutting edge technologies and brightly coloured, largescale humorous, but challenging art. His summer exhibition at WX will showcase brand new artworks alongside a mentoring programme for local disabled artists.
• 21 - 23 November: Ships of the Gods: As part of Light Up Wakefield 2025, WX welcomes Heinrich & Palmer’s light installation Ships of Gods. The breathtaking artwork is inspired by the Norse myth of Skidbladnir, a magical shape-shifting vessel which was large enough to carry all the gods and their equipment yet could be folded up small enough to fit inside a pocket. 

To be first to know about unmissable events and openings at Wakefield Exchange, sign up for e-newsletter updates at www.wxwakefield.co.uk

Wakefield Exchange has been funded by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, through the Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England, and by Wakefield Council.

*Triggered by a QR code, visitors can interact with Chloe, a digital canary held in the palm of their hand, offering an engaging and fun experience for children and adults alike. 

Chloe is also the heroine of ‘Rollerbird’, a new light-hearted mobile game that pays homage to the tiny yellow bird that saved so many miners’ lives. Rollerbird invites players to fly Chloe over Wakefield district uncovering the collieries that were still in operation at the time of the Miners’ Strike.