Yorkshire’s retail renaissance.
Over the last year it’s not lost on us how many bricks‑and‑mortar stores our customers have opened across Yorkshire, so last week we headed out to see it for ourselves. We spent the day visiting Torque customers across Leeds, Harrogate, York and the York Designer Outlet. Dropping into stores to meet the people behind the dispatch notes and see the products on display.
Everywhere we went, the mood was the same: open, upbeat, and genuinely excited about the momentum building across Yorkshire’s retail scene.
The momentum is clear in the data. Torque now works with 17 customers across 40 locations throughout Yorkshire, from premium arcades to heritage high streets and outlet destinations. Collectively, these brands are opening new stores, expanding footprints and reinvesting in physical stores with a level of confidence and long‑term commitment that’s reshaping the region’s retail landscape.
This wave of openings includes a Northern debut for Finisterre, bold moves such as Sweaty Betty's Leeds relocation, Moss' new Briggate flagship, and destination launches in Harrogate and York that underscore Yorkshire's retail renaissance.
Harrogate has welcomed ME+EM's first UK store outside a major city and Sosandar's on James Street. At the same time, York's Stonegate now hosts WYSE London's first store in the North.
Leeds
We began our roadtrip in Leeds, where established arcades and newer retail spaces sit side by side, and it was clear from the first few store visits why the city works so well for our customers.
Finisterre lands its Northern debut
Finisterre's new store in the Victoria Quarter feels right at home. Their first Northern location brings together reclaimed materials, repair and recycling services, and a community-led approach that fits neatly with Leeds' outdoorsy personality. The 2,464 sq ft space feels new but completely at home in Cross Arcade, like it's been there all along.
Sweaty Betty recommits
A short walk away, Sweaty Betty's new home in Victoria Gate brings a bright, energetic shift from their long-standing spot in Victoria Quarter. Relocating to the 835 sq ft store signals a real commitment to Leeds. After 11 years in the city, the team was buzzing about the fresh layout and the footfall the new spot brings. It feels like a natural step forward for them.
“Leeds remains a vital location for our brand, and we were delighted to strengthen our partnership with Victoria Leeds by moving into a beautiful new unit in Victoria Gate. We’re thrilled with our new space, and our Leeds team are enjoying welcoming our customers into our joyful new store.”
Andrea Gray, VP Global Stores, Wholesale & 3P at Sweaty Betty
Astrid & Miyu's experiential boutique
Astrid & Miyu, who opened back in 2022, were early to the service-led game in Leeds with piercing, styling, and welding all under one roof. It’s one of those places where you can see the experience-first model working exactly as intended, with queues out the door every weekend.
Moss steps up on Briggate
We wrapped up Leeds on Briggate at Moss’ new flagship. Moving from the Trinity Centre to the city’s most iconic shopping streets has reshaped their presence. The three-floor store brings together hire, tailoring and casualwear in a space that really shows off the brand.
The store design and carefully curated product are a testament to Moss’s ongoing commitment to quality menswear, staying at the forefront of it’s category while remaining true to its heritage.
“Men today don’t just want to look good - they want to feel confident in what they wear,” says Brian Brick, CEO of Moss. “That means clothes that fit well, feel great, and suit their day, wherever that takes them. Our role is to take the stress out of getting dressed - combining style with service that makes the whole experience effortless.”
Harrogate
From Leeds to Harrogate, the tone changes quickly. The retail environment is measured, the stores considered, and it was clear from our visits that brands approach this town differently.
ME+EM chooses Harrogate
ME+EM’s boutique on Prospect Crescent is their first UK store outside a major city, yet it feels immediately at home. Set inside a Grade II listed former bank, the 1,300 sq ft space has more room than you’d expect at first glance. The team talked about how naturally the brand fits the Harrogate customer - and they’re right. The old vaults downstairs now serve as storage, which has to be one of the safest stockrooms in town.
The team at Me+Em said:
"One part of our long-term business strategy is to continue to grow our physical presence globally. Stores are such an integral part of building an omnichannel business and play a crucial role in brand discovery, allowing our customers to see and feel the product first-hand.
Harrogate is a beautiful historic town and we knew from the data that we had a strong existing customer base there. We’ve seen great success since opening, our Yorkshire based customers have responded very positively to our British Modern Luxury proposition."
Sosandar opens on James Street
A short walk away, Sosandar’s James Street store is a real milestone in their move beyond DTC. Opened in February 2025, it has already found its place. The team was full of stories about customers who came in after years of shopping the brand only online.
Long-standing lifestyle anchors
Sweaty Betty continues to be a dependable presence on Station Parade, while Piglet in Bed’s first-ever boutique (opened in 2023) remains one of the cosiest, most tactile retail experiences in the area. Bedding you can actually touch makes more of a difference than you’d think.
York
Arriving in York after Harrogate, the change in setting was clear. The older streets and steady flow of people gave the stores we visited a noticeably different pace.
Wyse London: Craft and Character on Stonegate
Wyse London's first Northern store sits within a Grade II listed building on Stonegate, a street that already feels like a curated experience. Their warm, craft-first aesthetic feels carved out for York's personality.
York Outlet anchors and omnichannel nodes
York Designer Outlet continues to house key Torque customers, including Pavers, Moss, Yumi and Sweaty Betty, providing a value-driven complement to the city’s premium high street. These locations act as omnichannel hubs—supporting click-and-collect, returns, and stock balancing across the region.
Across Bradford, Skipton, Ilkley, Beverley and more, Torque-supported stores create a connected network that powers omnichannel logistics: next-day store drops, seamless returns, and convenient customer touchpoints that bring the region closer together.
The store is no longer "just a store"; it's a community anchor, a service studio, and the omnichannel superpower that makes everything else work harder.
At Torque, we're proud to support that growth; quietly, precisely, every day.
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