NEW IN THE NORTH
BY HAZEL DAVIS
WEST END DEVELOPMENT
Leeds
Not content with being the UK’s unofficial shopping capital, Leeds is entering a new phase of urban design with the West End development. Buildings have already started to rise in the new area, which will be completed by 2010. West End has been formed by a consortium of property developers who have joined forces with Leeds City Council to invest £1bn in creating a whole new dimension to the city. The low- and high-rise buildings are close to the mainline train station and along two canals in the city centre. West End will bring to the city 185,879 square feet of retail space, more than three million square feet of office space and 3,500 new apartments. www.westendleeds.com
IMPRESSIONS GALLERY
Bradford
Impressions, York’s award-winning photographic gallery, has relocated to Bradford. Established in 1972, Impressions has grown to become one of the UK’s leading venues for contemporary photography. The gallery now has a purpose-built home overlooking the regenerated Centenary Square, designed by architects Panter Hudspith and SMC DTR. Impressions Gallery, Centenary Square, Bradford, +44 (0)845 051 5882 www.impressions-gallery.com
ELEMIS SPAPOD
Manchester
For tired shoppers needing a face and body boost, British beauty giant Elemis has launched its SpaPod treatment room in Harvey Nichols’ exclusive Manchester store. A 30-minute facial (£45) will be tailored to your individual skincare needs and provides a lunch-hour transformation. The therapies take place in the sci-fi sounding ‘intelligent massage chair’, which measures the length of the spine, registers your body weight and delivers a customised massage programme. We liked the sound of it until we heard it would evaluate our weight.
Elemis SpaPod, Harvey Nichols, Exchange Square, Manchester, +44 (0)161 828 8888 www.elemis.com
CHILL FACTORE
Manchester
Chill Factore (the spelling is silly, the skiing is great) opened in November next to the Trafford Centre, bringing an Alpine experience to the north. Featuring the UK’s longest real snow indoor slope at 180m long, a Cresta-inspired luge run, children’s play area, classes with instructors and a themed Alpine shopping street, the £31m development is also set to be the site of the British Disabled Ski Team’s training ahead of the 2010 Olympics. Chill Factore, Trafford Way, Trafford Quays, Manchester, +44 (0)161 749 2222 www.chillfactore.com
PHOTOS: TESSA BUNNEY
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