Sponsored by
‘Everybody wants part of Leeds action’
'PROUD': Father Nicholas Clews, priest at St Margaret of Antioch, Thornbury.
Debbie Leigh looks at the growing trend to ‘move’ other West Yorkshire cities and towns into Leeds.
It’s long been known as the Knightsbridge of the North but it appears Leeds is now such a des-res, everyone wants a piece of its prestige.
Whether it is a geographical slip-up when describing neighbouring places or used intentionally by businesses to persuade the public they are a classy affair, or just ignorance from people who think of “up north” as one big area - it seems more and more places across Yorkshire are being labelled “Leeds”.
And while that might be something to shout about if you’re a Loiner, it’s proving a major irritation for people living in surrounding towns and cities.
Father Nicholas Clews, parish priest of Thornbury, said he “felt an immense sense of pride” at seeing two Bradford landmarks on hit TV show,Young Apprentice.
But that quickly changed to disappointment when he realised the programme’s narrator had said the young entrepreneurs were “off to Leeds”.
Fr Clews said: “The camerawork showed to good effect the striking architecture of both the Odeon cinema at Gallagher Leisure Park in Bradford Moor and the Morrisons HQ on Gain Lane. “I felt proud to be part of Bradford.
“But the rest of the country would simply have thought what an impressive place ‘Leeds’ was.”
A spokesperson for the TV show said: “The candidates were sent to Leeds by Lord Sugar as their base to carry out their task, which is why the commentary directly mentioned Leeds at the beginning of the show.”
She added: “It was not possible to mention the exact location on every occasion.”
When told two of the key venues featured were in Bradford, not Leeds, the spokesperson replied: “Let’s not split hairs”.
The cinema’s full title is the Odeon Leeds-Bradford, so this could explain some confusion.
But surely if any business has put Bradford firmly on the map it is Morrisons?
Proud
A spokesman for the firm said: “We’re Bradford born and bred and fiercely proud of our roots in the city.”
He added: “We’re hoping to host Nick and Karren again in the near future in Morrisons headquarters…in Bradford!”
And it’s not just people living hundreds of miles away who are getting in a pickle about which town is where.
In a national magazine, actress Trudie Goodwin – who recently joined the cast of Emmerdale after starring in The Bill for 23 years - talked about a trip to Saltaire but the World Heritage Site was described as being in Leeds instead of near Shipley, Bradford.
And stretching the truth even further, a hotel with a Huddersfield postcode – 15 miles from Leeds city centre – calls itself the Holiday Inn Leeds-Brighouse.
General manager Louise Dodds said it was common practice to “carry the name of well-known cities or landmarks nearby”.
Dr Rachael Unsworth, geography lecturer at the University of Leeds, explained why people and firms might try to claim a Leeds postcode.
“It is all part of the phenomenon of the urban hierarchy: although Leeds has its faults and problems, as the most prosperous and prominent place in this part of England, people would rather associate themselves with this place than with places that might be less well perceived.
“It’s very similar to the way that people would rather be seen wearing certain brands of clothes and consuming other items that are associated with success.
“It’s a way of bolstering identity and getting others to think better of you.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 1 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
handsome devil
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 05:11 PMOh dear. Does nobody check the facts. Clearly the archietecture shown on The Apprentice showed the Odeon Huddersfield not the Odeon at Thornbuty.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.