Leeds Corn Exchange

Leeds has a huge array of historical and beautiful buildings in and around the city, but by far my favourite has to be the Corn Exchange. Apparently Leeds Corn Exchange is now only one of 3 corn exchanges in the UK that "still operates in its traditional capacity as a centre for trade". Designed by Cuthbert Broderick, an architect from Hull that also designed Leeds Town Hall, the Corn Exchange was completed in 1864, and stands proudly in the heart of the city centre as a cultural icon, much like the Parkinson Building.

In the '80s the Corn Exchange turned into a shopping centre and opened for trade in 1990. A shopping centre is how I remember seeing the corn exchange for the first time, but it has now closed as a mall - aside from a few upmarket boutiques - and now the entire ground level is devoted to the restaurant 'Anthony's Piazza', and I feel that the space is much more aptly used in this way. The interior of the building is so beautiful, and for some reason reminds me of an old fashioned cruise liner like, for example, the Titanic. I think this may be due to the roof, and also the fact that it is a very open area. I can imagine that hiring out the Corn Exchange would make for a fantastic party or wedding reception, I would love to see it fulfil that kind of function!

Before the conversion to a shopping mall in the '80s, there was discussion of the building being turned into an area for other functions, on of which was a concert hall - much like the Royal Albert Hall. Who knows, maybe in a decade or so the building will be converted again and we could be sitting inside listening to orchestra symphonies instead of having coffee!