Morley has always had a bustling high street, but who provides that hustle and bustle is changing.
Rather than allowing empty buildings to sit unused, Morley continues to repurpose its historic spaces, giving new ventures the chance to thrive well into the 2020s. A representative for THAT MORLEY MAG, Robert Greenwood, spoke to two businesses now occupying buildings that were major banks only a few years ago.
Sitting opposite the town hall in what was once Barclays Bank is BBStylehouse – a sewing academy, clothes shop and café all in one, and a growing community hub.
BBStylehouse
Owner Kelly Tolhurst said:
“It’s been brilliant opening this business. When we opened the sewing academy, we didn’t know how the locals would take to it because it’s something that no one else has done. But it’s thriving and they love it.”
“I feel like Morley’s local identity is coming back because of the heritage and old buildings being reused. It’s all coming back to what it used to be like, instead of it just being charity shops – there are new businesses that are good for the younger generation, like the bars.”
“It’s gone from being a ghost town to being a lot better. There are still a lot of elderly people who come in here, which I was quite surprised about, but we get all walks of life.”
Just across the road, in the former Lloyds Bank, Heist Bar & Grill has become one of Morley’s most recognisable venues – not least thanks to its now-famous selfie spot, The Vault.
Heist
Owners Michelle and Paul Harland reflected on their unexpected success:
“We were looking for something smaller initially and then we stumbled across this place. It had been empty for ages. We’re a small family-run business, and it was a big gamble. It’s been challenging.”
“The reason we opened was sort of off the back of Morley Bottoms and all the small micro bars that became successful. It came at the right time and we filled a gap.”
“Initially, we were a very young audience, but over time we’ve found that we’re attracting more age groups. We’re not just trying to attract Gen Z, we’re trying to attract middle-aged, older age, younger people, and the gay community. We’re trying to do something for everybody, really.”
“During the England games in 2024, it was amazing – the atmosphere. We attracted a lot of Leeds’ business. We get a lot of customers coming from all over the place, all areas of Leeds, which really surprised us.”
“We brought drag to Morley, with drag brunches on Saturdays. This got some interesting responses on social media but it went down really well. We did that for eight months and it was sold out.”
“We’ve got an over 55s club that we’re doing a Rock and Roll club for every month – for people that don’t work anymore, somewhere to go and a bit of free entertainment.”
“There’s always been a drinking culture around these areas, but it was always that Leeds was the big night out. Whereas now people are specifically coming, certainly to Heist as a night out from Rothwell, Farsley, Wakefield, all over the place, and it’s still cheaper than going into Leeds itself.”
“People work hard for their money, and I think they expect and deserve more for their money. I feel like you still get that in Morley.”
Not every historic building is destined for a new use. Morley Post Office on Queen Street is set to remain open following strong local campaigns, showing that while some buildings evolve, others continue to serve the community just as they always have. It’s a reminder that preservation can be just as powerful as reinvention.
Morley’s high street has changed with the times, not abandoning its past or allowing its buildings to decline, but putting them to new uses. As habits shift and the community diversifies, Morley carries its history forward for residents both old and new.
It’s a reminder that Morley’s future is being built inside the walls of its past.