Coppergate Shopping Centre
An open-air shopping centre and visitor destination in York, England, incorporating retail, hospitality, cultural attractions and public spaces.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Coppergate Shopping Centre is an open-air retail and leisure complex in central York, North Yorkshire, England. It takes its name from Coppergate, a medieval York street whose name incorporates the Old Norse word gata, meaning street. The centre is positioned within one of York's most historically significant urban areas and combines shops, cafés, public spaces, visitor attractions and cultural venues rather than operating solely as a conventional enclosed mall. The site has an important archaeological and cultural background. Before the shopping centre was developed, it was occupied by the Cravens confectionery factory. Excavations carried out by the York Archaeological Trust between 1976 and 1981 revealed exceptionally well-preserved remains from the Viking-age settlement of Jorvik. The waterlogged ground preserved organic materials such as wood, leather and textiles, as well as everyday objects and biological remains. More than 40,000 objects were recovered through the examination of thousands of archaeological layers. The discoveries shaped the later development of the site and led to the creation of the Jorvik Viking Centre, which opened to the public in April 1984 within the excavation area. The centre's retail environment is arranged as an outdoor promenade with covered walkways, public squares, fountains, planted areas, seating and food-and-drink venues. St Mary's Church, located within the complex, is used as a contemporary art venue. The combination of shopping, hospitality, heritage interpretation and public programming gives Coppergate a destination-oriented identity linked closely to York's tourism economy. The surrounding public areas also accommodate live activities such as brass-band performances, theatre and events associated with York festivals. Coppergate became the subject of a major proposed redevelopment in the early 2000s. In 2001, developers promoted a scheme known as Coppergate II, reportedly valued at £60 million, that would have involved demolishing the existing centre and constructing a new development with shops on both sides of the River Foss. The proposal included an enlarged Debenhams as a potential anchor retailer. Public opposition led to a petition and a public inquiry, with concerns including the proposed scheme's relationship to historic York landmarks, particularly Clifford's Tower. The UK government rejected the proposal in September 2003, leaving the existing form of the centre in place. Since February 2008, Coppergate has been owned by LaSalle Investment Management, according to the centre's reference material. Its visitor-facing identity has subsequently been reinforced through seasonal decoration and place-making initiatives. The best-known example is Brollywalk, an overhead display of umbrellas installed along Coppergate Walk. First introduced in August 2017, the display has used changing themes including rainbow umbrellas associated with York Pride, floral designs, Union Jack patterns and ribbon decorations. In October, the umbrellas are replaced with broomsticks and ghosts for a Halloween presentation. The installation has helped make the centre a recognisable photographic and social-media location while adding a recurring seasonal attraction to its retail offer. Coppergate remains an active shopping and visitor destination, with its heritage setting, archaeological attractions, public realm and seasonal programming forming a distinctive proposition within York's city-centre retail landscape.
History
Coppergate occupies a site with a layered industrial, archaeological, commercial and cultural history. Before the shopping centre was created, the land was used by the Cravens confectionery factory. Archaeological work undertaken by the York Archaeological Trust from 1976 to 1981 revealed substantial remains of 10th-century buildings associated with Jorvik, the Viking settlement that developed in York. The archaeological conditions were unusually favourable. Moist, waterlogged layers beneath the site preserved materials that would normally disappear, including wood, leather, cloth and other organic matter. Excavators also recovered evidence of ordinary domestic life, including insects and the remains of a Viking toilet and its contents. The project examined approximately 36,000 layers and recovered more than 40,000 objects after large quantities of soil were processed. These finds provided an unusually detailed picture of life in Viking-age York. The importance of the discoveries influenced the treatment of the site. Rather than removing the archaeological remains from public view, the York Archaeological Trust developed a permanent visitor attraction in and around the excavation area. The Jorvik Viking Centre opened in April 1984 and became a major heritage attraction associated with Coppergate. Its presence has remained central to the identity of the wider complex, linking commercial activity with York's archaeological tourism. The modern shopping centre developed as an open-air promenade rather than a fully enclosed mall. Its design includes covered walkways, landscaped public areas, fountains, seating and spaces for cafés and other hospitality uses. The centre also incorporates St Mary's Church, which is used to display modern art. Public areas have supported brass bands, theatre productions and activities connected with York's festival calendar, extending the site beyond conventional shopping. In 2001, developers announced a large redevelopment proposal called Coppergate II. The scheme was reported as a £60 million project and would have replaced the existing centre with a new development featuring shops on both sides of the River Foss. A larger Debenhams was among the proposed anchor elements. The plans generated strong public opposition, including a petition, and were examined through a public inquiry. Historic-environment concerns were particularly significant because some proposed elements would have stood close to Clifford's Tower. The government refused permission for the scheme in September 2003. LaSalle Investment Management has owned the centre since February 2008. Under its established open-air format, Coppergate has continued to combine retail, cafés, museums, public events and heritage attractions. A notable later place-making initiative is Brollywalk, first installed in August 2017. The project suspended themed umbrellas along Coppergate Walk and introduced new visual arrangements over the course of the year. Themes have included rainbow umbrellas for York Pride, floral designs, Union Jack motifs and ribbon decorations. During October, the umbrellas are replaced by broomsticks and ghosts. Brollywalk has become a recurring seasonal feature and a recognisable image associated with the centre. Coppergate's current identity therefore rests on several overlapping functions: a shopping and hospitality destination, a gateway to the Jorvik Viking Centre, a venue for art and public performances, and a carefully managed historic-city public realm. Its development history also illustrates the tension between commercial redevelopment and the protection of York's archaeological and architectural heritage.
- 2017
First Brollywalk installation
[1]Coppergate installed its first themed umbrella display along Coppergate Walk in August.
- 2008
LaSalle Investment Management takes ownership
[1]LaSalle Investment Management became the owner of Coppergate Shopping Centre in February.
- 2003
Coppergate II scheme refused
[1]Following public opposition and a public inquiry, the UK government rejected the proposed redevelopment in September.
- 2001
Coppergate II redevelopment announced
[1]Developers launched a proposed £60 million redevelopment involving replacement of the existing centre and new retail space beside the River Foss.
- 1984
Jorvik Viking Centre opens
[1]The Jorvik Viking Centre opened to the public in April, preserving the site's archaeological significance as a permanent visitor attraction.
- 1981
Major excavation phase concludes
[1]The principal archaeological excavation period ended after the examination of extensive layers associated with Viking-age Jorvik.
- 1976
Coppergate archaeological excavations begin
[1]The York Archaeological Trust began excavating the former Cravens confectionery factory site, uncovering waterlogged Viking-age remains and thousands of preserved objects.
Products and positioning
A heritage-led, open-air city-centre shopping and leisure destination that combines everyday retail with York's Viking archaeology, cultural attractions, public events and seasonal visual installations.
Shopping centre retail
Retail shops
Coppergate provides a collection of city-centre retail units in an open-air promenade setting. The available offer is complemented by the centre's public spaces, covered walkways and proximity to York's historic attractions. Specific current tenants and product ranges are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Food and drink
Cafés and hospitality venues
Cafés and other food-and-drink venues form part of Coppergate's visitor-oriented public realm. Seating, planting, fountains and open squares support an outdoor leisure experience alongside shopping and sightseeing.
Heritage attraction · 1984
Jorvik Viking Centre
The Jorvik Viking Centre is a permanent visitor attraction developed from archaeological discoveries made beneath the Coppergate site. Opened in April 1984, it presents the Viking-age remains and objects found during excavations by the York Archaeological Trust.
Seasonal public-realm installation · 2017
Brollywalk
Brollywalk is a recurring overhead display of themed umbrellas installed along Coppergate Walk. It began in 2017 and has used seasonal and community-oriented themes, including Pride-related rainbow umbrellas, floral designs and autumn Halloween imagery.
Cultural venue
St Mary's Church art venue
St Mary's Church forms part of the Coppergate complex and is used to display modern art. Its presence adds a cultural and architectural dimension to the centre's retail and visitor offer.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Brollywalk
York · United Kingdom
Coppergate launched Brollywalk as a seasonal visual installation of umbrellas suspended along Coppergate Walk. The display has been refreshed with different themes and has included a York Pride rainbow arrangement, floral umbrellas, Union Jack designs and ribbon decorations.
Outcome. The installation became a recurring feature of the centre and a popular photographic backdrop. In October, the umbrella display is replaced with broomsticks and ghosts for a Halloween-themed presentation.
Brand decisions
2003
Continuation of the existing centre after Coppergate II refusalStrategyBackground
The proposed replacement development was rejected after public scrutiny and concerns about the effect of the scheme on York's historic environment.
Action taken
The planned demolition and replacement project did not proceed, leaving the existing open-air Coppergate format in place.
Aftermath
Coppergate continued operating as a smaller-scale open-air shopping and visitor complex integrated with York's heritage attractions and public realm.
2001
Launch of the Coppergate II redevelopment proposalStrategyBackground
Developers sought to replace the existing shopping centre with a larger scheme intended to expand retail capacity and create shops on both sides of the River Foss.
Action taken
A proposed £60 million development was advanced, with an enlarged Debenhams identified among the intended anchor retail components.
Aftermath
The proposal attracted substantial public opposition, resulted in a petition and public inquiry, and was ultimately refused by the UK government in September 2003.
Proposed development value. (2001 proposal)
Recent events
- 2017
Brollywalk introduced at Coppergate[1]
Campaign
Coppergate introduced its first Brollywalk umbrella installation in August 2017. The seasonal display subsequently became a recurring feature with changing themes and an autumn transition to broomsticks and ghosts.
- 2008
LaSalle Investment Management becomes owner of Coppergate[1]
M&A
LaSalle Investment Management has owned Coppergate Shopping Centre since February 2008, according to the centre's reference material.
- 2003
Coppergate II redevelopment proposal rejected after public opposition[1]
Other
A proposed £60 million redevelopment of Coppergate, including demolition of the existing centre and construction of new retail space beside the River Foss, was the subject of a petition and public inquiry. The UK government rejected the scheme in September 2003, amid opposition concerning its impact on York's historic environment and proximity to Clifford's Tower.
Sources2 sources
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