Clarence Dock - a good mooring in Leeds

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 09:03

Clarence Dock is on the River Aire in Leeds

Although not right in the centre of the city there is plenty to do in Clarence Dock and also a bus service into the city. At the moment there are "temporary" 48 hour visitor moorings on pontoons, supplied with water and electricity.

Clarence Dock entrance from River just before Leeds Lock

A card for the electricity is available from the BW office on the other side of the river at Fearns Wharf. We have been able to use the residual electricity left by a previous boat (70 pence worth) - it will probably be just enough for 24 hours!

Pontoon moorings and view south

There are also a few visitor moorings beside the Royal Armouries Museum

We took a wander around the dock in the late afternoon, partly to look at the shops here and also to find the Tesco Express that is part of the development to the right of the museum. The shops here are struggling as we found out when we went into a designer shop selling its stock off at £10 per garment. I was tempted by a floaty sundress - since when the weather has changed of course!

Closed shop front

The girl serving us said that the customers were very few and so they were having a rethink about stock etc. I bet the rents are high and that coupled with lack of custom and the recession makes me wonder if the retail part of Clarence Dock will become a white elephant. There are a few restaurants and bars and even a casino. As we did not patronise any of these I have no idea how popular they are in the evening!

Shops and silver ball feature at the south end

We were reminded a bit of Paddington Basin with the commercial moorings blocked off by a bridge, not being used and we were conscious of a waste of opportunity. Will these be moorings for "office barges" too?

Another view of the commercial moorings

Around the Dock there are also high rise residential opportunities!

This block had cycles on lots of the balconies, you may just be able to see them. A sensible idea when you live in a city. Leeds has a good transport system too, including a free bus that stops at all the key points in the city, including Morrisons at the Merrion shopping centre.

You may just be able to see Epiphany in this photo!Dividing swing bridge is to the left

There is a plaque showing the Docks in 1935

Alongside it a list of traders from 1843 to 1990

We found a good view of Leeds Lock from behind the museum

The Royal Armouries Museum was just closing and we decided that it was worth a visit the next day!