A water taxi service trialled during the recent Waterfront Festival has proved so popular it is to become a permanent fixture for visitors to Leeds Dock.
Taking just 15 minutes to cover the entire route, the free water taxi is available for commuters every 30 minutes and is available from 10am to 6pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Amsterdam sourced 12-seater vessel will transport people between Granary Wharf and Leeds Dock.
Operated by the owners of Leeds Dock, Allied London, the water taxi is the latest investment to be commissioned permanently by the company as it transforms the area into a vibrant, must- visit destination which is home to creative and innovative industries and a thriving social scene.
Lucy Whalley, project co-ordinator of Allied London, said:
“After the huge success of the water taxi service during the Leeds Waterfront Festival, we discovered that people wanted this to be a permanent feature within the city and are proud to announce that the water taxi is to become just that.
“As new and exciting changes take place in and around Leeds Dock, it is the perfect time to further showcase how we are transforming the area.
We understand how important it is to have a quick and easy way for people to be transported across the city and are confident that this will quickly become the way to travel in the city.”
With a string of events lined up for the next few months, it is expected that the water taxi will ferry hundreds of visitors to the site. Forthcoming events at Leeds Dock include a weekend of outdoor cinema (30 and 31 August) courtesy of Sneaky Experience, who will be staging free screenings of Disney’s Frozen, The Princess Bride, The Land Before Time and Dinosaur 13, which is already being hailed as the documentary of the year.
Following this, local theatre group Slung Low will be performing their new production of The White Whale (4 – 14 September) at Leeds Dock, with an incredible set consisting of boats and floating platforms.
Alan Lane, director of Slung Low theatre, said:
“Even in the few days we’ve had on site, Leeds Dock has proved itself to be an exciting environment with huge potential and we are really excited to be premiering The White Whale here. I am excited to see what happens here in the future.”
As part of its work to transform Leeds Dock, Allied London recently completed the installation of approximately 60 metres of stepped astro-turf banking next to the waterfront area, serving as seating for hundreds of spectators during outdoor events.
Work is also well underway to create new public gardens along the main approach to the waterfront, offering a mixture of relaxation and play. In addition, improvements are also being made to the pedestrian route linking the site to the rest of the city.
In June, hoardings decorated by some of the UK’s top street artists were erected in front of buildings where Allied London is working to create some of the most exciting and desirable work and play space anywhere in the UK.
For more information about future events taking place at Leeds Dock, visit www.leedsdock.com. For more information on Slung Low Theatre’s performance of The White Whale, visit www.slunglow.org.
