The Tetley Brewery Headquarters

Designed by Kirk & Tomlinson and completed in 1931 the Tetley Brewery Headquarters was the figurehead of the Tetley Brewery Complex. The majority of the site was demolished in 2012 prior to the design of the Aire Park masterplan, The Tetley Headquarters was one of the last remaining buildings. This local landmark was integral to the Aire Park masterplan, giving it a new context in an urban park. Vastint UK acquired the building in 2022 allowing for its refurbishment and extension. Supervene collaborated and worked alongside Enjoy-Design throughout the design process.

The Tetley Brewery Headquarters is a cultural landmark and an important reminder of Leeds industrial heritage. Originally the front of the brewery complex as part of the Aire Park design it’s new context that of a centrepiece to the city park. This required the building to be remodelled to respond to it’s changed context. The design work focussed on the theme of the building being part of, and an extension to the park itself. Opening up the ground floor on all sides and democratising access to it. The eastern façade was originally a party wall to the now demolished brewery complex. To allow the building to flourish in the future, flexibility and access were key. Internal reconfiguration and servicing the building from the extension was a successful strategy to create this flexibility whilst maintaining the historic structure of the building.

The design makes massive improvements to the buildings operating performance and access, bringing it up to modern standards. However the critical success of any building of any age is in its use and relevance within the urban context. This was the most important consideration in the design work. The design allows full future flexibility for the Tetley Headquarters to once again find its feet in the new city park. Securing its use and activity for another 100 years. What it will reopen as may not be what it needs to be in 15, 20 or 50 years, the redesign and extension allows for it’s continued relevance as a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of Leeds.