Carlton Lanes Shopping Centre — Local services in Wakefield

Carleton Lanes Shopping Centre is a tired, depressing shell of what a shopping centre should be. While it’s still technically functioning, it feels like every month, another shop vanishes, another window gets covered up, and another part of the place becomes just a little bit sadder. It’s hard to recommend unless you’re already in the area and desperate for something to do indoors for five minutes.

To be fair, there are a few redeeming features. The market section still has some charm, with a couple of stalls that are genuinely worth visiting. Some of the shops that remain are doing their best despite the dire atmosphere. The place looks reasonably clean, and for those familiar with it, there’s a faint nostalgia about it that makes it feel familiar. That’s about where the positives end.

Management, unfortunately, seems to be doing everything possible to make this place worse. The decision to allow aggressive, pushy internet provider salespeople into the centre is mind-blowingly stupid. These people don’t enhance the shopping experience—they ruin it. Being shouted at or waved over while you’re just trying to browse is not charming or quirky. It’s uncomfortable and annoying. No one wants to be guilt-tripped into discussing their broadband package when they came in for a sandwich and a quick look at trainers. It’s not “interactive retail.” It’s harassment. Get rid of them.

And don’t even get started on the security. If you’ve ever worked in one of the shops here (as I have, covering a few shifts), you’ll know exactly what I mean. Security guards aren’t securing anything. They’re just wandering into stores to chat, distract staff, or hover nearby like bored relatives with nothing better to do. When you’re trying to do your job, the last thing you need is some hi-vis vest breathing over your shoulder, asking how your day’s going—for the third time that hour. If they’re so unoccupied that they need to pester people at work, do you even need them there at all?

The whole centre feels like it’s slowly giving up on itself. There’s no energy, no direction, and no sense that anyone in charge has a vision for how to make the place better. It’s being left to fade, bit by bit, and the only real engagement comes from people trying to sell you things you didn’t ask for in the most irritating way possible.

Unless you’ve got a very specific reason to go—like visiting a particular stall in the market or already being in Castleford with no other options—you’re better off skipping it. There are better places to shop, better places to walk around, and better places to spend your time without being interrupted by a stranger...

This is a public place, So you can take photos by law but the bully boy manager say's you can't then try's to throw you out and then he as the audacity to threaten you, And to smash my head in and your camera if you don't leave because he knows he's wrong as i am not trespassing and can be their, And all this with 5 security guards with him and 3 of them SIA licensed door staff, And not forgetting the bombastic female jobsworth in her florescent jacket and wake - take on a power trip they have to remember they work for the council and are seen and was seen my many people harassing me in mass about taking a few photo's in a public place witch their is no law against and also trying to intimidate me to delete the photo's when you don't have to, (But i must give credit were credit is due one guy was cool about it) Who is paying for all the SIA door staff in the market and why do they need Sia trained are their own security not up to the job, So please beware if you try and take any photos and know your rights about photography and the law, It is very rare i go in the indoor market due to my illness over the last 25 years since its been built, As it is quite dated and old fashioned in the food bit and when you do they treat you like this over a couple of photos, What is this world coming to if thats all they have to worry over, The star rating should be - 1 if it...

Very disappointing to find that STILL the manager has chosen NOT to re open the toilet facilities in Carlton Lanes, I was under the impression that Castleford are trying to encouraging shoppers back into the Town. At a time when we are all expected to queue at each store the time we spend in the Town has increased yet still the manager thinks this is NOT a service that is needed and that the cost for this facility is too high (quote from stall holders & shops I spoke to in Carlton Lanes). Know doubt the reason will be social distancing even though every supermarket in the local area have agreed this a very important facility that needs to remain open if they are to increase the foot fall back into the stores. Do they not realise in keeping the toilets closed they are inhibiting shoppers back, there is always a queue for these toilets so I know this is not just me and my family that rely on this facility. I feel your decision to keep this closed needs to be reviewed as a...