The National Autistic Society’s annual Autism Hour is back this year. It’s a campaign which encourages shops, restaurants, banks and other businesses and services to have a quiet hour for autistic customers. This involves doing things such as turning background music off, dimming the lighting and encouraging shoppers to be as quiet as possible.
This year’s Autism Hour week runs from Saturday 5th October to Saturday 12th October. As was the case last year, a number of retailers across Leeds have confirmed that they are taking part. You can find an interactive list of shops taking part across the UK here:
https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/autism-hour/map.aspx
Who’s taking part?
In Leeds, there are a handful of retailers who have already confirmed that they are doing Autism Hour. Some are doing one hour for one day a week, while others are doing a quiet hour for all eight days. Here is a list of businesses who are joining in:
Leeds City Centre:
- Charles Clinkard, Lands Lane, LS1 6LB – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 11am-12pm
- The Entertainer, Leeds Trinity, LS1 5AY – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- CeX, The Headrow, LS1 8EQ – Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Saturday 12th October – Hours vary
- Shoe Zone, Merrion Centre, LS2 8NG – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Shoe Zone, Kirkgate, LS1 6BY – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Pets At Home, Crown Point Shopping Park, LS10 1ET – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Clarks, Commercial Street, LS1 6EX – Every day from Saturday 5th to Saturday 12th October – Hours vary
- Morrisons, Merrion Centre, LS2 8PJ – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Home Bargains, Merrion Centre, LS2 8NG – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Sainsbury’s – branches on the Headrow, Albion Street, Woodhouse Lane, Boar Lane, Vicar Lane, Leeds Rail Station, Wellington Place and Brewery Wharf – Wednesday 9th October – 9am-10am
- Schuh – Briggate, LS1 6LH – Monday 7th October – 10am-11am
- Halifax – branches on the Headrow, King Edward Street and Commercial Street – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Co-op Food – branches on New York Street, Sovereign Street and Wellington Street – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Tesco – Bridgewater Place, the Headrow, Blenheim Terrace, Calverley Street, Leeds Dock, St Paul’s Street, Bond Street and Boar Lane branches – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Lloyds Bank – Briggate branch – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Virgin Money – Briggate branch – Wednesday 9th October – 4pm-5pm
- Superdrug – branches on Albion Street, the Headrow, Kirkgate, Merrion Centre and Crown Point – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Debenhams – Briggate, LS1 6LX – Tuesday 8th October – 11am-12 Noon
North Leeds:
- Pets At Home, Stonegate Road, Meanwood, LS7 2TT – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Pets At Home, Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park, LS5 3BL – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Shoe Zone, Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park, LS5 3BL – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Barnardo’s, Stonegate Road, Meanwood, LS7 2TT – All day Sunday 6th October
- Barnardo’s, Oatland Lane, Little London, LS7 1SP – All day Sunday 6th October
- Morrisons, Savins Mill Retail Park, Savins Mill Way, Kirkstall, LS5 3RP – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Morrisons, Town Street, Horsforth, LS18 5BP – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Morrisons, High Street, Yeadon, LS19 7PP – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Morrisons, Otley Road, Guiseley, LS20 8PS – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Home Bargains, Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park, LS5 3BL – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Sainsbury’s – branches in Hyde Park, Royal Park, Headingley (North Lane and Arndale Centre on Otley Road), Moor Allerton Shopping Centre, Meanwood, Chapel Allerton, Slaid Hill, Roundhay (Street Lane), Rawdon, Yeadon, Guiseley and Otley – Wednesday 9th October – 9am-10am
- Halifax – branches in Horsforth, Moortown and Otley – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Co-op Food – branches in Alwoodley, Adel, Wigton Moor, Hawksworth, Hyde Park, Chapel Allerton and Guiseley – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Tesco – Roundhay Street Lane, Horsforth New Road Side, Alwoodley, Cookridge and Roundhay Road branches – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Lloyds Bank – branches in Moortown and Horsforth – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Superdrug – branches in Headingley and Otley – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
West Leeds:
- Pets At Home, Guiseley Retail Park, Park Road, Guiseley LS20 8QH – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Pets At Home, Lower Town Street, Bramley, LS13 4BN – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Barnardo’s, Stanningley Road, Armley, LS12 3AS – All day Sunday 6th October
- Barnardo’s, High Street, Yeadon, LS19 7YU – All day Sunday 6th October
- Barnardo’s, Otley Road, Guiseley, LS20 8AH – All day Sunday 6th October
- Morrisons, Swinnow Road, Bramley, LS13 4DN – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Home Bargains, Belgrave Retail Park, Stanningley LS28 6HQ – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Halifax – branches in Bramley, Pudsey and Yeadon – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Sainsbury’s – branches in Pudsey (town centre and Chapeltown) and Farnley – Wednesday 9th October – 9am-10am
- Co-op Food – branches in Farsley, Swinnow and New Farnley – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Tesco – branches in Armley, Stanningley and Bramley – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Lloyds Bank – Armley branch – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
South Leeds:
- CeX, White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Saturday 12th October – Hours vary
- The Entertainer, White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 10am-11am
- Disney Store, White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Tuesday 8th-Wednesday 9th – 10am-11am; Thursday 10th-Friday 11th – 5pm-6pm
- CeX, Windsor Court, Morley, LS27 9BG – Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Saturday 12th October – Hours vary
- Barnardo’s, Commercial Street, Rothwell, LS26 0QD – All day Sunday 6th October
- Barnardo’s, Windsor Court, Morley LS27 9BG – All day Sunday 6th October
- Barnardo’s, Penny Hill Centre, Church Street, Hunslet, LS10 2AP – All day Sunday 6th October
- Morrisons, Penny Hill Centre, Church Street, Hunslet, LS10 2AP – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Clarks, White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – First opening hour of every day from Saturday 5th October to Saturday 12th October
- Morrisons, Windsor Court, Morley, LS27 9BG – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Morrisons, Commercial Street, Rothwell, LS26 0AF – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Home Bargains, Peel Street, Morley LS27 8HA – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Schuh – White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Monday 7th October – 10am-11am
- Sainsbury’s – branches in Middleton, Morley, White Rose Shopping Centre – Wednesday 9th October – 9am-10am
- Halifax – branches in Hunslet, Morley and White Rose Shopping Centre – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Co-op Food – branches in Beeston, Drighlington, Gildersome and Wortley – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Tesco – Beeston and Churwell branches – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Lloyds Bank – branches in Hunslet and Morley – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Debenhams – White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Tuesday 8th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Superdrug – White Rose Shopping Centre, LS11 8LU – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
East Leeds:
- Charles Clinkard, Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wetherby LS22 6FL – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 11am-12pm
- Shoe Zone, Crossgates Shopping Centre, Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates LS15 8ET – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- CeX, Crossgates Shopping Centre, Station Road, Cross Gates LS15 8ET – Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Saturday 12th October – Hours vary
- Pets At Home, Colton Retail Park, Selby Road, Colton LS15 9JB – Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- The Entertainer, The Springs Retail Park, Century Way, Thorpe Park LS15 8ZA – Every day from Saturday 5th October – 9am-10am
- Barnardo’s, Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wetherby LS22 6FL – All day Sunday 6th October
- Morrisons, Harehills Lane, Harehills, LS8 3RG – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Morrisons, Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wetherby, LS22 6FL – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Home Bargains, Crossgates Shopping Centre, Station Road, LS15 7JY – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Home Bargains, Crossgates Shopping Centre, Station Road, Cross Gates LS15 7JY – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Home Bargains, Aberford Road, Garforth LS25 2EB – Saturday 5th and 12th October 9am-10am; Monday 7th-Friday 11th October – 4pm-5pm; Sunday 6th October – 3pm-4pm
- Halifax – branches in Cross Gates, Garforth and Wetherby – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
- Sainsbury’s – branches in Colton, Wetherby, Kippax and Oakwood – Wednesday 9th October – 9am-10am
- Co-op Food – branches in Whitkirk, Swarcliffe, Garforth, Kippax, Wetherby, Oakwood and Woodlesford – Saturday 12th October – 11am-12 Noon
- Tesco – Oakwood Easterly Lane, Halton, Boston Spa, Collingham, Swillington, Seacroft and Garforth branches – Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th October – 9am-10am
- Lloyds Bank – branches in Cross Gates, Garforth, Harehills and Wetherby – Tuesday 8th October – 3pm-4pm
We will update this list on a weekly basis as more businesses confirm their participation.