- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Dewsbury, from the Arcade to Crow Nest Park
Dewsbury’s 1899 Arcade reopened in 2026 as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, and nearly 24% of Dewsbury residents are children under 16.
61,000+
residents across the three Dewsbury wards (Census 2021, ONS)
24%
Dewsbury children under 16; Yorkshire and the Humber is at 19% (Census 2021)
22%
Dewsbury households with a social landlord; regional figure 17% (ONS)
Dewsbury reads, knits and visits the Arcade
The Dewsbury Readers’ Group, on the last Thursday of each month at 6pm in the new library hub in the Walsh Building, is a relaxed way to make friends in Dewsbury. The hub, opened in February 2026 beside the Town Hall, also hosts Knit and Natter, and the restored Arcade reopened in September 2026 with small shops and studios. On Gofrendly, Dewsbury women can find someone to try either with.
Dewsbury: library, Arcade and Crow Nest Park
Where did Dewsbury Library move to?
Dewsbury Library Hub moved into the Walsh Building on Town Hall Way, beside the Town Hall, and opened on 16 February 2026. It has Knit and Natter groups, a community room and a MakerSpace for textiles, graphics, design and coding, and Dewsbury Readers’ Group meets there monthly.
What is Dewsbury Arcade?
Dewsbury Arcade is a Grade II listed Victorian arcade built in 1899. Empty from 2016 and bought by the council in 2020, it reopened on 5 September 2026 as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, with 16 small shop units, four larger units and six studios upstairs in Dewsbury.
What can you do in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury?
Crow Nest Park on Dewsbury Moor is one of Kirklees’ destination parks, with a play area, a games area and outdoor gym equipment. The Friends of Crow Nest Park look after the walled gardens and greenhouses, volunteers meet on Thursdays at 10am, and Dewsbury parkrun runs there.
Dewsbury women: how to start a friendship locally?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps Dewsbury women browse profiles of others near them, from Thornhill Lees to Dewsbury Moor, and get talking by message before meeting. A browse round the reopened Arcade makes an easy first plan for two.
Dewsbury, a town rebuilding its centre
Dewsbury is a Kirklees market town that is reshaping its centre, with a new library hub, a restored Victorian arcade and a market redevelopment planned. Its three wards have close to 24% of residents under 16 and 22% of homes in social housing, both higher than the regional averages. When children shape every day, an evening or a Thursday morning of your own is worth guarding.
A house full of family can still feel lonely, and Dewsbury has new places to try. The Arcade, built in 1899 and empty from 2016, reopened on 5 September 2026 as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, Crow Nest Park has a play area, an outdoor gym and walled gardens tended by a Friends group, and Dewsbury parkrun runs there on Saturdays. The market is due to be redeveloped, with a temporary market planned during the works, and the new library hub has a community room. Places to start:
1
Dewsbury Library Hub in the Walsh Building, Town Hall Way.
2
Dewsbury Arcade, reopened in 2026.
3
Crow Nest Park and its walled gardens.
4
Dewsbury Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
5
Dewsbury parkrun in Crow Nest Park.
LOCAL TIP
Join the Thursday volunteers in Crow Nest Park’s walled gardens and you will soon be on first-name terms.
How to
Dewsbury: ways to meet people outside the school run
1
Join the Dewsbury Readers’ Group on the last Thursday evening of the month.
2
Volunteer with the Friends of Crow Nest Park on a Thursday morning.
3
Explore the new shops and studios at Dewsbury Arcade with a friend.
4
Walk Dewsbury parkrun with a Dewsbury woman you have met through Gofrendly.
Friendship reads for full households
Dewsbury: meet the guide’s writers
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote the Dewsbury guide, helped by the editorial team, for Kirklees women bringing up families, juggling work and home, or keen to make friends nearby.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Find women near you
See who’s nearby and say hi — it’s free to start.