Bars and cafés gearing up for street festival’s return

Merrion Street Festival, in Leeds, will return this month.

Eight operators on the street have joined forces, along with neighbour, the Grand Arcade, to host the first bank holiday celebration since lockdown restrictions were lifted.

On Sunday 29 August, visitors to the street can expect eclectic music from local DJs, top class entertainment and food and drinks in one of the city’s largest outdoor drinking areas.

Street party visitors will be able to enjoy the bars and cafés along the street, including Manahatta and Liv bar, Yard&Coop, MOJO, Zaap Thai, Mean Eyed Cat, Verve and Roxy Ball Room.

The outdoor seating area will be opened up, while at the Grand Arcade, visitors will be able to listen to open mic at Santiago rock bar, sip on a wide selection of gins at the Tailors Speakeasy and watch traditional Latino dancing at Casa Columbiana.

They can also listen to live jazz at the Domino Club or grab some food and drink at Leeds’ first wellbeing bar, Better Days.

Staff and customers came together in summer 2020 for a weekend of live music, food and drink, after a long hospitality hiatus.

It’s success has encouraged operators to get even more people involved this year.

CEO of Roxy Leisure, Matthew Jones, said: “This is the first time in two years that the bars on Merrion Street have been able to open over the August bank holiday so we all decided to come together to make this one really stand out.

“Each bar is running their own promos and activities throughout the day and we’ve opened up the barriers so visitors can flow freely from bar to bar, experiencing everything they have to offer, whilst still remaining safe.

“It’s going to be a real celebration of the staff who have worked hard to bring the street festival to life, as well as a ‘thank you’ to loyal guests who have stood by us and are helping us get back to where we were pre-pandemic.”

 The bars on Merrion Street will open to the public from midday on 29 August and the festivities will run until late.

Martin Greenhow, MD of MOJO, added: “We’re all looking forward to this event and have each put our hearts and souls into making it truly special for our much-loved guests.

“It’s about time everyone had a bit of summer fun and this will be the ideal way to celebrate the incredible social scene our great city has to offer.

“The pandemic has really taught us that we’re better together so we want to show the people of Leeds the best time so they can forget about the last year and look to the future.”

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