A study by The Bottle Club found that a bar on Call Lane is the 'most secret' in the country.
In Leeds, there are bars aplenty- but have you ever found yourself walking through a barbers or laundrette and found yourself inside a speakeasy?
Thanks to some of the most inventive creatives around, the hidden bar scene in Leeds is growing and thriving, despite many of these prohibition bars hiding in plain sight. If you're lucky enough to find your way into one, you'll understand the fascination behind finding that front door.
Read More: Where to find the best secret and hidden bars in Leeds
Hidden bars aren't exclusively in Leeds, they're popping up all over the country, but according to The Bottle Club, we officially have the most secret bars in the UK.
The Maven was crowned as 'officially the best-kept secret bar in Leeds' by The Bottle Club, after the company used their lack of Instagram followers, when compare to larger bars across the UK, as an indicator of secrecy.
The cocktail bar opens from 5pm and remains closed in the daytime. / Image: The Maven Bar
The company described The Maven as a hidden gem, stating "The Maven is a classic prohibition-era inspired cocktail bar located close to the Leeds Corn Exchange behind an unlabelled black door. Not only is this bar well hidden, it is also relatively inexpensive, with cocktail prices ranging reasonably between £8 and £10".
If you've ever been on a night out on Call Lane, you might have a different opinion about the secrecy of the bar but given that The Maven remains nondescript during the daytime, we can certainly vouch for its ability to hide in plain sight.
The Maven was crowned the most secret bar in the UK. / Image: The Maven Bar
The Maven was the first secret bar to open in our city and is loved for its 6-flight cocktail tasting menu and an aperitivo menu packed with negronis and Campari sodas, dedicated to the Italian drinking culture. The bar also offers a range of gins and rums.
According to insiders, there's an additional secret bar, within the secret bar. Sponsored by Monkey 47, and a second-floor party room known as the Green Room, and can be used alongside the two private rooms for hire for large events.
The additional private rooms are just as hidden. / Image: The Maven Bar
As a city, Leeds ranked 7th in the UK for mysterious bars- but no other secret bars appeared in the top 10 of any other category, showing how much of the weight The Maven carried for Leeds to reach a respectable 7th place.
Bottle Club searched high and low for some of the best 'hard to find' bars, stating that:
"We at The Bottle Club wanted to find the best-hidden gem bars from around the UK. But with so many bars doing their best to stay secret, this took some extensive research, both online and on the ground. However, several large drinks later, we uncovered the best ‘mystery’ bars that 25 of the UK’s most vibrant cities had to offer".
Ranked: Top 10 most secret bars in the UK. / Image: The Bottle Club
For each speakeasy to qualify as one of the UK’s most mysterious bars, each bar was ranked against five important factors, for a score out of ten for each factor: secrecy, creativity, cocktail range, cost and Google ratings.
To find The Maven, you need to look out for a black, unmarked door on Call Lane. We won't give you any more clues than that.
Feature Image- The Maven Bar
Eats
A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Dishoom announces official opening date for new Leeds restaurant
Clementine Hall
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
Sophie Smith -
7th January 2022 
