Yorkshire-based Concept Taverns is set to launch the twelfth venue in its rapidly expanding portfolio of bars and pubs this summer.
The Swan Tavern has undergone a huge £740k refurbishment in the site formerly occupied by the Riverside Fox in Ripponden.
The impressive new venue is set to open this summer and will feature a games room with pool and darts, a heated beer garden and a function room that can host up to 75 guests.
Sports fans will rejoice at the news that The Swan Tavern will be showing all the BT and Sky Sports action on multiple 4K screens throughout the two storey venue.
d Image: Supplie
Guests will be able to enjoy a huge range of delicious drinks including 10 draught lagers, four cask hand pull ales, cocktails as well as an extensive wine and spirit list.
Those feeling peckish can order from a menu featuring hand-stretched pizzas, sharing platters and mouthwatering small plates.
This exciting new opening will create 20 new jobs alongside the appointment of new Managing Director, Victoria Hatton.
Image: Supplied
Speaking ahead of The Swan launch, Victoria Hatton said: ‘’Having been part of the Concept Taverns success story going from five to eleven venues in the past few years, I was thrilled to accept my new role as Managing Director.
"I’m super excited to get started and I hope my position opens the door for more women to land similar positions in the industry. The Swan Tavern is a fantastic venue and the building itself has a rich history in the local area. We’re looking forward to becoming a key part of the community, and with so many great pubs, bars and restaurants in the area, we know we’re in great company.’’
Image: Supplied
‘’The Swan will be a fantastic modern pub and will showcase an exceptional range of cask and draught beers, cocktails and some fabulous food from our pizza oven. Add to this our games room and live sports, and you have a winning venue for food, drink and entertainment.’’
‘’We’ve really fallen in love with the area and are excited to open in Ripponden this Spring. Having spoken to people around the town they seem like wonderful people who are just as excited about The Swan as we are.’’
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”
Inside Pardon Me – Leeds’ newest neighbourhood record bar inspired by Japan
Clementine Hall
Farsley is now home to an ultra-cool record bar with coffee, cocktails and an unbeatable sound system.
Tucked away in the beautiful Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is a record bar built around 'music, atmosphere, and detail'.
It's been launched by Scott Rapson, who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with music around the time of the arrival of hip hop in the early 80s.
He then spent time travelling for raves, and visiting venues like Glasgow’s Sub Club and London’s Plastic People, giving Scott an appreciation for how 'music can shape a room, not just fill it'.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Scott and his partner Laurie have then spent the past three years travelling, visiting listening bars across Europe to shape the foundations of Pardon Me.
Listening bars, also known as hi-fi bars, originated in 1920s Japan - and you can really see the Japanese influence within the space and it's super cool interiors.
Images: The Hoot Leeeds
Bartenders here create a small but perfectly formed menu of cocktails and pour natural wines from Wayward Wines in front of a wall of vinyl, while a collection of Scott's records play as a soundtrack to your evening.
The sound system Scott claims is one of the "best in the North East", which he says has a "real sense of depth and balance to it" with a "coverage that stays incredibly consistent across the room".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Whether it's for coffee during the day, or drinks into the evening, they want Pardon Me to be a place to spend time, looking out across Sunny Bank Mills.
Pardon Me is open Thursday - Sunday, and you can find out more about this wonderful new opening here.
Clementine Hall -
14th March 2023 
