Merrion Street Festival is returning to Leeds city centre "bigger than ever" before this Bank Holiday weekend.
Merrion Street will be throwing the street party to end all street parties this Sunday 29 August, with eight operators on the street having joined forces with neighbours the Grand Arcade to host the first Bank Holiday celebration since lockdown restrictions were lifted in the city.
Expect eclectic music from local DJs, top class entertainment, and incredible food and drinks in one of the city’s largest outdoor drinking areas.
Visitors can tuck into food and incredible cocktails from Manahatta and Liv Bar, get their chicken fix from Yard&Coop, dance to incredible music at the award-winning MOJO, spice things up with authentic street food from Zaap Thai, sling some bourbon and beer at Mean Eyed Cat, slam tequilas at Verve, and also compete with mates in ball games at Roxy Ball Room.
The outdoor seating area on the street will be opened up to provide the biggest street party vibe in the city, and bring Leeds to life and its people together for the first time in two years to a soundtrack provided the best in local DJ talent.
Merrion Street will be throwing the street party to end all street parties / Credit: Yard & Coop | Flickr
As the party spills over into the Grand Arcade, visitors can hang out and listen to open mic at Santiago Rock Bar, sip on a wide selection of gins at the illustrious Tailors Speakeasy, watch traditional Latino dancing at Casa Columbiana, listen to live jazz at the hidden gem that is the Domino Club, and grab a bite to eat washed down with a tasty tipple at Leeds’ first wellbeing bar, Better Days.
"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," said Martin Greenhow, Managing Director of MOJO.
"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 [as] 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.
"It’s going to be incredible."
It's the first Bank Holiday celebration since lockdown restrictions were lifted in the city / Credit: Contakt Photography
Merrion Street Festival is back after staff and customers came together in summer 2020 for a weekend of live music, food and drink after a long hospitality hiatus, and it was such a success that the operators wanted to get more people involved and make this August Bank Holiday the biggest party the street has ever seen.
There will be something for everyone all throughout the day.
Merrion Street Festival will open to the public from midday on Sunday 29 August, and the festivities will run until late.
Featured Image - Contakt Photography
Leeds
A popular Caribbean street food restaurant is coming to Leeds this spring
Get ready to enjoy a taste of the Caribbean as Jerk Junction is gearing up to open in Leeds.
The street food favourite has made waves in the foodie scene over in Manchester and Liverpool, so it's only right that its making its way into Trinity Kitchen.
Jerk Junction specialises in authentic Caribbean flavours, from dumplings and jerk chicken to curried goat and rice and peas, it's all flame-grilled and packed with island spices.
It is expected to open this spring.
Image: The Manc Group
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: “We’re so excited to be welcoming Jerk Junction to Trinity Kitchen and we’re sure it will prove very popular. Bringing an authentic Caribbean flavour to Leeds, it’s the perfect new addition and complements our already stellar line-up of street food vendors.”
Jake Shaffi, founder at Jerk Junction, said: “Jerk Junction is all about real Caribbean food and culture. Everything we do is rooted in Jamaican tradition, from bold spices and authentic cooking to dishes that bring people together.
“For us, food is family. From our kitchen to every person who comes to our counter, we want people to feel the warmth, the energy and the spirit of the islands. We can’t wait to bring those authentic flavours and good vibes to Trinity Kitchen.”
The announcement follows news that the UK’s largest independent boutique bowling brand Lane7, and footwear retailers schuh and Footasylum, would be opening at Trinity Leeds later this year, whilst the LEGO Store will be relocating to a larger space within the shopping centre.
Posting to their social media, The Maven said: "When news broke The Maven could close its doors at the end of March, the reaction across the city was immediate. The response from customers, bartenders, and hospitality operators showed just how much this bar means to Leeds.
"For nearly 15 years, The Maven has been one of the city’s most loved cocktail destinations and a true institution within the local bar scene.
"When we told you about its potential closure we were flooded with support and interest from across the hospitality community. In the days that followed, several Leeds-based operators stepped forward with genuine offers to buy the venue and keep the bar alive.
"At a time when our industry is too often filled with stories of closures, today brings a little hope - a story about a community stepping up to protect something it values.
"The reports that The Maven would close at the end of March are now firmly in the past: The Maven Lives.
"Thanks to the passion of the Leeds hospitality community and the loyalty of its guests, the bar will continue to be part of the city’s nightlife story. More details about the next chapter for The Maven will be shared soon."
Emily Sergeant -
19th August 2021 
