In collaboration with Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park, Leeds’ iconic Tetley building will reopen to the public from Friday 26th April, under the management of Kirkstall Brewery.
Whilst plans to refurbish the building are progressed, Kirkstall will take over the lease of the former headquarters of Tetley Brewery as custodians of the landmark of Yorkshire beer culture.
It’s Kirkstall’s aim to create a contemporary, fresh and friendly venue and events space which celebrates the rich history of beer making in Leeds and Yorkshire. As part of this celebration the bar will be serving not only Kirkstall’s own beers, but also those from other local modern and traditional craft and cask brewers, including Tetley.
The Tetley is the latest venue in Leeds to be operated by Kirkstall Brewery and will be open from 10am with the new bar and restaurant menu featuring quality classic pub food daily, as well as traditional roast dinners every Sunday.
Steve Holt, Kirkstall Brewery’s owner and founder, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to work with Vastint UK to create a venue that celebrates Leeds’ brewing heritage, in a building which is a landmark of beer culture. It was always our ambition with this project to create a venue that offered fantastic food and celebrated the best of local brewing. We’re thrilled to have not only Kirkstall, Leeds Brewery and North beers available but also beers from other Leeds based breweries including Northern Monk and Anthology and of course, Tetley’s Bitter.”
The relaunch of The Tetley follows the opening of the first of Aire Park’s public realm, Tetley Green and Theatre Gardens, and mark the initial phase of the new eight-acre public park. On completion, The Tetley will stand as the focal point of Leeds’s newest mixed-use district, Aire Park.
Originally built in an Art Deco style in 1931, the building has evolved over the years until its closure in 2011. Committed to ensuring this Leeds landmark is preserved for another 100 years, developer Vastint UK has already revealed plans to invest heavily in its redevelopment and refurbishment, including retaining original features such as its war memorial and the former Tetley Boardroom.
Simon Schofield, Head of Development North at Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park and owners of The Tetley building, said: “Having outlined our proposals to safeguard this iconic building and submitted our plans to the council, it was always our aim to keep the building open until restoration work got underway. We’re thrilled to be able to do this in collaboration with Kirkstall Brewery.
“As a true icon of the city’s built environment, we’re excited to have The Tetley at the heart of Aire Park. We hope this partnership with Kirkstall Brewery gives the people of Leeds a small taster of what’s to come in the very near future.”
The Tetley will be open daily under Kirkstall’s management from 26 April.
