A Nation of Shopkeepers Launch

All

Shop Window

You may have noticed that the Courtyard Bar on Great George Street closed recently, and that there were some interesting things going on inside.

All was revealed last night when ‘A Nation of Shopkeepers’ was officially launched.

Don’t go expecting just a revamped version of the old Courtyard, oh noooooo this is something completely different. The venue promises live bands and DJ sets by night (free every night except Saturday after 10pm) and  by day great home cooked food and events such as book swaps, record sales and vintage fashion fairs. Check out the listings on their website www.anationofshopkeepers.com

There are art installations in the windows and the decor is now shabby chic with floral bunting and retro furniture. The outside space has been retained much as it was, just tidied up a bit, with more umbrellas and the intention to have live music out there when the weather is fine.

Here are some pics from the night, all taken on my phone camera, hence the quality! Shopkeepers Bar
Shopkeepers DJ
Shopkeepers Wall

Shopkeepers Yard

If you’re stuck for something to do this bank holiday I suggest you get down there, take a seat and soak up the atmosphere over a nice cold beer. Whilst you are there sign up for a regulars card to take advantage of the drink discounts.

I will of course go and review the food in the coming weeks, keep an eye on Leeds Grub for that one.

A Nation of Shopkeepers
27 – 37 Cookridge Street,
Leeds,
LS2 3AG
www.anationofshopkeepers.com

10 comments

  1. Looks fantastico Katie wish we could have joined you there. I can’t wait to get along, it’s a wonderful antidote to all the lapdancing/chain pubs that end of town, and shabby chic rules! We hope to do a feature on the guys behind the venture, as we love the whole ethos, blog etc, but strangely enough they have been a bit busy recently…
    We (operating under the guise of The Armley Tourist Board), had a book swap last year as part of I Love West Leeds Festival. We had thousands of books donated from across Leeds, laid on coffee and cakes, themed the hall around different genres, and just about stopped short of having a real life corpse in the Thriller Section! (The chocolate fondue fountain in the Romance section blocked up, but the pink fizz went down a treat! Perhaps we shouldnt have tried to mix them?)
    It was great fun, and it’s back again for this years festival on the 19th July. Great to see the opportunity arising in the centre of town.

  2. Looks fantastic there! Was in Manchester during the week thinking how Leeds really does need more places like this – will try and pop in tonight.

    Am I right in thinking the place has some ties to the Adelphi?

    1. Good question, and one I will seek to discover the answer to. Did you get along?

    2. I believe it does have some Adelphi link, but I cant remember where I read it so didn’t make reference to it in the article. It deffo has the same feel to it tho.

  3. I have been their twice now and had food twice. The food is great and very high quality ( and i am very hard to please food wise). I recommend the lamb burger (proper fat one) and the chilli. I would like a regulars card but they are always out of stock

  4. Went myself yesterday and today! Full of young beautiful types with big hair dos, and a lot of nautical stripes and denim peddle pushers. Lovely home cooked chips, a friendly chap behind the bar called Ben (I think)provided an interesting critique of Princes’ Nothing Compares to You (Self indulgent Sax – I believe were his words)
    It’s fun, young, and you can even plug your laptop in and do some work! Nous Vous prints abound. All in all quirky and fresh. (I prefer day to night, but that’s cos I am old!)

    1. Nation of Shopkeepers is from the folks who brought the Lock Tavern & Amersham Arms in New Cross plus ungalows and Bears in Sheffield and also the music promoters who do Adventures in the Beetroot Field, Field Day and Stag and Dagger Festivals and also Ash from Bad Sneakers.

      Part of me didn;t want to like it because it’s so self-consciously cool and full of Hair but heck, the food is great, they serve Leeds Pale Ale and the music is good. Just don’t sit on that one sofa that’s a little too comfy and leaves you struggling to get up…

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