Award-winning Leeds speakeasy The Maven saved from closure after hospitality community steps in
An award-winning speakeasy in Leeds city centre has been given a new lease of life after previously announcing its closure at the end of the month.
The Maven, hidden away on Call Lane, announced earlier this month that it would close on March 28, having been listed for sale in November last year.
However, in a turn of events, the venue will remain open, its owners have announced today (Friday).
In a statement issued on its social channels, the team thanked Leeds’ hospitality sector and its loyal customers for ensuring the cocktail bar continues to be a part of the city’s nightlife.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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 team added: “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.“
The Maven first opened in 2012, and quickly gained a reputation as the city’s “best-kept secret” cocktail bar. In 2022, it was crowned the best bar in West Yorkshire at the National Pub & Bar Awards.