Man's world is working for Leeds entrepreneur

Branding itself as a society for the discerning gentlefolk of Leeds’, the first thing that greets you on the website for the Brotherhood bar on New Briggate is a pair of boxing gloves and a list of fights and football matches that it will be showing over coming weeks.

The menu lists very macho sounding meals like a Gun Dog, Pie Platter and Pork and Black Pudding. There are four pages dedicated to whiskey on the drinks offering and even the cocktails are ‘blokey’- think the Sazerac which is a mix of cognac, bourbon and absinthe.

However, there is one small element of surprise at this dapper home of ‘Pursuits and Pastimes’ which marks its third birthday next month and has also just opened a bar in Manchester.

It is the brainchild of a woman. Seema Dhiman came to Leeds from Leicester in 1996 and thanks to her dad’s influence is into the current boxing scene.

She said: “I worked in a few of the city’s bars whilst studying and later with some of Leeds’ major players within the bar industry and I saw there was a gap in the market.

“Sports bars in the city were not offering what the much-loved, much-frequented independent bars offered – great service, great choice and a great welcome. I wanted to change that.

“British Boxing is hot right now. The business aspect aside, it’s my passion too. My dad was a massive fan of Muhammad Ali - my love of the sport is definitely inspired by him.”

Fight Nights at Brotherhood imitates the boxing arena, with indoor firework displays and confetti cannons.

She added: “If you can’t get to Vegas, you know where to come.”