Unboxing the hottest new bar in Leeds city centre

Enjoying the launch party at The Box Leeds on its opening night.

The best thing about working in the city is having access to so many cool bars and restaurants, and The Box Leeds City has been a god send since it virtually landed on my doorstep a few weeks back. With a slick interior fit out that makes it unrecognisable from its days as 53 Degrees North, on-site gaming, fresh tank beer on tap, private hire rooms and HD screens galore, it’s really upped the game to become more than just Leeds’ best sports bar.

I dropped in with my main man Maveer for a ‘business lunch’ just before their big launch party (which was off the scale with over 400 partygoers), and we couldn’t resist getting stuck into a few rounds of shuffleboard whilst we waited for our food. I’m slightly addicted to the game now, although I am on the lookout for a new challenger as Maveer is pretty rubbish when it comes to shuffleboard (he’s always too busy taking selfies to pay full attention!).

After I thrashed him 30-0, it was time to chow down. The Box food menu is compact, but well thought through, with something tasty for even the fussiest of eaters to enjoy. I went with the Chicago Burger, which consists of a juicy double patty, smoked pancetta, American cheese jalapenos and all the trimmings, including triple cooked skin on fries with rosemary and rock salt. Trust me it’s worth the calories!

The beef is sourced from the award-winning Lishman’s of Ilkley, and this really makes a difference, as these burgers are a cut above. Across the table, Maveer’s diet plan seemed to have gone out of the window (again!), as he was gorging and feasting on the Italian Job Pizza. Again, the quality of the ingredients used makes these pizzas stand out from standard bar food fare. The San Marzano tomatoes are sourced from volcanic soil on the cusp of Mount Vesuvius, and they also use fresh, authentic Italian mozzarella.

Drinks wise, if you love an ice-cold lager, then you can’t leave The Box without sampling a pint of tank fresh Budvar, which is imported from the Czech Republic. Whilst I enjoyed my pint, Mav went for a cheeky draught Espresso Martini. I have to say I was dubious about a cocktail on tap, but this one was so good, and took me back to me childhood tasting just like black forest gateau. The live Apres-Ski band really ramped up the atmosphere and got the party started. The Box Leeds City is a strong recommend from me, a real crowd-pleaser that goes beyond just watching sport.