Merrion Street Leeds hosts huge seven-bar outdoor terrace party to bring Leeds' 'buzz' back - including Manahatta, Roxy Ball Room, MOJO and Zaap Thai

The sheltered patio will allow 200 Leeds residents at one time to make the best of all that Merrion Street has to offer for one whole month.

Party-goers can enjoy the seated space by sipping on drinks and grabbing a bite to eat from each of the seven independents on the street.

The bars and restaurants involved are Manahatta, MOJO, Verve, Mean Eyed Cat, Roxy Ball Room, Yard & Coop, Zaap Thai and Liv Bar.

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Today the people of Leeds can enjoy the venues’ longer opening hours to mark the street’s first weekend open after lockdown.

Each of the hospitality venues is offering a mix of signature dishes, drinks and unique cocktails to choose from.

Dubbing the opening of the outdoor space as “the start of something new” for Merrion Street, Roxy Ball Room’s brand development manager Joel Mitchell said the new space aims to give people “that feeling and buzz” after lockdown.

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He said: “Before the pandemic we did a Merrion Street festival between four and eight times a year so this is a play on the original idea.

“We wanted to do something similar to help us with the outdoor restrictions so this made perfect sense.

“We want people to feel that feeling and buzz again of being back around other people, knowing that you’re out having a pint or a cocktail or some food.

“The outdoor area has had heaps of interest for right through the month and I know it’s going to be absolutely brilliant with a really full, but safe, atmosphere.”

Mr Mitchell added that collectively the bars want to make Merrion Street a ‘destination’ rather than just a street which is home to different venues.

He said: “We want to prove that this kind of thing outdoors is doable and the end goal is to be able to create a pedestrianised street - so this is hopefully the start of something new for Merrion Street.

“Then, we can create this fun and sociable space for the people of Leeds at every special occasion throughout the year.”

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