21 new jobs created in Merrion Centres Leeds Arena Bar TCS welcomes Jones Bar Group into the centre

Tue 03 Dec, 2013

Town Centre Securities (TCS) has just completed a deal with Jones Bar Group to open a new bar, LAB (Leeds arena bar) in the Merrion Centre’s Arena Quarter Leisure development

Opening its doors in March 2014, the bar will specifically target Leeds First Direct Arena trade, being one of the closest bars to the First Direct Arena.

This will be the ninth bar for the local family owned Jones Bar Group and the first unit in the northern part of the city centre, broadening the company’s footprint around Leeds. The opening of LAB bar itself will create 21 job vacancies. The company has big expansion plans and the bar group as a whole is looking to recruit 65 new members of staff within the next six months.

Matthew Jones, MD, Jones Bar Group states; “We can’t thank TCS enough for the time and effort they’ve put into working with us to create an outstanding bespoke unit. LAB will be split over two levels and will feature a balcony, making Leeds First Direct Arena a focal point for our customers. The bar has been specifically built for us and incorporates everything we love about our other eight bars around the city.”

Maintaining a rustic, urban feel with contemporary lighting, the lower ground level of LAB will serve a variety of drinks including cocktails and craft ale. Upstairs will feature a casual eatery offering high-quality, fresh food. The restaurant will also be available for private or corporate hire. This is the group’s first city centre bar that will be open all day, serving lunchtime trade as well as evening clientele.

Helen Green, Associate Director of Estates for Town Centre Securities PLC comments; “Working with Jones Bar group is a delight. Two brothers run the company, they are a very successful small family run business and we feel passionate about helping their new bar be equally successful. Together we’re working really hard to create a stand out unit that gives them a point of difference. We don’t currently have anything similar to LAB in the Merrion Centre, so it’s an exciting opening for us too.”

Matthew Jones concludes; “This bar has been a long time coming, we’ve been planning the opening for over a year now, so we’re sure it’s going to be something special. After Christmas we’ll start our recruitment drive as well as pulling together our opening launch plans, so watch this space!”