Craft beer bar to open in Leeds

Tuesday 13th May 2014

A unique craft beer bar serving Indian street food is to open in Leeds city centre, in a joint venture between two award-winning West Yorkshire organisations.

Bundobust, located at premises in Mill Hill, will be a partnership between Bradford’s Sparrow Bier Café and Drighlington’s Prashad vegetarian restaurant.

The site of the new venture is being rented from Leeds-based property company Metsmatics. They were advised on the letting by Simon Mydlowski, a partner in the commercial property team of Yorkshire law firm Gordons.

Housed in a Grade II listed building in Bradford’s North Parade, the Sparrow, opened in May 2011, is run by Mark Husak, a former music promoter and teacher, and Les Hall, an ex-lawyer. The venture won the Campaign for Real Ale’s Bradford pub of the year accolade in 2012, has featured in ShortList magazine’s top 10 UK pubs and the Guardian’s top 10 UK craft beer bars, and is included in the Good Beer Guide.

Prashad was opened by the parents of current owner Bobby Patel over 20 years ago and has grown to a capacity of more than 60 seats. It was a finalist on Channel 4’s Ramsay’s Best Restaurant in 2010 and has featured in the Michelin and Good Food guides. Prashad has won numerous accolades, including the Yorkshire Life Chef of the Year and Morrisons magazine Great Grub Award, as well as becoming the most positively discussed restaurant on Trip Advisor.

Commenting on Mr Mydlowski’s part in arranging the lease, Metsmatics partner Michael Allen said: “We’ve always used Gordons because they’re trustworthy, friendly and we know we can rely on them. In this case, Simon not only brought us and the tenants together but persisted throughout what turned out to be a lengthy and complex process, ensuring all the arrangements were concluded as we’d envisaged.”

Bundobust’s launch follows the Sparrow and Prashad making a series of joint appearances at curry and beer tasting events last year, including the Leeds International Beer Festival and Leeds Cultural Curry Festival.

Mr Mydlowski said: “It was a pleasure to help Michael with the lease. He’s no stranger to the hospitality sector himself, being a founder of Ilkley’s Wharfedale Brewery, which recently opened the Flying Duck pub in the centre of that town. It’s great to see Bundopost come to fruition and everyone at Gordons wishes the Sparrow and Prashad the very best with their new and innovative venture.”