The Garage, Leeds LS1 2, Club

The Garage

Club

9 East Parade
LS1 2 Leeds
United Kingdom

Phone: 0113 234 2225

The Garage is a Club/Bar/Record Shop and creative hub which launched in Leeds on the 31st of March 2012. The project is a labour of love created by local bar owner Stephen Hawkins, Back to Basics residents Tristan Da Cunha and Frenchy, and artist Victoria Topping. The multi functional venue is designed by lovers of music for lovers of music and features the kind of attention to detail that make it one of the most fresh and unique creative spaces in the UK and beyond.

The name The Garage was an easy one to decide upon; the space was being used as a car garage prior to it’s over haul, and with a respectful nod to New York’s legendary Paradise Garage club, the name could not have fitted more perfectly. Converted from an old firehouse the club has kept the best of its original features - the brickwork, black & yellow Hacienda style girders and industrial fan all remain – while the new features include an outrageous DJ booth that’s converted from an original New York Chevrolet fire truck, a jaw dropping full wall art piece from Victoria, a sound system for the connoisseur that’s been crafted by people who understand that this is the most important part of the club, lighting that compliments the vibe perfectly without being overbearing, and of course a bar installed by one of Leeds’ most respected bar owners. The overall feel of the main room is a well needed alternative to the big shiny new clubs in Leeds, creating an intimate stripped down less-is-more feel, taking inspiration from trips to Berlin clubs. The aim is for the environment to be perfectly formed, but for the focus to be on the music and people.

The rest of the venue is far from stripped down and as you walk from the club to the Waxwerks area the transition is from raw to phwoar! Running in conjunction with the club is WaxWerks. Operating as a record shop and bar during daylight hours, when night falls the record cabinets are buckled down and the space functions as second room for the club and special one-off parties. In this area the focus is very much on design. Every part has been treated as an opportunity for artistic expression and contains one off individual features that really create the venue’s personality, even down to themed toilet cubicles. Stocking predominantly house and disco records but of course keeping an open ear, Waxwerks is very proud to be bringing a vinyl culture back to Leeds. Frenchy said ‘This is something we feel has been lacking in the city for years and we believe now is the perfect time to re-introduce it. The WaxWerks is a place where like minded people can grab the latest releases and exclusives, have a drink and a catch up, get the info on what’s going on where at the weekend, and always see a friendly face in a cosy environment.’ Featuring a super cool old skool ghetto blaster DJ booth, listening posts and racks of wax for flicking through, sofas and coffee tables for chilling, individual art pieces and prints on the walls for sale, exclusive in store appearances from DJ’s playing live on webcam, Friday vinyl club, one off music and film nights and a whole host of other things, the place is buzzing with activity. Stocked and run by Tristan and Frenchy alongside a co operative of local DJ’s, producers and record label owners you can be sure that the music selection will be the finest, from people who live for music and partying and know exactly what your requirements are for both.

The Garage has already become the place to go for the heads that know in Leeds. With nights hosted by Basics, Lowbrow, One Records, Illusion Recordings already and loads more exciting bookings and nights in the pipeline The Garage is making it’s mark already. Always discerning you can be sure that everything at The Garage is motivated primarily by the love of music and whether you want to dance to it, buy it or chat it, this is the place to be for the best vibes in town.