Mel and Phil Harrison have confirmed that customers of all seven of their Leeds bars can enjoy music, dancing and ordering at the bar from Monday.
Escapism’s well-known venues include Mean-Eyed Cat, Tiki Hideaway, Cuckoo, Verve and Call Lane Social. Staff and customers are free to wear face masks or not.
Mel Harrison: “’Freedom Day’ has been a long time coming, and for us, this is the day that we have been looking forward to since the start of the Covid crisis, almost 16 months ago. Covid hit the hospitality sector especially hard, and sadly a number of our colleagues in the City have ceased trading as a result of the pandemic. We have been fortunate that we have retained all our staff and have ridden out what we hope is the worst of the crisis.
Leeds’ night life is certainly one of the biggest and best in the North of England, and we are very proud to play a significant part in its fortunes. Monday marks the start of the City’s economy being able to fire on all cylinders.
We will be keeping a close eye on the covid situation, and we have one worry which is ‘track and trace’. We are not alone in this, as if staff members are ‘pinged’ and have to self-isolate for ten days, it could mean bars will have to shut, which is something no one wants. Of course though whilst this element does remain a worry, our primary concern will always be for the safety of our staff and customers.”
For further information please visit Escapism Bar Group’s website here.
