Former Leeds live music venue, The Faversham, is back as a dedicated events space.

For almost 40 years The Faversham has been synonymous with live music and eclectic club nights as well as their legendary garden parties and great food. It was the go-to place for students and residents of Leeds alike, with its excellent location just outside of the city centre. With the last 18 months taking its toll on the hospitality industry, the independently owned venue has recently been refurbished and is now a dedicated events space, catering for corporate events, weddings and private parties.

Home of Events

Established in 1947, The Faversham began as a hotel, before becoming a hot spot for sporting stars and celebrities throughout the 60s and 70s.

In 2004, it became a hub for the Leeds indie music scene, offering a platform to hundreds of DJs, club nights and indie bands, with live performances from the likes of The Cribs, Arctic Monkeys, The Streets and Hot Chip. Its convenient location, behind Leeds University Union, made it a hot bed for students as well as local Leeds residents.

Many hospitality businesses have had to diversify their offering due to the pandemic and the team behind The Faversham decided that it was time to change its business model, evolving from a club and events venue into an events-only destination. Whilst many of the original features that The Faversham is known, and loved for, have remained, the majority of the venue has been renovated and re-imagined, featuring stylish fixtures and fittings with an industrial, yet contemporary vibe.

General Manager, Zachary Williamson, said: “The last 18 months have been extremely challenging for the events and leisure industry and we are finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. Our core business is weddings, so it’s been an extremely stressful time having to rearrange them. Some of our couples have had to rearrange their wedding 3 times, but we are now finally able to go ahead with these bookings and look forward to welcoming our first newlyweds on 26th June, albeit with the new restrictions in place.”

The Faversham now consists of four distinct areas where corporate and private events can take place: the hall, the lounge, the conservatory, and an extensive outdoor terrace that seats up to 100 people. The venue is situated on private grounds with its own lawns, offering the perfect outdoor experience for guests over the more clement months. Each of these areas provides the perfect backdrop to any private celebration, corporate event or wedding.

Zach continued: “The latest coronavirus announcement on the 14th June has definitely put a spanner in the works for any corporate and private events company but we are making every possible effort to ensure our planned events over the coming months go ahead. As we are now a dedicated events space and no longer a night club, we have slightly more flexibility in what we can offer our customers, plus we have such a large space both indoor and outdoor that can cater to everyone’s needs, whilst adhering to limited numbers and social distancing measures that are still mandatory.”

Bears Pantry

The Faversham is proud to be working with outstanding event and wedding caterers, Bears Pantry, who will be based in-house at the venue. From canapes to grazing tables, BBQ’s to buffets, the team behind Bears Pantry is able to provide mouth-watering food for any event and budget.

Sam Pullan, Founder of Bears Pantry and self-titled Gastronaut, said: “We’re obsessed with flavour. We’re food explorers. We love catering for events and are delighted to be part of The Faversham Family. It’s a place steeped in nostalgia, and we are super excited to for events to come back with a bang. It’s been a rollercoaster over the last year and a half but the team at Bears Pantry are ready and raring to go with what we do best – making food that will be enjoyed and remembered.”

Sam will be working with his dedicated team of chefs, creating unique event menus for guests of The Faversham.

Sam concluded: “We want to inspire and amaze the people who eat our food so guests should not expect predictable wedding and event food. Just as The Faversham is a unique setting for an event, we want to provide distinctive and delicious food that will perfectly suit the event we are catering for. Working with the team at The Faversham, we can provide an entire experience and memories that will last with guests long after the event has ended.”