A brand new café and retail space, that aims to blur the lines between home and hospitality, opens late November. The Collective, based at 34 Boar Lane in Leeds city centre, is the first of its kind to open in the region. It is a working showroom where customers can take their experience home. Almost everything is for sale, including the table you’re eating your lite bites and freshly baked goods off.
Inspired by the LA laid-back, creative scene, The Collective is the brain child of directors, Dale Wynter and Ellen Pryce, who both have extensive experience in the retail and hospitality sectors. Their combined passion and keen eye for detail led them to notice a gap in the market and they spent several years searching for the right location to launch this brand-new concept. The team was completed by the addition of Interior Designer, Rachael Easton and Shop Design and Brand Specialist, James Kent, both of whom have a wealth of experience within the hospitality and luxury retail sectors.
Speaking about how incredible things happen when people come together, Co-Director of The Collective Incorporated, Ellen Pryce says: “We wanted to create a feast for the eyes as well as offering a space where people could re-fuel with some incredible food and drinks. Guests can peruse the art and dreamy décor in a really chilled atmosphere, giving them time to immerse themselves in the great-quality, hand-crafted goods we have for sale.
The vast majority of everything you see at The Collective is available to buy. From the sofas and tables, to the kitchenware and lighting. Guests can peruse the incredible British craftsmanship of furnishing, lighting and finishes made and sourced in collaboration with manufacturers and artisans such as Tyson lighting, Stucco & Stucco, Ceramique Internationale Ltd, and Staunton & Hughes. The latter three all based in The Collective’s home of God’s own country, Yorkshire.
Rachael Easton and James Kent went on to say: “We’ve worked really hard to source the amazing British brands we stock at The Collective, who are all experts in their fields of furnishings and tableware. There isn’t anywhere else around where guests can really fall in love with a piece before deciding to take it home with them. We want to champion products made in the UK, especially Yorkshire, and preserve traditional production skills that we risk losing as a nation. We know that our customers will appreciate the craftsmanship put into these bespoke pieces.”
Most of the furniture is made to order and is customisable. Interior design experts will be on-hand to discuss bespoke furniture and finish options with guests, helping them to pick the perfect pieces to suit their home and style. For those wanting a more extensive interior design service, appointments with The Collective’s experienced, award-winning interior designers can be booked. Their years of experience within residential and commercial designing offers customers a truly unique experience, ensuring they get the interior of their dreams.
The food matches the curated design, with an instagramable menu of brunch and lunch options, including all day bowls, New York deli bagels, artisan pastries and salads. Charcuterie and cheese boards are ideal for nibbling on and are made using locally sourced ingredients.
Whether you’re meeting a friend for coffee or you’re looking for a new after-work drink spot, The Collective has got you covered with a selection of coffees from Maude Coffee, organic wine from Eden Wines and an extensive cocktail menu. Take-out food and drink options are also available.
As well as the café and retail space, The Collective has moveable bookcases that reveal cosy corners for hosting meetings or catching up on work emails. A full programme of events and creative workshops is planned for the 1,819 square foot space, located on the ground floor of 34 Boar Lane, directly opposite Leeds train station.
The Collective will not only inject some soul into an iconic building, that was previously unloved, but it will boost Leeds’ hospitality and retail sectors, that have both taken a knock over the last year.
Co-director of The Collective, Dale concluded: “We’re really excited to be bringing something so unique to the heart of the city. We have put together an incredible team of people who have a wealth of experience within the hospitality and interior design sectors and we are certain people will love what we have created. The location, and building, are the perfect home for The Collective and we look forward to welcoming people to experince a new way to shop and dine.”
