Leila Lily’s blooms in Newcastle
A Newcastle city centre venue, which has been three years in the planning and has cost £1.5m to create, has opened its doors to the public.
Leila Lily’s, at Grey Street – the most exclusive, prestigious address in the city – is the first venue on Tyneside to house three distinct areas; a bar, restaurant and nightclub, all under one roof. And no expense has been spared to make it the most opulent, theatrical and impressive destination in the city.
The site – 2-12 Grey Street, which is also home to The Grey Street Hotel and award-winning All About You Spa – is owned by the Malhotra Group plc, which owns a portfolio of bars, hotels and restaurants across Tyneside.
Speaking to PREMIER HOSPITALITY MAGAZINE, Atul Malhotra from the Malhotra Group said: “This is a brand new site for us and is something that is the flagship for the Malhotra Group on the leisure side of our business. It is something that is very personal to me as an owner as the site is named after my oldest daughter and I have been involved from the very start, which was around three years ago.”
Leila Lily’s covers two floors, with the bar and restaurant at street level.
Atul continued: “It really is a one stop shop which encompasses everything that a visitor from outside of the city visiting Newcastle wants or needs. You don’t have to go anywhere else because everything is in one building. It is a one-of-a-kind in Newcastle and is something that no one else is doing. We are in the perfect location, on the best street in the North East and we have a very captured audience with a large, large footfall. The site has been developed like no other in Newcastle and we offer something completely different to our competitors in the city.”
Heavily garlanded with flowers and a rich colour scheme of forest green, rose gold and blush pink velvet seating, every item, from the crockery and glassware in the bar and restaurant to the ornate wall coverings and bathroom fittings, is bespoke. In keeping with the theatrical element which runs throughout the venue, a flower wall can be found at the entrance to the bar while between the bar and restaurant is a large, oval, glass VIP table filled with lilies.
A curtained area off the main bar can be privately hired for drinks, parties and celebrations and a team of chefs, led by North East Chef of the Year, Ronald Robson, has created a series of menus encompassing everything from canapés to main meals.
Diners are also entertained by live music from pianists and saxophonists, while the basement level houses a Studio 54-style Club Lounge called 212 @ Leila Lily’s, which plays a mix of hip-hop and R&B.
“The concept behind Leila Lily’s is opulence,” said Head of Operations Simon Wright. “It’s supremely stylish but not at the expense of substance.
“Our menus, for example, are bound in pink velvet but as lovely as they are, the food is better- the finest ingredients are freshly and expertly cooked and are imaginatively and beautifully presented.
“We are very much aiming this at a sophisticated clientele – it’s where they can drink cocktails after work and then enjoy a superb meal. They can then dance the night away and, if they really want to, end the evening in style, stay overnight in our Grey Street Hotel and be pampered in the spa. It’s five experiences in one place and nowhere else offers that.”
Atul added: “Feedback has been incredibly positive and the site is doing really well. It has been quite a proud moment and it is all very humbling. We are now working on another concept for a second outlet next year.”
For more information about Leila Lily’s, visit: https://leilalilys.co.uk/#1
Cp Lighting & Interiors
Cp Lighting & Interiors specialise in lighting for both domestic and commercial applications. With over 30 years of experience, the company is a leading lighting supplier in the North East and provides a high quality service to both tradesmen and retail customers.
Cp Lighting & Interiors has worked on a diverse range of projects. Standout work includes Livello in Newcastle, Kababji in London and The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate, as well as a variety of care homes and private residences throughout the North East of England.
More recently the company was involved with Leila Lily’s, providing lighting solutions and supplying decorative lighting thanks to a longstanding relationship with the Malhotra Group.
Dan Clint, Cp Lighting Project Coordinator, said:
“We have worked on multiple projects with the Malhotra Group, which always has a fresh and precise approach to each project. The brief for Leila Lily’s was discussed well over a year ago and started out with texts exchanged between Operations Director Atul Malhotra and I. We had various meetings on site with their in-house project manager Cat, carefully selecting products to suit the scheme BXB Interiors had designed.
“The crown jewel for the scheme for us was the gorgeous Palm chandeliers we used throughout, so eye catching and iconic to the venue. We also created some luxurious bespoke shades using fabric from independent designer’s bobo1325 to create a personal touch and blend with the complimenting upholstery by Furniture Clinic.”
