Northern Monk taking over former Assembly Underground

Northern Monk has announced it is taking over the former Assembly Underground premises, in Great George Street, Leeds, which closed at the end of last year.

It brings the company’s list of venues up to three, having started life in a basement in Greengates, Bradford 10 years ago under current managing director Russell Bisset and co-founder David Bishop.

Mr Bissett said when launching an alcohol-free beer in March last year to mark Bradford’s bid for UK City of Culture 2025 – a campaign it won two months later – that the city and district “will always be part of our story”.

Ahmed Gouda (co-owner of Falafel Guys), Russell Bisset (managing director and co-founder of Northern Monk), Nick Pounder (of Northern Monk) and Abdalla Gouda (co-owner of Falafel Guys) (Image: Northern Monk)

Northern Monk already runs The Old Flax Store, on Marshall Street, in Leeds – which has been home to the firm’s original brewery and Refectory taproom since 2014 – and a Refectory bar in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

The new venue, called The Northern Market, will feature a food market and beer hall and is due to open in early November.

It will serve frozen cocktails, wines, spirits, and a variety of Northern Monk beers from 10 tap lines and on-site beer tanks, including Faith – the brewery’s flagship Hazy Pale Ale.

Food vendors include Falafel Guys, Big Buns and Six Slice Pizza with more set to be announced.

Mr Bisset said: “At Northern Monk we’re on a mission to create incredible beer experiences. If we do our job right, hopefully some of the best in the world.

“We’ve long harboured dreams of more Northern Monk venues where we can do just that, but the pandemic sadly pushed those back.

“Our two current tap rooms are based in former textile mills where we’ve really celebrated their heritage and role in the North.

“The Northern Market sees us take on a 140-year-old Grade II listed building, directly opposite Leeds Town Hall in the heart of the city’s civic quarter.

“We can’t wait to give the building a new lease of life as the Northern Market, alongside our food vendors, while acknowledging its history and place in the city.”

An artist's impression of the venue in Great George Street, Leeds (Image: Northern Monk)

Falafel Guys is run by brothers and co-owners Abdalla and Ahmed Gouda.

Abdalla said: “When Covid pushed Assembly to close we felt that us and Leeds lost something special, and we wanted to make it our mission to bring the venue back to life.

“So, we partnered up with Northern Monk to proudly bring to Leeds The Northern Market.

“Having worked on this with the guys from Monk for some time now, we are confident we are going to deliver something amazing.

“The Northern Market is a space where people can gather, socialise and eat amazing food.”