Leeds dealer hopes to expand with cafe concept

Leeds retailer Northern Guitars has plans to expand its shop with a new ”guitar cafe” concept.

The idea is to add a cafe, bar (a drinks licence has been applied for) and stage area to the existing retail set-up, which has been in place for more than 25 years.

Owner Dave Baguley said: “This would be a unique type of venue. We aim to be a café/bar/guitar shop run by musicians for musicians, with good food and craft beers in a relaxed atmosphere – not for the party crowd.”

With several small music venues having closed in the area recently, he believes there’s a market for it, and adds that when bands come to the city to perform, many of them make time to stop by the shop.

“Guitars and bands are a lifestyle,” he continued. “We have been in the music business all our working lives in various ways. With the new arena and the O2, we get the touring bands calling in looking at guitars and this would be a cool, relaxing place for them to hang out.”

“Over the years many great bands have formed from meetings in cafés and bars. We have done our market research, spoken with our customers, local promoters, studios and other people in the music business who all think it’s a unique idea.”

“We have been selling guitars successfully on Call Lane for 25 years as an independent retailer and we want to move with the times. A café/bar would complement the guitar shop and the other music bars on the lane.”