Whiskey Down is the first bar to be granted an elusive SEV license in over five years.
You’ll know it as the Townhouse or Chilli Whites depending on your age, but the historic three-storey building on Crown Street has now got a new identity - “immersive whiskey lounge and gentlemen's club” Whiskey Down.
The new 600-capacity venue behind Leeds Corn Exchange reopened last weekend following a £1.1m investment from Tokyo Industries - who boast a 36 venue portfolio including Newcastle’s Digital, Leeds’ own gig and club venue Church, and the newly-opened Impossible in Manchester.
The 60s Pipe Smoking, Hefner in a cravat, whiskey in hand onboard a Learjet – the photos looked great.
The new club is the culmination of an idea planted in Managing Director Aaron Mellor’s brain two years ago, while at a Halloween Party in the Playboy Mansion. “There were all these photos there of the 60s Playboy clubs in London, New York, Miami – they where so cool, classy, exclusive.” says Aaron. “The idea of a Gentlemen’s club in 2017 has become a little jaded… almost seedy and clandestine.”
Whiskey Down pays homage to traditional members-only clubs through its “tasteful decor”, as well as “exclusive entertainment”.
“We work in the late night industry with clubs and bars and when we finish work there's only really strip clubs or casinos to go and have an after work drink, we started to think about creating a space where great drinks, knowledgeable bar tenders and a better class of immersive entertainment could exist” says Mellor.
There will also be “dancer-free zones” for people who just want to enjoy a late drink from their bar, which, as the name suggests, specialises in whiskey. There’s over 70 types of bourbon, scotch, and rye ranging from £7 all the way up to one bottle valued at £10,000, as well as a range of gins, premium vodka, craft beer, and champagne.
Whiskey Down is open daily, 10pm - 6am. For more information visit Tokyo Industries website
