Barker Proudlove Facilitates Irish Food Brand’s First UK Store Injecting A Buzz To Leeds City Centre Food Scene This Spring

Retail and leisure property experts, Barker Proudlove, helps diversify the Leeds food scene with exciting new Merrion Centre property, opening its doors for the first time as the city’s first Boojum – the Boojum brand’s very first mainland UK store.

Now, the mixed use scheme in the heart of Leeds, boasts the highly anticipated Mexican restaurant as the first of its type in England, facilitating the Irish-born brand’s first move into the North East of England, and mainland UK.

“The 2,600sqft unit occupies a fantastic corner for Boojum, offering great exposure for the brand.” says James Lamming, director of Barker Proudlove.

Barker Proudlove continues to be involved with Boojum’s ambitious business growth in the UK. 

Ranked number six globally on Deliveroo, Boojum Leeds boasts an open-plan 45 cover restaurant dining space. Winners of Just Eat Ireland’s ‘Best Mexican’ 2024 award, Boojum, is injecting a buzz and a really exciting foodie moment for its many social media followers to the Arena Quarter area of Leeds. 

James Lamming, director of Barker Proudlove said: “The food industry, unlike other industries, is one that requires as big of an in-real-life presence as online profile. Sure, online orders are convenient, but they’ll always be a want from the public to eat out casually and grab a bite whether planned or off-the-cuff. 

“It’s promising to the British high street that prime city centre retail spaces like the Merrion Centre is not only a viable and feasible option, but actually integral to thriving food businesses expansion plans – just like our client, Boojum. 

“We knew this prominent city centre property would work for the Boojum brand name and Boojum’s wider business expansion plans, and that the Leeds high street would also stand to benefit from such an exciting new food business taking over the scene. 

“We believe in the high street, the community and ‘life’ it sparks both economically and socially in our city centres and we’re thrilled to see Boojum in this space – the high street is not dead, far from, there’ll always be a need for businesses to operate in the shared space of online and in-real-life, equally. 

Speaking on the opening of the Leeds Boojum restaurant, Property Director at Boojum, Andy McPhail, said: “Barker Proudlove has been a key strategic partner in Boojum’s new market entry into the UK. 

“Their expert local knowledge and guidance proved instrumental in identifying suitable sites and in securing a prime unit for our new restaurant in the city centre of Leeds, we’re thrilled with our new Leeds home and the reaction to our doors opening has blown us away!”

Barker Proudlove takes its high street proposition seriously, supporting businesses, people and community by investing their niche expertise and support to provide high street property solutions to benefit all involved. 

Barker Proudlove is an expert retail and leisure property agency, operating throughout the UK, providing advice for owners, occupiers, investors and developers. For more information, please visit https://www.barkerproudlove.co.uk/