North East & Yorkshire

Bourbon

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Competition does not come much tougher for an independent bar operator than being pitched against corporate giants in one of the North's major entertainment cities.

Leeds is awash with big names, big clubs and big bars, but Bourbon is a smaller bar holding its own in a determined fashion.

Bourbon expanded its business last year against all the odds, which is a personal triumph for owner Richard Kean.

Richard took over Bourbon almost three years ago and immediately tapped into the city's vibrant student market. Despite the attractions of rivals with far greater financial muscle, Bourbon continues to thrive in a market in general decline.

Salvage operation

"We had something of a salvage operation when we first took over," recalls Richard, who acquired the business after its previous operators threw in the towel.

"We knew that we could win back trade by offering more of a personal touch in our venue which would be a direct contrast to the bigger clubs. We wanted to make Bourbon a friendly place by combining the energy of a nightclub with the atmosphere of a local pub - and it has worked," he adds.

Targeting students

Leeds has a a student population of some 110,000 and Bourbon works hard to claim its share. Student nights are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with a range of offers.

The events, such as disco nights with special DJs, are marketed through direct contact with student organisations and links with various university sports teams to help build a strong customer database.

Bourbon has a capacity limit of 380,

making it far smaller than some of the bar's loftier rivals, but its intimate atmosphere is one of its big attractions.

"New clubs and bars are opening up all the time in Leeds, but we continue to be able to hold our own, thanks to the special niche we have carved for ourselves," says Richard.