In October last year, the group revealed it had injected £1m into the Leeds city centre site to create a day-to-night destination.
Rita’s Beerhall and Ballroom, a former Walkabout site on Woodhouse Lane, was named after the Margarita cocktail.
It features a programme of live music, seven days a week alongside live sport and big event screenings with a range of cocktails, beer, pizzas and more also on offer.
Exceeding expectations
Previously, Stonegate Group CEO David McDowall laid out how the new premises took changing consumer behaviour into account with “guests going out at different times, searching for engaging, entertaining venues and new types of experiences”.
He had also described the site as “too good to miss, with plenty of space to do the Rita’s concept justice”.
The site opened in December 2024 and Stonegate reported it has seen a strong start to trading in the past three months.
On the venue’s recent performance, McDowall said: “Rita’s has had a fantastic start since opening in December last year. It’s quickly become a go-to spot in Leeds and is trading beyond our expectations.
“The venue offers something different – a seven-day-a-week programme of live music, awesome margarita slushies, XXL 24-inch pizzas, and our signature leopard-print pool tables. It’s this mix that makes Rita’s such a unique space, giving people loads of great reasons to visit.”
Changing habits
McDowall, who came to the pub group’s helm in 2023, outlined how the investment into a new concept showed the firm’s commitment to constant improvement.
He added: “From a bigger picture perspective, Rita’s highlights how we’re evolving our brands and formats to meet changing guest habits.
“We invested £1m in transforming the former Walkabout into something completely new – a ‘beerhall for cocktail lovers’ – and that’s indicative of our hunger to continually improve and innovate across the business – keep your eyes peeled for more!"
