AN award-winning Saltaire micro-brewery is opening a craft and cocktails bar in Leeds city centre.

Bingley Road-based Salt Beer Factory, winner of SIBA UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery taproom, opened Salt Leeds– Craft and Cocktails in Leeds city centre today.

The venue formerly known as Craft Asylum #2, has created a stylish beer and cocktail drinking destination just round the corner from one of Leeds’ most popular nightspots, Greek Street.

The new, New York style concept means local drinkers from Leeds and further afield can enjoy eight different cocktails on tap including, Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, Strawberry and Rhubarb Cosmo, Pear and White Tea Fizz, as well as a summer classic, Aperol Spritz.

Beer lovers can also sit down and relax with SALT’s renowned keg beers including favourites like, Jute, Huckaback and Ikat as well as a range of Ossett Brewery cask classics and the new Yøn Helles Lager.

Bi-fold windows open out onto the brand-new outdoor seating area, where customers can soak up the sun whilst sipping on a craft beer or cocktail.

The venue also features a living wall full of plants, adding a splash of greenery and vibrancy, boasting modern décor throughout.

The location is already an established hot spot for after work drinks and is the ideal starting point for a night out on the popular Leeds social scene.

Local DJs are booked to play an eclectic mix of music every Friday and Saturday from 6pm, ready to ease everyone into the weekend.

Jamie Lawson, co-owner of Ossett Brewery and Salt Beer Factory said: “I am excited to see SALT exploring new ground with our line-up of cocktails on tap alongside our SALT beer range, introducing something new to the Leeds drinking scene.”

The bar also stocks a variety of flavoured artisan gins, wines and spirits.

The opening of the bar in Leeds follows on from success earlier this year when Salt Beer Factory was recognised as the brewery of the year in an international competition.

They beat off stiff competition from across Europe and Canada to claim the brewery of the year prize at the London Beer Competition.

The brewery also picked up another string of prizes in the awards, including first place gold medals in Ikat DDH DIPA - Best UK Beer; Ikat DDH DIPA - Strong American ale category; Alpaca DDH IPA - IPA category and Citra NEIPA JNR - in the Pale American ale category

Salt also secured a second place silver medal for its Calico - GF beer category.