**** NEWS!!! ****
Our revamped food menu, featuring the likes of sizzling fajitas and sumptuous paella to share, is now available throughout the day from 3pm till late (see menus further down this page). Our revamped drinks menu, launched over the Valentine's weekend, has landed too! Scroll down for taster or click here to visit our main website to view all our drinks. The old favourites are present and correct but we’ve added some fresh additions for 2009 to tickle your taste buds including a new shooters menu and some great tequila chasers.
And in a further change we're excited to announce new opening hours for 2009. We're now open from 3pm - 3am Monday to Wednesday and from 12pm - 3am Thursday to Sunday making us the only venue in Leeds open till 3 every night of the week and the place to party whatever night you're out! Expect big tunes every night alongside live music every Wednesday and Sunday and of course our resident DJs Thursday to Saturday.
Sandinista! was born in the autumn of 2002 when a few friends invoked a love of good music, appetising food and great drinks. With an endearingly shabby appeal and a loosely latin american feel, the doors opened with the ethos 'nuestra casa es tu casa - our home is your home'.
The bar has a revolutionary theme with its name relating to both the legendary Nicaraguan political movement and The Clash's masterpiece triple album which musically was a major inspiration with its eclectic blend of reggae, funk, jazz, pop, punk and rap. Our playlist soon incorporated these genres and many more... a 'no dance' policy that is not always that strict.... The Clash's humanist / socialist / internationalist approach paralleled the Nicaraguan government's and in spite of debst of $1.6 billion and 1 in 5 homeless, within 6 months of coming to power, nearly 20% of the 3 million population were taught to read....
A revolution in Nicaragua...there's no inteference from America?...those Washington bullets want Castro dead... join the Havana Club... Bacardi was never an option... Coca Cola was banned for its invidious practices... Nastro joined the rebels and the rum collection grew... and grew... as did our hangovers.
We adapted, we innovated... occcasionally we even plain pilfered... There's so many faces to Sandinista! It probably has more faces than Howard Marks and more lives than Keith Richards.
Passion is not a fashion...
This is ours...
Check out our main website @ www.sandinistaleeds.co.uk
FOOD
Our extensive tapas menu is available througout the day, 7 days a week, with the addition of hearty roasts served on Sundays throughout winter. All dishes are reasonably priced and freshly prepared with the finest ingredients.
Below you will find our full menu as well as our wine list. Food is served till late with service frequently running past 10pm. Bar snacks are served right through till 3am.
DRINKS
Here are just 3 pages from our new drinks menu. Plenty more exciting drinks where they came from....
At Sandinista! we try to be as ethically sound in our business practices as we can in support of green issues and fairtrade practices. Click Here to read more about what we are doing.
Throughout the week things stack up as follows:
Wednesdays Live Music: 1st of the month - Grain Division, 3rd of the month - No Title Magazine Acoustic Showcase, 2nd, 4th (& 5th) of the month - Sandinista Sessions.
Thursdays Resident DJs: start the weekend early with our reasident DJs playing on rotation from 10 till 3.
Fridays and Saturdays Resident DJs: on rotation playing an eclectic selection covering rock, indie, ska, funk, soul, reggae, 80s, hip hop and more from 10 till 3.
Sundays Live Music: catch some of the finest local acoustic acts at our weekly Sunday Sessions night. Bands on stage at 10:30.
Sandinista was voted:
Best Bar In Leeds (2006, 2008 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Best Live Venue In Leeds (2007 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Runner Up Best Bar In Leeds (2007 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Best After Works Drinks Venue in Leeds (2004 & 2005 Metro Food & Drink Awards - runner up in 2006)
Social & team events
Fancy an event with a bit of originality and fun? Whether it is a team building event or a stag or hen do, we’ve got the perfect solution…
The Sandinista! Bartending Masterclass The Sandinista! Bartending Masterclass gives you the chance to get behind the other side of the bar and learn the basics of cocktail making from some of Leeds’ finest bartenders. From Mojitos to Manhattans we can show you how it’s done and then let you try and take the reins!
With the chance to learn the basics through a series of fun activities whilst at the same time sampling some of the world’s best spirits and cocktails, how can you resist? These sessions are both inclusive and engaging and are a great alternative team activity! As well as all the wonderful drinks, the cost of the day includes lunch in the form of a buffet. Costing is specific to an event vary depending on numbers, length of session and any additional criteria requested. Please call 0113 245 2222 for more details.
Private Hire
Looking for a space for private hire? The top floor of our sister venue, Smokestack, might just be the perfect place! With a built in stage and dance floor, DJ booth and high spec. system we have facilities for and can arrange live music and DJs as well as food in the form of our creole / cajun themed buffet options, fresh from the kitchen of Sandinista! The room, which can accommodate up to 150 people, is available for hire Monday to Thursday with a license till 2am. Friday to Sunday can be considered depending on the time and nature of the booking. Our license over this time can run until 4am but weekend private bookings do have certain conditions.
Click here to download our Private & Corporate Hire brochure. For more info or to make a booking please call Smokestack on 0113 245 2222.
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