A Newcastle city centre venue, that has been three years in the planning and has cost £1.5m to create, has opened its doors to the public.
Leila Lily’s, at Grey Street – the most exclusive, prestigious address in the city - is the first venue on Tyneside to house three distinct areas; a bar, restaurant and nightclub, all under one roof.
And no expense has been spared to make it the most opulent, theatrical and impressive destination in the city.
The site – 2-12 Grey Street, which is also home to The Grey Street Hotel and award-winning All About You Spa – is owned by the Malhotra Group plc, which owns a portfolio of bars, hotels and restaurants across Tyneside.
Designed to be the group’s flagship venue, Leila Lily’s covers two floors, with the bar and restaurant at street level.
Heavily garlanded with flowers and with a rich colour scheme of forest green, rose gold and blush pink velvet seating, every item, from the crockery and glassware in the bar and restaurant to the ornate wall coverings and bathroom fittings, is bespoke.
In keeping with the theatrical element which runs throughout the venue, a flower wall can be found at the entrance to the bar while, between the bar and restaurant, is a large, oval, glass VIP table filled with lilies.
A curtained area off the main bar can be privately hired for drinks parties and celebrations and a team of chefs, led by North East chef of the year, 
Ronald Robson, has created a series of menus encompassing everything from canapés to main meals.
Diners are entertained by live music from pianists and saxophonists, while, the basement level houses a Studio 54-style Club Lounge, called 212@Leila Lily’s, which plays a mix of hop-hop and R&B.
“The concept behind Leila Lily’s is opulence,” said head of operations, Simon Wright. “It’s supremely stylish but not at the expense of substance.
“Our menus, for example, are bound in pink velvet but, as lovely as they are, the food is better – the finest ingredients, freshly and expertly cooked and imaginatively and beautifully presented.
“We are very much aiming this at a sophisticated clientele – it’s where they can drink cocktails after work and then enjoy a superb meal.
“They can then dance the night away and, if they really want to end the evening in style, stay overnight in our Grey Street Hotel and be pampered in the spa. It’s five experiences in one place and nowhere else offers that.”
Along with re-designing the interior of the building Malhotra Group plc has worked closely with Newcastle City Council and Heritage England to restore the exterior, cleaning its stonework and renovating the marble and granite.
For more information visit www.leilalilys.co.uk.