Our beginnings
Our 1930s building was transformed in 2013 to house unique gallery spaces, a learning studio for our award-winning participation programme, an artist residency studio, offices for creative businesses, a busy Bar & Kitchen and welcoming spaces for meetings and events, from performances and parties to conferences.
The charity that operates The Tetley, Project Space Leeds, was founded by artist-curators, Pippa Hale, Kerry Harker and Diane Howse in 2006, and artists remain at the centre of everything we do today. Proudly investing in new and emerging artists to create work, we fulfil a vital role within the Leeds art scene, offering a significant public platform alongside outstanding national and international work, often presented in the UK for the first time.
The history of the building
The Tetley name represents one of Leeds' oldest brewing dynasties, synonymous with the city for over 200 years. Our site has important social and industrial significance, with the brewery and employees greatly contributing to Leeds' rich history.
Tetley's brewery was founded by Joshua Tetley in 1822, when he bought a brewery on the site for £400. In 1839, he made his son, Francis William a partner, creating Joshua Tetley and Son. Construction of a new brewery began in 1852 and by 1860 Tetley was the largest brewery in the North of England. By 1875, annual beer production had reached 171,500 barrels.
In 1931 the art deco Tetley headquarters building was erected. In April 1960 Tetley's took over Leeds' Melbourne Brewery and in 1961 it merged with Ind Coope of Burton upon Trent and Ansells of Birmingham, forming Allied Breweries. Allied Breweries was the world's largest brewing conglomerate, with the Leeds site employing 1000 people. In the 1980s Tetley's became the world's largest producer of cask ale, and was taken over by Carlsberg in 1998.
The Leeds brewery was closed in 2011 and demolished in 2012, with production contracted out to other UK Carlsberg breweries. Tetley's retains its Leeds connections through the No.3 Pale Ale, brewed again in Leeds and recreated from the 1868 recipe – using the same unique double strain of yeast, with distinctive taste.
