Yorkshire Mafia joins the Club to give members permanent HQ

The Leeds Club, which dates back to 1849, will provide club services at 3 Albion Place in Leeds and Yorkshire Mafia will provide the membership.

Yorkshire Mafia members can join the club as an optional extra.

Geoff Shepherd, founder of Yorkshire Mafia, said: “Having a permanent base for our members to meet each other to develop meaningful relationships, learn, share and ultimately trade is a huge step forward for us.”

He added: “Whilst this partnership firmly anchors us in bricks and mortar we’ll continue to develop our virtual community and move our events around Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Mafia was founded in 2008 as an online networking group. It now has almost 10,000 members.

Mr Shepherd said: “The intention is to allow our members to have somewhere to base themselves when on business in Leeds and somewhere to meet each other.”

The company behind The Leeds Club went into administration in September 2010.

It was subsequently rescued by businessman Najib Nathoo, who became chief executive, and other investors.

Mr Nathoo said: “We believe the Leeds Club is one of the best kept secrets in Yorkshire, and we are very excited about sharing it and working in partnership with the Yorkshire Mafia.”

The two-day Yorkshire Mafia Conference begins today at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.