Love them or loathe them, you simply cannot ignore Leeds United.

Not now they are back dining at English football’s top table and facing the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, their historic rivals, again.

The Yorkshire giants won promotion back to the Premier League after a two-year absence last season and it has been all systems go at Elland Road ever since.

On the field, the club’s ambitious American owners, 49ers Enterprises, spent around £100million on 10 new signings this summer in readiness for life back in the big league.

Off it, ambition similarly pulses loudly around this famous old stadium.

There are grand plans to increase the capacity of Elland Road from 37,645 to circa 53,000, making it England’s seventh-biggest football ground.

Proposals for the redevelopment include updating the West and North Stands, as well as improvements to the general admission and hospitality facilities.

But in the imposing East Stand, the transformation is already well and truly underway with some of the finest corporate hospitality in the Premier League now on offer.

Last Wednesday, Northside was among some special guests and corporate partners invited to an exclusive preview of four new refurbished hospitality and corporate event spaces – including a premium steakhouse.

The project, which comprises 12,000 sq ft of refurbished hospitality space in the East Stand, was carried out during the summer ahead of the Whites’ Premier League return.

The four new suites include the LUFC 1919 Suite, The Gary Speed Suite, Peter Lorimer Steakhouse and The Hisense Leeds Lounge.

They will soon be the places to see and be seen in.

The showcase event included a tour of all four venues and a mouthwatering sample of each venue’s menu to give a real flavour of what corporate entertaining, events, and conferences at the ground can offer.

The LUFC 1919 is an intimate suite for up to 60 people and is ideal for private functions and smaller events and the name is a nod to the year the club was formed.

Upon arrival there on a beautiful early autumn evening we were greeted by club legend Tony Dorigo and were soon chewing the fat over Leeds’ latest performance with canapes and a glass of champagne.

The East Stand balcony provides stunning views over Leeds and it always feels a privilege to be inside such an iconic football stadium on a non-matchday.

Especially in these kind of lavish surroundings.

The impressive Gary Speed Suite is perfect for conferences of up to 100 delegates, with in-house AV and bar facilities. 

Subtle references to the club’s colours feature throughout, while large TVs ensure an immersive conference experience. 

Memorabilia and imagery from the club archives, including items celebrating Speed, are proudly displayed throughout. 

The Hisense Leeds Lounge can accommodate 300 guests for non-matchday events. 

The space celebrates Leeds sporting legends and features an immersive media wall, perfect for dynamic presentations and interactive events, offering an impressive backdrop for conferences.

Huge images of sporting icons of the city, such as cross-code rugby legend Jason Robinson and Olympic boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams, proudly adorn the walls.

The Peter Lorimer Steakhouse is a contemporary take on a classic ‘BBQ joint’ with a Texan-themed interior complete with green and white tiling, rustic wooden beams and a chef’s theatre pass. 

The versatile space can transition seamlessly from conference to dinner and comes complete with in-house AV.

Guests were also treated to a taste of the club’s bespoke catering services with indulgent bites and dishes from lobster rolls and Wagyu lollipops to Yorkshire lamb cutlets, squash risotto and decadent dark chocolate marquise. 

The menu was perfectly complemented by Champagne, classic Old Fashioneds and Dona Paula Private Collection Malbec.

Leeds United conference and events co-ordinator, Abigail Banks, said: “Elland Road is so much more than the home of Leeds United, it’s also one of the region’s premier destinations for conferences and events. 

“With the addition of these impressive new suites, we can accommodate anything from a private meeting to a 1,500-guest gathering.

“A huge amount of work and consideration has gone into creating these new spaces and it was a proud moment to reveal them at our launch showcase. 

“These suites alongside our recently refurbished Centenary Pavilion means we can now welcome more guests and delegates than ever before to Elland Road and offer the very best in premium conferencing and events facilities that make a lasting impression.”

All the new suites were created by DT Sports, a specialist division of Yorkshire commercial interior design company Design Tonic dedicated to designing and delivering exceptional hospitality and sports spaces.