Den Engel Belgian Bar and Restaurant

Maintaining the tradition of Continental bar owners throughout Europe, Geoff and Hilary Turner, the owners of Leeks' very own Den Engel, continue to support the sport of cycling through the Leek Cyclists' Club.

Geoff and Hilary maintain a wide stock of draught and bottled Belgian beers for your delectation. Den Engel is located at Bodkin House, Stanley Street, Leek where a warm welcome awaits all.

You can contact Den Engel on 01538 373751, in the meantime click on the pictures below to soak-up the atmosphere.

The Leek Cyclists' Club is proud to be sponsored by Den Engel Belgian Bar and Restaurant.

What's the connection you might ask? Simply this. Cycle racing, both amateur and professional, is widely supported on the Continent, it is a sport that is as popular as football in the UK.

With the co-operation of the local Police, Continental road racing takes place in the safety of closed-off public roads. Tune your TV into the Tour de France in July just to see the sort of following cycle racing has. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the race route daily and support everyone including their 'local' heroes. Road racing is the King on the Continent and unlike racing in Britain, hardly any time-trialling takes place.

Over many years British cyclist have, with varying degrees of success, attempted to break into the tough but rewarding world of Continental road racing.

One of the legendary British Road Racers, Tommy Simpson, moved with his wife Helen and young family from his home in the Nottingham mining village of Harworth, first to France and then in the early 1960's, Belgium . During his Continental racing career Tom was supported by Albert Beurick, the owner of a Ghent bar called "Den Engel" (The Angel). Tom was not alone, he joined British cyclists such as Alan Ramsbottom, Barry Hoban, Vin Denson, Keith Butler and others who were chipping away at the dominance of the Continental professional racing teams.