On a quiet industrial estate in east Leeds, among warehouses and ring roads, a familiar glow still flickers. It comes not from a screen but from polished chrome, curved glass and softly lit panels, the kind that once beckoned from American diners and British dancehalls. This is the home of Sound Leisure, one of the last companies in the world still manufacturing jukeboxes by hand.
That such a business exists at all feels faintly improbable. That it thrives, exporting most of its products overseas and remaining family owned after nearly half a century, feels like a small act of cultural defiance.
Sound Leisure was founded in 1978 by Alan Black, an electrical engineer with a fascination for the machines that once defined popular music culture. At the time, jukeboxes were already sliding into obsolescence, casualties of cassette tapes, home stereos and later digital media. But Black believed there was something enduring about the physical ritual of choosing a record, pressing a button and watching a machine come to life.
Nearly five decades later, the company remains in family hands. Alan’s son, Chris Black, now runs the business alongside his wife, brother, eldest son and a workforce of skilled craftspeople drawn largely from the local area. From their Leeds factory, they craft wooden cabinets, wire electronics and polish metalwork that will end up in exclusive homes, bars, hotels and commercial locations across more than 45 countries.
The machines themselves are unapologetically nostalgic. Many are modelled on classic American designs from the 1940s and 50s, complete with sweeping curves and glowing neon. But beneath the retro exteriors sit modern electronics, custom software and, in the majority of cases, the gentle crackle of vinyl.
Sound Leisure was the first jukebox manufacturer worldwide to reintroduce a brand new vinyl playing jukebox, now its biggest-selling machine, a fact that neatly captures its willingness to lean into the past without becoming trapped by it.
There is something quietly reassuring about the way the business operates. Apprentices learn traditional woodworking skills alongside newer technologies. Components are made and assembled on site where possible. Decisions are not rushed, and growth is measured rather than feverish. In an era of start-ups and scale-ups, Sound Leisure moves at a more human pace, concentrating on quality and honing its heritage.
That rhythm has helped the company weather economic shocks, including the pandemic, which hit hospitality customers hard. While some orders dried up, demand from private collectors and overseas buyers continued. The resurgence of vinyl culture, driven in part by younger generations and custom builds for celebrities and world-renowned brands searching for tactile experiences, has also given the jukebox fresh relevance.
Yet this is not simply a story about retro fashion. Sound Leisure’s machines are expensive, long lasting objects, designed to be repaired rather than replaced. In that sense, they stand in contrast to much of modern consumer electronics. They invite use, attention and care, qualities that feel increasingly rare.
The family nature of the business shapes its tone. There is little appetite for relocation or outsourcing, despite the pressures facing British manufacturing. Leeds matters, not just as a base but as a source of identity and labour. Many employees have been with the company for decades, while others are second-generation workers themselves.
Asked why jukeboxes still matter, Chris Black often returns to the idea of shared experience. Streaming services offer infinite choice, but they are private and invisible. A jukebox, by contrast, is communal. It announces itself. It turns music into an event.
As Chris explains, “It is a real privilege to do what we do, manufacturing products that stand the test of time, creating memories for generations of families around the world that last a lifetime. I am really proud of what we do, our team and the quality of the products that we ship all over the world from our home here in Leeds.”
“Being a family business is not always easy, and the uncertainty of the past few years has been tricky, but we continue to look to the future and have lots of exciting plans for 2026 and beyond."
"As a family business, it is personal and I take immense pride in all that we do. Building on the legacy of the business my father founded, and continues to be a part of, makes it all the more special.
"Family business matters to the UK economy in so many ways, as does manufacturing, and we will continue to be a Yorkshire manufacturing family firm, hopefully for generations to come.”
In a world dominated by algorithms and earbuds, Sound Leisure’s glowing machines feel almost radical. They remind us that technology can be beautiful, that objects can have presence, and that family businesses, given time, patience and purpose, can still carve out space for themselves even when the rest of the world has moved on.
To that extent, Sound Leisure is an iconic and powerful blend of past heritage, present drive and determination, and future ambition, continuing to create memories the world over.
For more information on Sound Leisure the jukeboxes read more here.
