Remember the days where you couldn't get a vegan meal in a restaurant?
Or if you did, you were looking at a small salad-filled burger that was sad and tasteless. We're incredibly grateful that those days are over.
The Leeds vegan scene has grown from a few indie food trucks to dedicated restaurants and bars, speciality dishes and a wealth of tasty treats, all free from animal produce.
TripAdvisor have recognised over 500 vegan-friendly restaurants in Leeds city centre, with an impressive selection of plant-based burgers on offer.
We've rounded up our favourites, so that no matter who you're out with in Leeds, you can grab a bite to eat ...
Turn up the heat for the Vegan Hey Hot Stuff burger from resident kitchen Slap and Pickles. Using Moving Mountains vegan patties, the plant-based burgers are loaded with vegan cheese (the stringy kind), onion rings, jalapenos and roquito chillies and then dressed in shredded lettuce, pickles, hot sauce and their exclusive vegan Hey Hot Stuff mayo. This sauce-covered burger is served in a toasted brioche bun.
The entire Slap and Pickles menu is vegan friendly as the restaurant offer a meat, veggie and vegan version of all their burgers, as well as plenty of their sides. Try the Vegan Duck Fries piled with vegan hoisin 'duck', spring rolls and chillies, for the ultimate meat-free meal deal.
Nation of Shopkeepers have a dedicated plant-based menu, giving vegans and vegetarians the same love and attention as meat-eaters. Better still, every Tuesday all their burgers are part of their 2 for 1 offer, so you can grab a bargain bite without having to make the trip with a fellow vegan.
Their This Isn't Chicken Burger is enough to convert any carnivore though. We're talking pickled red onion, smashed avocado, sweet chilli sauce, topped with vegan cheese and a pickle, all wedged between a crispy fried vegan chicken patty and two sesame seed burger buns. You can grab two sides for an extra £4 too, including padrón peppers and triple-cooked chips.
Absurd Vird are the takeaway for vegans in Leeds. Specialising in burgers, chkn and vaffles: that's vegan chicken and waffles. Described as compassionate soul food, Absurd Vird is the pick-me-up comfort takeaway you didn't know you needed but will find impossible to forget.
The Korean BBQ Burger is a particular treat you can get delivered right to your doorstep. Filled with Chik'n fillet and Kimchi, this Asian-inspired dish is topped with pickled cucumber, Vegan Sriracha mayo and crispy onion rings. Make it into a meal with some sweet potato or garlic fries and a small 'bucket of beer'.
Over at the Kirkgate Markets, Fat Annies is a hidden treasure every vegan needs to have on their agenda. The stall made made the decision to go meat and meat product free in November 2020 after reading a UN Climate report and have gone from strength to strength ever since. Their menu features hot dogs and fries, but it's their burgers that make the brand one of the best-loved vegan eateries around.
The Mexicana burger is made up of a spicy bean burger base, topped with vegan cheese, salsa, mayo, jalapenos and nacho crunch. For a spicy meal deal, you can add some Chilli Cheese Fries, complete with jackfruit chilli and stringy cheese-nacho crunch, as well as adding a soft drink of your choice.
The Hyde Park cafe and takeaway are a student favourite when it comes to vegan fast food. The small business pride themselves in creating all their menus in-house and are completely transparent about all ingredients. There are on hidden 'nasties' here, just plant-based food that comes from the heart.
The BBQ Boi is the best way to taste the Deep South without getting on a flight. Made up of a 'Beef' patty with 'cheeze', creamy slaw, crispy bacon, barbecue sauce and an onion ring: the burger has some of the stringiest 'cheeze' around. Plus the black bun makes it perfect for the 'gram.
Feature Image- Punk Vegan
Leeds
The Shawshank Redemption comes to Leeds Grand Theatre: a story of hope, survival and humanity
More than a prison story: it’s a discovery into toxic masculinity within prisons.
Adapting a film as iconic and widely loved as The Shawshank Redemption for the stage comes with enormous expectations, yet this touring production at Leeds Grand Theatre delivers a gripping and emotionally charged theatrical experience.
Rather than relying solely on the legacy of the film, the production successfully uses the intimacy of live theatre to create a darker, more psychologically intense interpretation of Stephen King’s story.
From the opening moments, the audience is immersed in the harsh world of Shawshank prison. The cold lighting, industrial staging and haunting sound design establish an atmosphere dominated by confinement, fear and institutional control.
Image: Supplied
The stripped-back set works effectively in creating a bleak and claustrophobic environment, allowing the emotional tension between characters to take centre stage. Unlike the cinematic scale of the film, the stage adaptation feels far more immediate and uncomfortable, forcing the audience to confront the realities of prison life at close range.
Joe McFadden delivers a restrained yet powerful performance as Andy Dufresne, capturing the character’s quiet resilience, intelligence and emotional vulnerability without attempting to imitate the film portrayal.
Image: Supplied
Ben Onwukwe is equally compelling as Red, bringing warmth, humour and emotional depth to the role. The chemistry between the two actors becomes the emotional core of the production, perfectly reflecting the play’s themes of friendship, survival and hope.
One of the production’s strongest aspects is its exploration of toxic masculinity within the prison system. Shawshank is presented as an environment where power is maintained through aggression, intimidation and emotional suppression.
Image: Supplied
Vulnerability becomes dangerous, while violence and dominance are treated as necessary forms of survival. Bill Ward’s portrayal of Warden Stammas embodies this culture perfectly, delivering a performance filled with controlled menace, hypocrisy and quiet authority.
However, there were moments where the production lost some emotional realism. Several stage combat sequences, intended to highlight the brutality and hierarchy of prison life, felt under-rehearsed and lacked the intensity needed to fully convey the violence of the narrative. At times, the choreography appeared slightly unstructured, unintentionally reducing the tension of scenes that should have felt genuinely threatening.
Image: Supplied
Similarly, while the minimal set design effectively reinforced the oppressive atmosphere of Shawshank, the visual staging occasionally became repetitive throughout the production. Aside from the movement of Dufresne’s cell and the recurring use of the mobile bookcase, there was limited visual variation across scenes. Although this may have been a deliberate directorial choice to reflect the monotony of prison life, it did affect the pacing at points, with some audience engagement appearing to dip during slower sections.
Despite these criticisms, the production remains a powerful and emotionally resonant piece of theatre. Through strong performances, effective direction and its exploration of institutional power and masculinity, The Shawshank Redemption captures the endurance of hope and humanity in even the darkest environments. Thought-provoking, intense and deeply moving, it is a production that earns every moment of its standing ovation.
Running from 18 - 23 May at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House, you can get your tickets here.
Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci spotted in Ilkley at local coffee shop
Clementine Hall
A neighbourhood coffee shop were left starstruck as Stanley Tucci popped in for a brew.
It seems that even Hollywood A-listers love a trip to the beloved spa town of Ilkley.
Stanley Tucci, known for his iconic roles in The Devil Wears Prada, The Lovely Bones and The Hunger Games was seen in Ilkley yesterday, Tuesday 19 May.
Thirty Nine Coffee Company, a popular brunch spot on Ilkley's main street The Grove, welcomed Tucci and his crew for a coffee after he was spotted filming at a local pub just across the road.
Image: Thirty Nine Coffee Co
After this, it was said he went to go watch his own film The Devil Wears Prada 2 at The Ilkley Cinema.
Posting the news to Instagram, Thirty Nine Coffee Company said: "Look who popped in for a Thirty Nine coffee - awesome to meet the amazing @stanleytucci - what an amazing chap and lovely crew - so glad you enjoyed our coffee!"
Pictures were posted of Stanley taking selfies with the staff, clad in his usual trendy get-up consisting of chunky glasses, flat cap, wax jacket and scarf.
Image: Thirty Nine Coffee Co
The owners of Thirty Nine said he loved his coffee that they served him and hey, if it's good enough for Stanley then it's good enough for us.
It's not clear what he was filming in Ilkley, but the actor is known for presenting a number of foodie documentaries so it could be something to do with this. We'll keep you posted when we know more.
Sophie Smith -
24th November 2021 
