2021 brought a lot of new contenders to the Leeds foodie scene, but 2022 is set to be the biggest year yet: with everything from high-end restaurants to drive-thru Greggs, the future is here, and it's delicious.
Here's everything we've got to look forward to this year.
A giant Roxy Lanes venue will open at The Light
Roxy Lanes new location at The Light will open in early 2022. / Image- Roxy Ballroom
Roxy Lanes will be relocating from their Bond Street location to The Light on Headrow. Although the mammoth new venue will not be open to the public until early 2022, the wait will be more than worth it. The new venue is a whopping three times the size of their Bond Street predecessor and will incorporate all elements of existing Roxy venues to date inside.
The company were overwhelmed by local support after launching the for a Libations Rum distillery onto a crowdfunding platform and received 96% of donations needed towards their £150,000 budget in just twenty four hours. The plans for a dedicated production house comes after twenty months of careful planning and temporary stents around Leeds at various venues, so the rum makers will be delighted to land themselves a permanent home soon.
Yorkshire's first drive-thru Greggs will open near Bradford
There are less than ten drive-thru Greggs in the country at present but the existing few have been a big hit with locals and visitors alike. Image: Martin Wallace
The one we've all been waiting for... The drive-thru Greggs will be the first in Yorkshire and only the ‘sixth or seventh’ to open in the country. The popular chain opened their first drive-thru to the public in Manchester back in 2017 but is now expanding at a quick pace, with new drive-thru branches opening in both Cumbria and Wales earlier this year. Construction of the new building is likely to begin in the new year after the former pub on the site has been demolished.
Due to open, unknown, but building will commence in 2022.
Cut & Craft Steakhouse will open in the Victoria Quarter
The bright flowers and pastel soft furnishings are perfectly in keeping with the existing bars and restaurants in the Victoria Quarter. / Image: Cut & Craft
The Cut & Craft are known in York for their comfortable yet stylish bar and restaurant, but the popular eatery have now announced they will be opening another venue in Leeds in 2022. There very little information about the specific details of the Leeds restaurant but visitors can expect the same beautiful interior and mouthwatering delights as their flagship York restaurant.
Due to open, unknown, but plans suggest in early 2022.
Slap and Pickle will leave The Fleece for another residency
The Fleece in Horsforth have worked with Slap and Pickle since lockdown. / Image: Slap and Pickle
Beloved chefs from Slap and Pickle will be leaving their residency at The Fleece in Horsforth at the end of the year. The news came earlier this month after the chefs thanked the pub for their hospitality, before announcing that the ongoing success of their flavoursome burgers and exciting menu h
ave brought the brand new opportunities for 2022. “Sadly though, we’ve outgrown the pub’s kitchen – so we’re moving on to pastures new and *VERY LOCAL*".
In early 2022, the Canal Cafe, a further daytime cafe space will open at the same location. Of course, a new cafe-bar-club concept couldn’t open in Leeds without a bottomless brunch option, and we can’t wait to see the full menu. Having only opened in December, Canal Club will has already confirmed its place on the Leeds food and drink scene, but we can’t wait to see how the cafe-bar-club presents itself in 2022 when it’s concept is complete.
A Charity Dinner from local award-winning chefs will open for one night only
Raise money for an important cause at this charity dinner. / Image: West Park Hotel
To bring in the new year and raise money for Hospitality Action, a national charity supporting workers in the face of adversity, the West Park Hotel in Harrogate will play host to a charity dinner prepared by some of our county’s finest chefs. Grab a seat, splash out on the £100, because a whopping 75% of the ticket will be donated to charity, and the menu has been hand-crafted by some of Yorkshire’s top chefs.
The team behind Stuzzi - one of Leeds’ best-loved Italian restaurants - are set to launch a brand-new concept in Farsley this week.
La Grassa will be a new Italian-American ‘Paninoteca’ and diner concept, where you’ll be able to get your hands on paninos filled with house-made meats, cheeses and sauces.
The new concept comes from Stuzzi Leeds co-founders Jimbob Phillips and Brett Lee, and is set to open in Amity Brew Co.
They’ll be taking over the former brewing area at Sunnybank Mills, after Amity moved their brewery operations over to a new site in Greengates.
This new collaboration between Stuzzy and Amity Brew Co will bring Italian-American flavours to Farsley with quick-service dining - hearty sandwiches and light bites by day, and more substantial plates by night.
Jimbob Phillips of Stuzzi Leeds said, “La Grassa is about bringing people together over food that’s indulgent, fun and full of flavour. Working with Amity gives us the perfect space to explore that in a new way.”
Brett Lee added: “We wanted to create a place that feels lively and approachable, where people can enjoy the quality of Stuzzi Leeds in a quick-service format without compromising on taste.”
Verity Clarke, Director at Amity Brew Co, said: “While we were brewing on-site at Sunny Bank Mills, it did limit the hospitality experience. We could only open four days a week, and there wasn’t a weekday that went by without mill visitors wanting to pop in for a daytime drink or bite to eat.
"Over the past five years, we’ve collaborated with food vendors, and it’s always added another welcome dimension to the experience at Amity. We’re very excited to have such a high-quality team joining us to really fulfil Amity’s potential.”
La Grassa at Amity Brew Co will officially open on Friday 13 February 2026 with new extended opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday every week.
The best places in Leeds to get pancakes on Pancake Day
Clementine Hall
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
Sophie Smith -
24th December 2021 
