Originally, one of the most challenging mealtimes to find vegan alternatives (in our opinion) is breakfast. Until recently, unless you were happy for fruit to be your start to the day, options were few and far between- and that was before trying to eat out.
Luckily these days the Leeds foodie scene is filled with plenty of imaginative plant-based brekkies. Healthy, tasty and ideal for trying out the best of Veganuary in our city, here's our top picks for breakfast as a vegan in Leeds.
Acai bowls are one of the most aesthetic breakfasts around and perfect for vegans wanting to get their five a day in whilst posting their meal on to their socials. The organic acai bowl is made from a smoothie base, topped with granola, fresh fruit and coconut flakes- so selections can vary from day to day, but we're convinced they're all just as tasty as each other.
If you don't fancy a smoothie bowl, overnight oats or a vegan full English with crushed peas, avocado, wild mushrooms, crushed new potatoes and cherry tomatoes make up just a few of the other plant-based alternatives you can grab at Wolfox.
Meat is Dead is a staple if you're a fan of being surrounded by plant-based goodness without a single sausage in sight. Naturally, the Meat is Dead menu is full of tasty brunch dishes for those that eat a little later. Open from 10am every day, visitors can feast their eyes of avocado, sourdough and plenty of plant-based coffee options too.
The menu at Meat is Dead is an ever-changing reflection of seasonal produce, but the most up to date menus are always up on their website. They also offer bottomless brunch on the weekends if you want to pair your plate with something boozy and bubbly.
Bubble and squeak is a classic- but this vegan version on the Fint menu has never made the classic leftovers dish look so delicious. Having reinvented their former site and coffee shop Fettle into an all-day, all-night restaurant, Fint’s breakfast menu is smaller than the former shop's to make room for their larger night time menu, but their options don’t need to be extensive to satisfy any breakfast craving that you might have.
The vegan bubble and squeak is made from local tofu, crushed potato, carrot, and parsnip bubble and squeak, speckled lentils, dhal and red cabbage, but you can also get seasonal sweet dishes like Winter Spiced Crumpet Pain Perdu too.
By day, Eat Your Greens operates as a grocery store, before transforming into a restaurant serving healthy, seasonal meals 5 - 9 pm a few days a week. Brunch is served at the weekends from 10.30am - 2.30pm, perfect for those that want a lazy morning before heading into the city centre. Organic, local and responsible, Eat Your Greens are proud to take on the world, one brunch at a time and show us how we can eat in a way that's good for our bodies and the planet.
The menu changes frequently, but there always seems to be plenty of mouthwatering vegan options on the menu, including the full plant-based brekkie (pictured bottom right dish) with all the veggies you could wish for.
Zero-waste, independent, and sustainable are the only three words we need to convince you at Cha Lounge are serious about going green and part of this commitment means offering plenty of plant-based breakfasts (they have the largest range of ethical lead teas in Leeds too if you needed any more proof). In addition to their coffee shop cakes and Friday night curries, you'll find a range of tasty treats here.
Choose from the Cha Vegan Breakfast with sweet potato and organic black bean sausages, mushrooms, smashed avocado and lime and much more, or for smaller portions like porridge and avo on toast.
If there's one vegan hotspot you'd expect to serve a good plant-based breakfast, it's LS6 Cafe. THe Hyde Park-based brunch spot is the perfect place to head for a recovery full english on a Sunday morning or an early morning spot to get you set up for the day. Plus, the entire LS6 menu is sourced from ethical and sustainable farms- so you know that the food going into your body is fuel good for mind, body and planet alike.
Try the vegan full english with vegan sausage, kumara hash brown, garlic and herb mushrooms, roast tomato, baked beans, garlic hummus and toasted rye or make up your own combination of plant-based brekkie using their sides and extras menu.
If you're heading over the M621 and need a drive-thru breakfast that will suit your vegan needs, look no further than the UK's first drive-thru Leon restaurant in Gildersome. Over Christmas, the popular eatery offered a Terry's chocolate inspired breakfast (pictured) but we're confident that their Ruby Red Porridge with organic activated almond milk will have the same delicious taste.
Of course, if you're in Leeds city centre, the train station store offer the same range of delicious plant-based treats, including breakfasts, wraps and the best oat milk lattes in the station.
"After years of late nights, strong cocktails, and incredible stories; The Maven will close its doors"
It's a sad day for the Leeds night life scene, as a beloved speakeasy bar has today announced that it will be closing its doors for good.
The Maven has been a firm favourite for many years with those looking to enjoy some experimental and expertly made cocktails.
Hidden behind an unassuming door at the top of Call Lane, it was a great spot to visit if you were looking for something that little bit special.
Announcing the news to their social media, The Maven said: "From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for being our guests over the years and promise that until then, we'll do our best to give you the best nights out on Call Lane."
The Government wants the public to help decide if children should be banned from social media
Emily Sergeant
Should there be a minimum age to access social media? Should children be banned all together? The Government is asking the public to help decide.
In case you missed it earlier last month, the Government announced a social media crackdown in a bid to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes – with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he was looking to take ‘immediate action’ to make the online world safer for young people.
The new measures announced included a crackdown on ‘vile’ illegal content created by AI, as well as ‘fast action’ to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law.
It was also hinted at that setting a minimum age limit for social media – which Australia famously became the first country to do so last year – could be on the cards, and also the restricting of other harmful features like infinite scrolling.
The Prime Minister insisted that ‘no platform gets a free pass’.
And now, it’s your turn – parents, guardians, and young people across the UK are being urged to shape the country’s next steps on children’s digital wellbeing, as the Government has today (2 March 2026) opened what is said to be the the world’s most ambitious consultation on social media.
The consultation will aim to gather insights from the public on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots, and gaming platforms.
The Government has launched a consultation on banning social media for children / Credit: Julian Christ (via Unsplash)
“Millions of parents across the country worry about what social media is doing to their children’s sleep, concentration, and mental health,” the Government said in a announcing the launch of the consultation.
Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s, however, others – including leading children’s charities like UNICEF – have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards ‘less regulated’ corners of the internet, or leave teenagers unprepared for when they do come online.
This is why the Government says its consultation ‘looks beyond a ban’ and instead covers a full range of options – from curfews, to the impact of chatbots and gaming.
It also asks the questions about how any new rules would work in practice, in a bid to make sure they are effective.
On the social media side of things, three main questions are being posed in the consultaion:
Should there be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right?
Should platforms be required to switch off addictive features that keep children hooked late into the night – like infinite scrolling and autoplay?
And whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better, and what age they should apply to?
Speaking on the launch of the consultation today, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Technology is fundamentally changing childhood. Used well, it can open up new opportunities for learning, creativity and connection, but only if we get the balance right.
“That is why we want to hear directly from parents, teachers and young people about how we strike that balance and give children the very best childhood in a digital age.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added: “We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.
“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.”
The consultation is now live, and you can have your say here.
Sophie Smith -
7th January 2022 
