The Olive Tree Brasserie will bring their modern take on Greek cuisine to South Parade this December.
The stylish new restaurant will be the fourth Olive Tree branch, joining the likes of locations in Lytham, Chester and Stockton Heath, with the brand planning further expansion across the North.
Following an incredible £700k investment, the South Parade location will mark a new iteration for the brand's interior.
Where usually the restaurants are modern and highly Instagrammable, the Leeds restaurant will transport you to the idyllic Mediterranean holiday destination.
Image: Supplied
Expect light-drenched interiors, raw wood, neutral palettes and green foliage flooding the space. Guests can enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner in this beautiful new space.
The food is Greek-inspired with a focus on sustainability, and a great option for vegetarians and vegans with 40% of their menu completely plant-based.
On weekends, The Olive Tree Brasserie will welcome resident DJ's who will soundtrack your evening with soulful, melodic tones.
Dishes will include Mediterranean favourites such as Gyros, Lamb Kleftico, Moussaka, Kebabs and Dolmades but also the lesser-known Greek dishes such as Honey Pastourma which is a delicious cured beef sausage.
Image: Supplied
There will be a wide range of menus on offer to suit every occasion, from A La Carte to a Prix Fixe and even a Bottomless Brunch menu.
Executive chef Aaron Thomas said about the opening: “We’re so excited to bring our modern Greek food experience to Leeds. Thirty new staff members will ensure we settle into our new Leeds home nicely, alongside our long-standing, passionate team.
"Greece is a part of the Med renowned for its back-to-basics focus on the best tastes, served up with simplicity and warmth. Combining this with our focus on stylish decor and relaxed vibes, we think Olive Tree Brasserie is the place to be. Let us whisk you away from a rainy Autumn day and bring some summer to your soul!”
Bookings are now open for The Olive Tree Brasserie via their website.
A list of the UK's best independent coffee shops for 2026 has been released, and one in Leeds has come up trumps.
The coffee shop in question may come as no surprise to some of you, as some would say that after 15 years in the city it's become somewhat of an institution.
Of course it's none other than Laynes.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's a proper Leeds staple at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
But it's not just us who think it's flipping fantastic, as a new study has revealed the top 10 most popular independent coffee shops in the country and Laynes comes in at a very respectable number 8.
The list, made by Capital on Tap, analysed coffee across the UK looking at Google reviews, monthly searches and social media success.
Laynes was in some pretty good company including Idle Hands in Manchester and Kaf Coffee in Glasgow. But most importantly, none of the top 10 were in London - make of that what you will.
The top 10 most popular independent coffee shops for 2026:
Neighbourhood Café, Belfast
Colonna & Small’s, Bath
Established Coffee, Belfast
Hard Lines Coffee, Cardiff
Rough Handmade, Liverpool
Idle Hands Coffee, Manchester
Full Court Press, Bristol
Laynes Espresso, Leeds
Kaf Coffee, Glasgow
Dom’s Coffee, Cambridge
Bravo Laynes, a well earned accolade for one of our favourite spots in the city.
A bakery serving giant NYC-style cookies and fluffy cinnamon buns has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
Clementine Hall -
14th November 2023 
