Looking for some new spots to check out in Leeds?
You’ve come to the right place.
February might not be the busiest month of new openings, but it’s allowed us to take stock of all the fantastic new places the city has to offer that opened their doors just before Christmas, and look forward to everything we’ve got coming our way in 2024.
Bavette will no doubt be the new opening stealing the limelight this month. The new Hosrforth bistro is a new concept from respected ex-Culpeper Group MD and Head Chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Restaurant Manager and sommelier Clément Cousin.
But there’s plenty more where that came from.
From hot ramen restaurants to neighbourhood bistros, hotels and coffee shops, to late night bars, flagship stores and everything in between, keep reading for 19 new places to check out in Leeds…
Just announced…
Wingstop
Opening date unknown | Boar Lane, Leeds City Centre
The viral chicken shop is famous for its fresh wings and tenders, hand-cut seasoned fries, and a huge selection of flavours and sauces that you can coat your chicken in.
From hickory smoked barbecue to lemon pepper and the famous mango habanero, there’s a flavour to suit everyone when you’re ordering a Wingstop.
And now, Leeds locals will be able to get their Wingstop fix more easily than ever before as a new site is opening its doors on Boar Lane.
Queen’s House
Opening date unknown | 34 Wellington Street
A new bar concept is coming to the city centre from the masterminds behind Green Room, and we absolutely cannot wait. Expect a laid-back rustic feel, set in an incredible historic building with live music, fantastic drinks and a basement space to dance til the early hours.
New openings this month
Brotherhood Re-opening
Opening Friday 2 February 2024 | New Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Celebrating its 10th year trading, The Brotherhood sports bar has reinvented its New Briggate venue with a massive makeover and new menu.
With the help of AXI Interior Design, the two-floor venue has been transformed
into a warm and inviting space that channels a vintage gentleman’s club, with plenty of
retro sporting nods throughout.
The Brotherhood is set to reopen on Friday 2 February which perfectly coincides with the Euros, the Six Nations, Fury Vs Usyk and the Super Bowl all heading to Brotherhood’s screens over the coming months.
Bavette
Opening mid February 2024 | Town Street, Horsforth
A new neighbourhood bistro is coming to Horsforth next month, and there’s just as much focus on the food as there is the wine here. Named Bavette, the opening is the first venture from ex-Culpeper Group MD and Head Chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Restaurant Manager and sommelier Clément Cousin.
The seasonal menu is expected to feature ‘classically-inspired dishes such as Pork Belly Rillons, Frisé Salad and Ravigote Sauce, Halibut, Vin Jaune Sauce & Buttered Leeks or Paris-Brest’, all of which can be perfectly paired with wine from the family vineyard or other exciting low intervention bottles from across Europe.
Find out more here.
Psycho Sandbar (kind of)
Wednesday 14 February 2024 | Vicar Lane
Reservations are now available for March, April and May for Michelin-recognised chef Michael O’Hare’s reinvented restaurant – and ahead of the relaunch, Psycho Sandbar will be hosting a special preview night on Valentine’s Day.
The ‘candle light in a building site’ menu will feature a five course set menu, with hints of the new ‘surf shaky’ feel. Priced at £95 per person, there will be tables available from midday until 10pm on Wednesday 14 February 2024 only.
Find out more here.
Recent new openings to check out…
Maki & Ramen
Opened January 2023 | Bond Street, Leeds City Centre
At Maki & Ramen, they take ramen seriously. Spending eight long hours to create the richest and creamiest broth imaginable, making the noodles by hand from scratch every single day and using high quality toppings to finish it all off.
And it’s not just ramen they’re pros at, you can get other Japanese favourites like sushi, Katsu curries, dumplings, Yakisoba, bao buns and so much more.
Find out more here.
The Cheesy Living Co. Oakwood
Opened December 2023 | Roundhay Road, Oakwood
Taking over the former The Pantry site on Roundhay Road in Oakwood, The Cheesy Living Co. has brought a new multi-storey store to the suburbs, and it’s set to bring everything we love about the flagship Corn Exchange store, and plenty more besides.
Think cheesemongers meets ‘posh off licence’, with fresh coffee in the daytime, fondue in the afternoon and cosy nights with a bottle of sustainable wine.
Find out more here.
The Olive Tree
Opened December 2023 | South Parade, Leeds City Centre
Expect a 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.
Find out more here.
Habbibi by Abdu Rozik
Opened January 2024 | Victoria Leeds
A new rooftop bar has opened in the new year, bringing an exciting list of celebrities down for the opening (and we’re sure for many nights to follow).
The shisha bar and restaurant has a wide-spanning menu with Mediterranean cuisine, Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails and mocktails and a tempting dessert list.
Find out more here.
Galleria
Opened December 2023 | Project House, Armley Road
A new woodfire restaurant and bar promises to bring the food in at new gig and event space Project House next month – and it sounds like there’s going to be a lot to love. Brunch will be served with ‘pancake stacks, breakfast flatbreads and the obligatory Bloody Mary to boot’ whilst evenings promise a host of meaty, doughy, sweet, sour and savoury delights – we can’t wait to find out what’s on the menu.
Find out more here.
Chance & Counters
Opened December 2023 | Merrion Street, Leeds City Centre
Chance & Counters is known down south for its inviting setting, and seemingly endless supply of board games. And now the cafe company has taken over the former Yard & Coop site on Merrion Street.
The cafes are all centred around a library of 500 board games: there’s everything from old-school family favourites to new releases, and everything in between. It’s not just games here too – all that competitive spirit is bound to work up an appetite. By day, grab a coffee and light lunch and craft beer or cocktail in the evening, with hearty pub grub like smash burgers, tacos, loaded fries and wings.
Find out more here.
TRåd Collective
Opening Saturday 9 December 2023 | Vicar Lane, Leeds City Centre
Headingley’s sustainable clothes and lifestyle store moved to the city centrejust before Christmas and is quickly becoming a one-stop for alterations, gifts and, just a proper treasure trove filled with one-off clothing designs.
Find out more here.
Chunk Cookies
Opening soon | 406 Burley Road, Kirkstall
Chunk Cookies is your friendly local vegan cookie supplier, and if you’ve been eating out and about around the city centre over the last three years, there’s good chance you’ve sampled some of these sweet stuffed treats.
Find out more here.
Opening later this year…
The Victoria
Opening date unknown | Great George Street, Leeds City Centre
Kirkstall Brewery and the owners of Whitelock’s Ale House and The Five Points Brewing Company are set to breathe new life into The Victoria & Commercial Pub on Great George Street, located behind Leeds Town Hall.
The beautiful Grade II-listed will be restored to it’s former glory, and we absolutely cannot wait. Opening all the way back in 1865, The Victoria is one of the city’s most coveted historical buildings that has been left empty since 2020.
Find out more here.
Carousel / Home
Opening 2024 | The Light, Leeds City Centre
Inside the former home of Tiger Tiger (and more recently, Cargo), a new opening will split the site in two for a bar and club with a proper ‘party atmosphere’. The ground floor will welcome Carousel, an upmarket bar that will offer a chilled experience during the day with quality food and drink on offer combined with arcade games.
Upstairs will welcome Home nightclub, a multi-room club offering aiming to be Leeds’ number one late night attraction. Home will feature great DJs, high levels of production and special VIP experiences for those special occasions.
Find out more here.
Latitude
Opening early 2024 | The Calls, Leeds City Centre
Based just 200 metres from where it all began, Latitude will be moving into 46 The Calls, becoming neighbours with KAPOW! Coffee, Screen Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Design Group the new Latitude Tasting Room and shop will allow locals from near and far to pop in for a tipple of their choice, seven days a week.
Expect wine by the glass, and ever-evolving specials served as the sun goes down, with a choice of 900 different bottles for a small corkage fee. Meanwhile, the spirits list aims to give customers a change to try flavours and brands that they wouldn’t usually be able to – and of course there will by plenty of opportunities to buy the bottles you taste test too.
Find out more here.
Flannels Flagship Store
Opening date unknown | Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Work is now underway for the former Debenhams site on Briggate to become a new flagship Flannels store. The news was announced back in August following the whopping 120,000sq ft, seven storey store opening in Liverpool.
Find out more here.
White Cloth Hall
Opening early 2024 | Cloth Hall Street, Leeds City Centre
The owners behind one of Leeds’ most-loved pubs is bringing a brand new opening to the city centre: our very own food and drink hall.
This exciting new opening is set to bring together a whole host of independents, including Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology Brewery and Whitewood Distilling, amongst other food traders. Expect all the charm from the oldest pub in Leeds, but the idea is that this new opening won’t be a replica of Whitelock’s Ale House, it’s going to be far from it.
Find out more here.
The Tetley
Opening date unknown (2026) | Hunslet Road, Leeds City Centre
When The Tetley announced their shocking closure last month, the shattering of hearts amongst Leeds locals could no doubt be heard across the Pennines. And now, the first plans to transform the historic 92-year-old building have been released, including a roof terrace and a cellar restaurant and bar area.
VASTINTUK is in control of the project, and will be placing The Tetley as the focal point for the Aire Park district which includes up to 1,400 new homes and 85,000 m2 of office space.
Find out more here.
Kirkgate Market Hotel
Opening date unknown | George Street, Leeds City Centre
Plans for a new hotel and gym to be built around Leeds Kirkgate Market has been given the green light by the council. It comes after Leeds City Council submitted a planning application in the summer for the hotel scheme on the George Street side of the Grade I listed market building.
The hotel will fill the top five floors of the new building, with 143 rooms as well as a bar and restaurant for guests. It is believed that the hotel will create approximately 50 new full and part-time jobs, with around 80 jobs being supported during construction.
Find out more here.
