Elevate your May Bank Holiday vibes with our handpicked selection of top rooftop destinations.
With the first May Bank Holiday behind us, we are all looking ahead to the next one and for the perfect place to spend our extended weekend sipping delicious cocktails whilst bathing in the sunshine.Â
If, like us, you’re looking for that ideal spot a little sooner, then we’ve curated the perfect list of our favourite rooftops for you to enjoy this summer.Â
Whether you want to dress up and treat yourself to a swanky cocktail, jam out to a DJ whilst enjoying a craft beer, find an intimate spot to share a bottle of wine with your other half, or catch up with friends over some good food washed down by a refreshing beverage, there is a rooftop for you.Â
So stick with us as we take you through our favourite rooftops around the city for any occasion.
Green Room
Wellington Street, near Leeds Train Station.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Local breweries, banging cocktails and North Star coffee served on a huge rooftop bar- this rooftop has brought everything we love about our city and placed it on a giant terrace bar.
Serving up some of the biggest food and drink names in the city on a huge sun-trapped rooftop, Green Room is the vibrant city space with everything you need to celebrate the summer season.
Expect barbecues, live DJs and eclectic seating options where guests can unwind with a pint from a local independent brewery in one hand and a delectable choice of street food in the other, all whilst getting a tan in the summer heat.
Headrow House
Bramleys Yard, 19 The Headrow
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Possibly the biggest rooftop in Leeds and set over two floors, this terrace promises a fantastic night out where you’ll be boogying on until the sun goes down. The first floor offers long picnic style tables, colourful parasols and overhead heaters to counteract the evening chill. The second floor has more benches amidst charming little covered huts, ideal for larger groups as they can be reserved in advance.
A huge neon sign is propped up amongst the skyline which comes alive when the sun goes down, setting the scene with a reddish tint as the DJ provides groovy tunes to take you into the early hours. The drinks menu is extensive and their 2-4-1 gin goblets are a firm favourite alongside a shawarma kebab provided by neighbouring restaurant The Ox Club.
If you like craft beer and good music, this is the rooftop for you. Belgrave’s iconic rooftop is always jam packed in the Summer and it is no surprise why; the vibes are always immaculate and the drinks are ace. Kirkstall Brewery and Five Points Ale are just a taster of what’s on the pumps and there’s also a great cocktail menu which are well priced and mega tasty.
If you get peckish you can order some ‘session loaded fries’ from Patty Smith’s burgers or a huge sharing pizza from Dough Boys. Both vendors are just downstairs and are a good enough reason to make a trip to Belgrave alone. Live DJs play all day and there’s an authentic friendly atmosphere meaning you’ll all be bopping heads and soak in the views together.
This rooftop is the true meaning of a hidden gem. It’s one of those ‘if you know, you know’ type of places. To find it, follow the staircase up from the courtyard and you’ll enter a cosy little sun trap with room for about 30 people. Here you can sit on one of the high stools which line the wooden walls and watch the world go by. There’s a fabulous view of the train station where you can see all the comings and goings into and out of the city.
If you’re a beer lover you’re spoilt for choice, but we would recommend trying one of their expertly mixed cocktails from their ever-changing seasonal menu whilst basking in the sun. Bliss.
Habbibi by Abdu Rozik
Victoria Gate Third Floor, George Street
Opened in January, this new rooftop bar brings the bars of Dubai right to our doorstep. With its mix of Middle Eastern authenticity and Dubai-inspired glamour, Habbibi provides shisha, Mediterranean cuisine, and Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails.
Habbibi is owned by Abdu Rosik, a globally acclaimed social media influencer, boxer, and singer, marking this as his first UK restaurant. He teamed up with Leeds born and bred singer Tom Zanetti to bring to life the ideas that reflect the preferences of Leeds locals.
When the weather is rubbish, there’s nothing better than tucking away in the corner of a cosy pub with a good pint and a bowl of chips.
Thankfully, Leeds is blessed with many.
Roaring fires add extra comfort, as do old-fashioned characteristics like low-slung wooden beams and wood panelling, whilst big windows serve to let in a bit of light on the darker days.
To help you pick where to go, we’ve put together a list of our favourites below.
The Victoria & Commercial
Great George Street, LS1 3DL
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Newest and maybe the most festive is The Victoria, originally opened in 1865 this historic pub has recently been reborn courtesy of Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock's Ale House.
The interior here is absolutely beautiful, even without the decorations it feels festive. So if you're looking for that Christmas feeling all year round, this is the place to be.
Whitelock’s Ale House
Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds LS1 6HB
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Of course it wouldn't be a cosy pub guide without the iconic Whitelock's Ale House. The oldest pubs in Leeds, Whitelock’s is easy to miss – tucked away down a side alley off the main high street, but once you find it it's well worth the hunt.
A former marketman’s pub, inside you’ll find historic features like an old wooden bar and stained glass windows as well as good selection of beers, ales and traditional British dishes.
Crowd of Favours
 4-12 Harper Street, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7EA
This laid back spot in Leeds is the perfect spot to get nestled in, enjoy a few pints and escape the dreary weather.
Food-wise, think lemon and thyme chicken wings, braised beef cheek and hearty stews. As for the drinks, there’s a solid wine and cocktail menu as well as a good selection of beers on draught.
The Highland Laddie
38 Cavendish Street, LS3 1LY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Empire Cafe, The Highland Laddie is one of Leeds' newest pubs but it's as cosy as it gets.
Fabulous traditional interiors with a proper homely feel to it, and of course the food is absolutely banging. Think oysters, ham and chips and belting sausage rolls.
The Lamb and Flag
1 Church Row, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7HD
Housed in a renovated 19th-century building, The Lamb and Flag boast a locally-sourced menu and a strong selection of local ales. A stone’s throw from Leeds Minster, there are two bars – one upstairs and one down. Between them, you’ll find ten different hand pulls pouring some of the best beer in Leeds..
The Brunswick
82 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem at the top of town has everything you could ever want in a pub. Great drinks, a warming atmosphere, a pool table and brilliant food.
The staff are always lovely and there's usually an adorable dog knocking about too.
The Franco Manca ‘pizza run’ explained – here’s how you can get a free pizza
Danny Jones
If you’ve been wondering why you’re seeing a lot of free pizza lately, we’re here to explain the current Franco Manca pizza ‘run trend’.
And yes, we were the foolish ones enough to have not quizzed any of our jogging chums until now, meaning we’ve missed out on more money and free pizza. Sigh.
Nevermind, though, because at least we spotted it before the end of the month (this being Franco Manca’s main January deal), and we dare say that now you’ve heard about it, you’ll see plenty others popping up on social media with their free slices.
That’s right, it may be a very thin slice with a very long and thin slice, but that is as much of a pizza slice outline as we needed to qualify for the current deal.
Yes, we’re aware that the actual pepperonis on ours are more square than most – listen, we did our best, and we’ve certainly seen people pulling off better overall shaped pizzas than us; that’s part of the fun/and or challenge.
For instance, we didn’t mean for our picture to come out with one long crust running down either…
So, how does it work, you ask? Well, it’s quite simple, to be fair. All you have to do is run a pizza-shaped route (any pizza shape works, by the way), map your route on the likes of Strava or Apple Fitness, etc., then show your creation at your nearest and claim a quid off for every kilometre you run.
As advertised on the ‘Map My Pizza Run’ page on their website, the aim isn’t about putting pressure or hitting a strict target; you simply get rewarded the longer you go.
Here’s a handy example from a local running content creator for you:
There are some stipulations, such as not being used in conjunction with any other offer, one pizza map being valid per person, and the route has to have been run in January. You can find the full terms and conditions HERE.
Oh, and technically, you can do it however you like: run, walk, cycle – you name it. Other than that, we’ve pretty much given you all the info you need to know, so go and get yourself some free pizza.
Tassy Heslop -
9th May 2024 
