Home, one of Leeds' leading restaurants, has announced its shock closure after 'seven incredible years'.
The fine-dining establishment, headed up by chef patron Elizabeth Cottam, has said that it is 'succumbing to the insurmountable economic pressures' that have been crippling the hospitality industry, and many other businesses, of late.
In a statement shared on Instagram this morning, Elizabeth said that she and her team 'can hold our heads high' having 'given our all'.
She also said that it has been 'an honour and a privilege to have entertained you over the years'.
The riverside restaurant served creative tasting menus of varying lengths, priced between £65 and £145 depending on the number of courses.
Despite being widely considered to be one of the best restaurants in Leeds, Home has very sadly announced it's reached the end of the road.
It's sad news on a day when Leeds was busy celebrating the achievements of another eatery across town, with Bavette being named the best local restaurant in all of Britain just this morning.
Chef Elizabeth Cottam shared a statement announcing the closure of HOME restaurant in Leeds. Credit: Instagram, @home_leedsHOME restaurant in Leeds has announced its sad closure after seven years. Credit: Instagram, @home_leeds
Elizabeth's full statement reads: "Dear friends and valued guests, I need to share some really sad news with you.
"After 7 incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to close the doors of my beloved restaurant, HOME, on September 30th. This journey has been nothing short of amazing and I am filled with immense pride for everything we have accomplished as a team. Throughout the years, we have achieved so much, so it is with a profound sense of sadness that we find ourselves succumbing to the insurmountable economic pressures that have affected so many businesses.
"Because this outcome is not due to any fault of our own, we can hold our heads high. We have given our all and have no regrets.
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who have supported us along this journey. Your unwavering friendship and love for what we do have been the driving force behind our success. It has been an honour and a privilege to have entertained you over the years.
"To my exceptional staff, you are the heart and soul of HOME. Many of you have been with me since the beginning or for a significant part of this incredible journey, I know how much HOME means to you. Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed. I assure you that we will continue to work together on something new as soon as the right opportunity for us comes along.
"While this chapter may be coming to a close, I am filled with hope for what the future holds. I am confident that all of our paths will cross again and I look forward to sharing exciting news with all of you in due time. Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for being a part of the HOME family. Your presence was essential and has made this the most enriching experience for me, and I am forever grateful.
"As we prepare to say goodbye, we invite you to join us in celebrating the incredible moments and the never ending list of menus we have created and fed you with that have defined HOME. I look forward to seeing and welcoming you all over the coming weeks, I plan for us to go out with a bang!
One of Leeds' most popular independent bakeries has addressed a recent one-star review, which slammed them for being sold out of sandwiches.
Silver's Bakehouse, which comes from the same team behind Silver's Deli, suggested that the reviewer should 'work on their manners'.
The review hit out at the Farsley bakery for being sold out of sandwiches by the time they travelled 'an 80 minute round trip', describing owner Chris Riley as a 'silly man'.
The reviewer said they have been 'loyal high-spending customers since the first one opened' but wrote that they won't be visiting Silver's again after being left empty-handed.
They wrote: "It's all very good being mr instagram but things can go south very quickly silly man, make more sandwiches if you are going to be sold out in the first hour, don't risk the disappointment!!!"
Silver's Bakehouse has now publicly shared and responded to the review, stressing that they won't tolerate 'rudeness' and detailing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
He said: "Let me explain again for you, David…
Inside Silver's Bakehouse in Farsley. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
"We start baking at 5am and rarely finish before 6pm. Everything is made fresh, by hand, often taking days to prepare, in a very small bakery. You can literally see how small it is - and we utilise every inch.
"We make as much as we physically can. Sometimes we sell out earlier than we’d like, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people want what we make. But there is, unfortunately, a limit to how much we can produce.
"For the record, I’m not overly enthused about being “Mr Instagram” - what a truly horrendous phrase to conjure up. I managed to avoid it for years, but needs must and all that.
"I am genuinely grateful for your custom, David. Rudeness, however, I’m considerably less enthusiastic about.
"So yeah, we’ll keep working hard. You keep working on those manners."
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Thomas Melia
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Daisy Jackson -
24th July 2024 
