Award-winning Leeds restaurant The Empire Cafe has just unveiled exciting plans to open a new pub.
The beloved Fish Street restaurant, which has been feeding Leeds locals under various guises and different ownerships for more than a century, teased the plans on social media today.
They announced that the team are set to launch a brand-new city gastropub.
The Empire Cafe has shared a photo of the old pub, The Highland, which stands just west of Leeds city centre.
The Highland has gradually become surrounded by high-rise student accommodation in recent years and the pub closed for good back in April 2023.
It had been open for four decades but shut down after ‘five price increases in six months’ from various breweries.
They wrote at the time: “It is with a heavy heart that due to five price increases by the various brewery’s in the last six months, together with utility bills et al it has now become unsustainable to keep operating.
“It’s always sad when a venue like ours is forced to close.”
But now The Empire Cafe has swooped in to save this historic little building just off Kirkstall Road.
They shared today: “This little bit of history is now saved. City gastropub incoming…”
Read more: Beloved Leeds restaurant Swine That Dines announces major move to Headingley
Featured image: The Hoot Leeds
