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Eats

Salon Madre – the new tequila bar and pool hall that’s just opened in Leeds city centre

Clementine Hall - 19th February 2026

We’ve been waiting for this one and trust us, it’s just as good as we’d hoped.

If you’re a fan of a cheeky margarita, a taco and a bit of a boogie then this is the spot for you - and let’s be honest, who isn’t.

Introducing Salon Madre, made famous over in Manchester and now with another spot in Liverpool, think late nights fuelled by margaritas, cosy dates over tacos and lively game nights.

The new Leeds site is located on Wellington Street, perfect for those wrapping up work over on Wellington Place and looking to blow off some steam.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The space is huge, with floor to ceiling windows letting loads of light in during the day and plenty of red neon lights setting the vibe for the evening.

There's about 20 different variations of margaritas and tequilas on the menu, as well as fresh Mexican beers on tap if you're not ready for a shot just yet.

But it's not just about the drink, the food menu is top notch too.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

There's tacos and quesadillas all made with hand-pressed tortillas, twice-cooked chicken wings in a range of flavours from Mexican cola to Yucatan buffalo, and of course there's stacked nachos which are perfect for snacking on between sips of margarita.

If you're feeling competitive then they've got six pool tables as well as darts, and Lucha Libre on the big screens if you'd rather watch the play happen than play yourself.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Salon Madre will have DJs on in the evening and on a Friday and Saturday they'll even be open til 1am.

Welcome Salon Madre, we can't wait for this to become our new late-night party destination. You can take a look at their menu here.

Read more: Inside Leeds’ newest Italian cafe and gelateria that’s inspired by the streets of Puglia

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Beloved local bakery set to expand with a new Chapel Allerton cafe

Daisy Jackson Beloved local bakery Bluebird Bakery set to expand with a new Chapel Allerton cafe

Beloved local bakery Bluebird Bakery set to expand with a new Chapel Allerton cafe

Bluebird Bakery, a firm favourite for freshly-baked loaves and cakes in Leeds, has announced it's opening a brand new cafe.

The much-loved local business has been trading out of Kirkgate Market for almost a decade, selling hand-crafted loaves and loads of other beautiful bakes.

Bluebird Bakery already has locations dotted all around Yorkshire, including in York (where founders Al and Nicky Kippax launched the business from their kitchen table), Beverley, and Holmfirth.

And now they've announced big plans for a second location here in Leeds, setting their sights on Chapel Allerton.

The Bluebird Bakery team said they hope the 'West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb'.

They're taking over a site on Stainbeck Lane, where we'll all be able to tuck into bread, cakes and pastries, plus coffees from Roost Coffee.

And there'll even be outside seating at the new Bluebird Cafe too.

Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafe

Bluebird Bakery currently operates from Kirkgate Market in Leeds — Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafe

Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote: "Big news. We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a shop and cafe in Chapel Allerton this summer.

"We love our Leeds Kirkgate Market shop and we hope the West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb, which is full of independent businesses like ours.

"We’ll be based on Stainbeck Lane where there’ll be both inside & outside seating, brilliant @roost_coffee and all the bread, cakes and pastries Chapel Allerton can eat!

"We’re recruiting soon - so do keep an eye on our socials if you’re a brilliant barista, an experienced cafe assistant or a hands-on supervisor.

"Chapel A - we’re comin’ for ya!"

Read more: Ilkley Food and Drink Festival drops full line-up, including big tribute acts and… banana jousting?

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Featured image: The Hoot Leeds

Eats

A Leeds icon has been reborn as The Smithfield opens in former The Reliance site

The Smithfield is finally here - and we're pleased to report that it's every bit as special as you were hoping.

This newcomer to Leeds has taken over the site that was home to The Reliance for more than two decades.

The team's transformation of the site started with a paint job - probably the most-talked-about paint job in the city - taking the site's exterior back to its memorable dark red.

That move immediately won over fans of The Reliance, with one person writing: "Seems the team here held the Relly in high regard and rightly so! Hopefully they can recapture some of its magic."

But the efforts to recapture the essence of the iconic old venue go way beyond that.

The Smithfield, a collaboration between Crooked Brewing and Chef James Donovan, is setting out to mix up relaxed hospitality with simple dining.

It's all about connection - to seasonal food, to the heritage of the building, and to the community that will make connections here.

Co-founder Steve Dawson outside The Smithfield

The Reliance has been reborn as The Smithfield — Co-founder Steve Dawson outside The Smithfield

If you're wondering what sort of things will be on the table, allow us to enlighten you.

There are sharing plates like grilled leeks on romesco, pigs head croquettes (a must-order), and whipped cods roe with radishes, all served on charming mismatched plates.

The bigger dishes include a comically massive pie for sharing, packed with chicken, leek, and tarragon. It's a mighty thing, especially paired with their crispy-edged chips.

You can also order a whole wild Cornish seabass for a real feast, or a fantastic beef sirloin with wild garlic butter.

There's a fantastic selection of natural wines from Wayward Wines, as well as (unsurprisingly) great beers.

Steak, pie, and charred leeks

A spread of the plates at The Smithfield — Steak, pie, and charred leeks

Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, and his business partner chef James Donovan, were drawn to the old The Reliance site and are seizing the opportunity to contribute to the area's dining legacy.

While Steve's focus is on creating a social meeting point, James will focus on the casual, social dining, taking inspiration from the building's reputation as a cutting-edge gastro pub.

They'll be sourcing seasonally and locally, with menus that will change with the seasons.

The space itself inside is still familiar - those huge windows are the stars of the show, with the bar still standing centrally, while the dining room at the back is stripped-back and simple overlooking the open kitchen.

It's very early days for The Smithfield - they're just out of their soft launch period and gearing up for their first 'proper' weekend.

On their soft launch period, they wrote: "We were so grateful to welcome friends, neighbours, and the Leeds hospitality community to The Smithfield. Seeing the bar and dining room full after weeks of cleaning, painting, and graft has truly made it all worth it.

"A huge thank you to everyone who came along, showed their support, and has made this journey possible. Not least the Kitchen and bar teams, whose incredible service has kept the plates coming and the drinks flowing."

We feel pretty confident in saying Leeds will be very proud to have The Smithfield in our city.

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Featured image: The Hoot Leeds