Cheesy chips got a whole new meaning nine weeks ago when The Cheesy Chip Shop launched.
If you've been down to The Cheesy Living Co. before, you'll know just how well these guys know their cheeses.
It's in the name really - but having quickly gone a pop-up food market traders to owning their own store and putting on lunch menus and a series of successful supper clubs, art nights and creating a whole cheese-loving community taking over the corner the Corn Exchange - everything centres around the cheese here, and it shows.
Initially launching at Trinity Kitchen, the feedback across Leeds has been overwhelmingly positive, leading the chip shop to continue with an additional pop-up in the city centre.
From Tuesday 19 September - Sunday 1 October, 12-9pm (excluding Mondays) you’ll be able to find all kinds of gooey, cheesy goodness over at Northern Monk Refectory at Marshalls Mill.
With exciting combinations like the Buffalo Blue with buffalo sauce and blue cheese; a classic Chip Shop Curry curry sauce with cumin gouda, mango chutney, mint yoghurt, popadoms and pickled chilli and even Truffle Carbonara with parmesan and pecorino cheese, pancetta, truffle and parsley - it's obvious every cheese and garnish has been well thought out.
And it's not just Sides on the menu too - 'Mac N Cheese' bites with cheese sauce, Dorito crumb and chives and Halloumi Fries with hot honey and tzatziki are also on the menu - allowing the perfect meal deal combo of cheesy chips, a cheesy side and a soft drink or beer.
Announcing the news on Instagram yesterday, Northern Monk said:
"Cheesy Chips are possibly the worlds greatest food. And we’ll have them here, for two weeks, from local cheese heroes @thecheesylivingco@thecheesychipshop"
These are way better than your 3am drunken stupor into a takeaway. Expect many types of cheese, curry sauce, panchetta and truffle alongside halloumi fries, jalapeño poppers and even a Northern Star Special"
They’ll be here next week with the perfect dish to pair with a pint."
The Cheesy Living Co. is quickly becoming Leeds go-to supplier for all things cheese and charcuterie.
After taking a passion project full-time during the second Covid lockdown, owners Jake and Soph haven’t looked back since the launch of The Cheesy Living Co. in 2020.
Supplying renowned chef Matt Healy’s Horsforth restaurant Forde with farmer’s cured meats and ingredients, but still managing to attend just about every small business and foodie market across the city, The Cheesy Living Co. is one of the most humbled new businesses around.
Aware of the popularity of their products, but taking things slow and making conscious business decisions, co-owner Jake spent years in hospitality before taking the plunge to launch a business with partner Soph - and their time spent learning the intricacies of the industry shows.
The Cheesy Living Co. is slowly making its way around the Leeds foodie scene - and becoming a firm favourite across the city.
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.
Sophie Smith -
18th September 2023 
