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Vinyl-only 1970s-inspired cocktail bar coming to Leeds from team behind some of the city’s best bars

Clementine Hall - 29th July 2026

A new cocktail bar is coming to Leeds city centre.

If you know a thing or two about cocktails, or just drinks in general, then you're going to be very excited about this news.

The very talented team behind Roland's on Call Lane and The Domino Club, just to name a few, are setting their sites on a brand-new venture.

Introducing Paper Plane, an intimate new cocktail bar that will be taking over the old Casa site in the city's beautiful Grand Arcade.

Paper Plane will be inspired by the glamour of 1970s air travel and will be a vinyl-only listening bar, serving a world-inspired cocktail menu alongside a carefully curated whisky collection.

The space will be lovely and intimate, with around just 40 covers, designed to transport guests somewhere completely different from the minute they step foot through the door.

And what a location too, joining a whole host of fantastic independents in the arcade such as Alfonso's Deli, Stuzzi and Sonder.

For now, we don't know many more details about the project, but we already know it's going to be exceptional cas anything these guys do turns to gold.

Not only has Roland's been consistently one of the busiest bars on Call Lane since they opened back in 2014, but The Domino Club was recently crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world. Now that is some accolade worth shouting about.

We'll keep you updated with Paper Plane's progress, but Roland's have stated that the site is hoping to open this coming autumn. So we really don't have long to wait.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - Supplied

Eats

Big name restaurant closes Leeds city centre site after seven years

Clementine Hall

A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.

Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.

The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.

The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.

Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.

It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.

This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.

Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.

“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”

The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.

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Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first

Clementine Hall

A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.

Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.

Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.

Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.

Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.

The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.

While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.

Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.

The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.

If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.

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Featured image - The Hoot Leeds