There's so many new openings in Leeds, it can be easy to lose track of where to try out next.
This month, we caught up with both halves of the Leeds-based PR and events company and all-round powerhouse of what's on, Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon (PGHL). Jordan Odu and Deborah Devittoris both gave their two pence on the best new openings in town and gave their team an opportunity to give us the scoop on what to order from the menu of some of Leeds' biggest foodie openings.
Keep reading to find out the top five openings from Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon...
Honest Burgers
Opening Saturday 23 July 2022 | Cloth Hall Street, outside Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds X Northern Monk burger from Honest Burgers. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Joining the likes of Manchester and Liverpool, Leeds is the latest city to get the green light to open an Honest Burgers restaurant- but that doesn’t mean we need to wait until summer to get our Honest Burgers foodie fix.
The Leeds X Northern Monk burger has recently been a popular option for Loiners looking to test out Honest Burgers ahead of their launch as part of their Northern Monk preview residency. We're talking Honest beef patties sandwiched between bacon, Heathen IPA beer cheese, curry sauce, shoestring fries, Faith pale ale pickled onions and rocket with homemade rosemary chips and washed down with a pint of original Northern Monk Brew Co.’s Faith- a true Northern burger if we've ever seen one.
As part of the opening, the first 500 customers will bag themselves a free burger and fries, all you need to do is turn up at their new Leeds location from 11.30am on Saturday 23 July 2022.
Jordan Odu from PGHLsays "We can’t wait for Leeds’ newest burger joint to open this month, bringing us mouth-watering British burgers for everyone, whether you want a beef, chicken, or vegan burger they have got you covered! Our burger of the month goes to their new Morocco Merguez-rubbed Honest beef, cheddar, Moroccan guacamole, crispy onions, harissa mayo and lettuce – you’ll be hooked trust me!"
Rudy's has been taking the North by storm and now the pizzeria has opened its doors at the former Casa Mia site at 10 – 12 Stainbeck Lane in Chapel Allerton. This will be the second site for Rudy’s pizza here in Leeds.
On the mouth-watering menu, diners can look forward to Napoli pizzas like traditional marinara, margherita and calabrese, as well as a range of regularly changing specials, including the likes of White Pizza and vegan speciality dishes too.
Having opened their debut Leeds restaurant on New Station Street restaurant in 2020, the Manchester-born joint has only grown in popularity over the pandemic and beyond so if you're looking for an pizza with a difference- this is going to be an extremely popular option for Loiners this summer.
Jordan Odu from PGHL says "I am super excited for to my fave pizzeria coming to Chapel Allerton and turning into my new local, It’s a much needed and great addition to the area! Serving classic recipes such as Marinara, Margherita and Calabrese, Rudy’s is not one to miss. My go to has to be the Chinghiale with extra buffalo mozzarella, give it a try and thank me later."
Taking the fitness industry by storm, Leeds is now home to a brand new boutique fitness studio called RYDE.
The idea with RYDE is that it offers a personalised experience, bespoke to each individual need. With this in mind, the boutique company doesn’t subscribe to long-term memberships (unless that’s what you’re after) and instead opts for blocks of session bookings so guests can trial a range of activities without the stress of everlasting membership.
A huge £400,000 investment has brought two high-tech studios to Leeds where RYDE hopes to attract clients “from all walks of life” and facilitate an immersive workout for the entire body. Designed to leave those working out energised and hungry for more, there’s a wealth of high-impact and high-energy classes on offer, all to the beat of uplifting music to get gym-goers pumped each session.
Deborah Devittorisfrom PGHL says: "We are loving the classes at Ryde, and they are definitely getting us beach ready! We loved the classes at L1 Performance, but we have to say Flow and Barre are our new favourites, strengthening our bodies and regenerating our minds. The high-tech interior boasts two amazing studios which fully immerse attendees, luxurious changing rooms and our highlight has to be the health café, offering much needed nutritional shakes for pre and post class."
Opening this summer | Telephone House, Arundel Gate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What was formerly the Roxy Disco venue from the 80s and 90s, the O2 Academy concert venue is going to return to its original namesake, albeit under a new Roxy name and guise, this summer- and we can't wait.
At Sheffield's first Roxy Ballroom venue, you can expect to competitively take on the likes of American pool and shuffleboard tables with friends before grabbing a puck and playing a round of the newly-developed ice-free curling lanes.
But of course, this is Roxy's, so the activities don't stop there. You’ll be able to sing your heart out in a private karaoke room, shoot some hoops on the basketball games and even duckpin bowling will be available to book in and whilst a strike isn’t guaranteed, you'll be having a laugh either way.
Hannah Clarke from PGHL says "We’ve had an amazing response from the people of Sheffield who can’t wait to get their game on. Roxy’s Sheffield will boast a variety of their iconic games including American pool, beer pong, shuffleboard, ice-free curling, and duckpin bowling. Our favourite game has to be the ice-free curling, we are practically professionals at this point!"
Opening Friday 22 July 2022 | West Park, Harrogate
Image: PGHL
A historic Harrogate pub with a history dating back as far as 1830 is set to return after a two-year hiatus, and it's set to be well worth a trip day or night from Leeds.
The Coach & Horses has long been considered a local institution, famed for its warm traditional charm, Sunday roasts and real ales. The reopening will see a newly refurbished interior with careful details and the upmost pays tribute to the pub’s stunning original features and character with a gastro-style food menu after the pub was acquired by by the multi-award-winning Provenance Collection.
Highlights of the traditional pub food menu include Beer Battered Fish & Triple Cooked Beef DrippingChips, Chicken Tikka Masala Curry, Fish Pie and the Coach and Horses burger of which £1 from each sale goes to the Martin House Hospice Charity, a link that the new owners are keen to continue.
Emily Uddin from PGHL said “Coach and Horses will return to Harrogate after a two-year hiatus and we couldn’t be more excited. Delicious drinks will be debuted alongside a new gastro-style menu, not forgetting the return of their famous homemade pies and Sunday roast. You will be able to enjoy all of this whilst taking in the views of the Stray, what’s not to love?"
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
World Book Day: The coolest independent book shops to visit in Leeds
Clementine Hall
Today marks 29 years of World Book Day- so why not celebrate with a brand new book from one of Leeds' independent book shops?
A day dedicated to all things literature that's remained at the heart of the UK's Primary School agenda for over a quarter of a century now.
The number of indie book shops is finally increasing across the UK once more, meaning there are more spots than ever to pick up a book or spend your World Book Day token.
It's not just the crease of corners and the smell of mass produced paper that your online book can't quite replicate, it's the recommendations, the exciting new covers and the warm coffee that matches the mood in most book stores. They're welcoming places, full of like-minded people, and they're certainly worth a visit, even if you haven't turned a page in years.
In Leeds, we're fortunate to have our pick of independent bookshops, granted they're hidden between the odd Waterstones and W H Smiths, but we still have plenty to offer.
Here are our favourite places to grab a new book from an independent seller...
Hold Fast Bookshop
Leeds Dock | Open Thursday - Sunday
Images: The Hoot Leeds
HoldFast is a book and plant store that champions independent artists, local authors all onboard an old coal boat called Marjorie R. Owners Chris and Victoria Bonner actually lived on the boat for a good few years before deciding to protect the future of the 76 year old boat by turning it into a business.
This is the perfect place to grab a new read. There’s a real community feel about the place, with talks from local authors and Chris and Victoria welcome anyone in to spend hours pouring over their hand picked selection of new and preloved books.
Colours May Vary
Leeds Corn Exchange
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located inside the Corn Exchange in a sun-drenched top floor store, Colours May Vary is a celebration of independently published zines, unusual books and wholesome gifts that suit birthdays, parties, get well soons and congrats for all ages.
If you're on the hunt for a magazine that's more art than 'trash' content, this is the place to browse. There's a beautiful selection of limited edition prints, as well as some more popular independent magazines and books to choose from.
Dedicated to children's books, including some rather incredible novels on young activism and social justice, The Little Bookshop is a one-of-a-kind bookshop that's worth the trek over to suburb Chapel Allerton. The quaint little store is full of enough books to allow a child's imagination to run wild and the selection is varied enough to be challenging and bring up different topics of discussion. There's an adults section too, just through the back of the store- so there's something for all ages to find.
On International Women's Day, Wednesday 9 March, the bookshop will be joined by special guest, Kate Pankhurst, a British author and illustrator and the woman behind the phenomenon 'Fantastically Great Women That Changed The World'.
The Bookish Type
Great George Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Bookish Type is an indie queer bookshop with a lot to offer. Run by Nicola Hargrave and Ray Larman, this place champions the voices and stories of the LGBT+ community with its range of memoirs, novels, plays and children's books.
There's also a fantastic selection of zines available covering everything from mental health to the history of the trans communities.
Village
Thorton's Arcade, Lands Lane
Self-published books and zines can be found inside Village, one of Leeds few independent booksellers in the city centre. The bookshop can be found within Thornton's Arcade and is locally known for its extensive copies of art-themed books and curated fashion and design selection.
Special edition hardbacks and paperbacks can be found amongst the gallery space used to showcase up-and-coming talent, and there's a decent selection of good old fashioned novels too.
Home of pre-loved books that are still in good condition, Oxfam Books is where books find a new home and all the proceeds go to charity. It's the recycling eco-friendly bookstore that actually has a decent selection of new and old favourites- so yeah, it's not an independent, but it's all for a good cause.
The selection here is far from your average charity shop shelf, there's aisle upon aisle of fiction, including vintage Penguin classics, as well as shelves of University-level textbooks, cookery books and niche topics like politics, history and languages piled high.
Since 2017, Leeds Little Free Libraries have been popping up all over the city, with a mission to encourage random acts of kindness by leaving books for others to read.
The little libraries can be found using an interactive online map to help guide users to their nearest library, where they can pick up and drop off literature of any kind. The Little Free Library continues to surprise locals with its locations ranging from Bradford and Pudsey to Wakefield, Ossett, as well as covering the majority of villages close to the city centre like Headingley, Chapel Allerton, Armley and there’s even a little lending library down by Leeds Docks too.
Sophie Smith -
19th July 2022 
