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?"
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
19th July 2022 
