All the new openings coming to Leeds this autumn | October 2023
26 places in and around Leeds to check out…
It’s been a HUGE month for new opening announcements in Leeds. From two new food halls to fluffy soufflé pancakes and Champagne and caviar restaurants Leeds is truly set for some exciting new food and drink spots.
Here’s everything you need to know about all the new places coming to Leeds this month…
Just announced…
Here’s all the places across Leeds that have announced they’re opening in the coming months.
Northern Market
Great George Street, Leeds City Centre | Opening November 2023
Popular Leeds brewery Northern Monk has announced it will be taking over the former Assembly Underground site, and set to open in just a few weeks time.
‘The Northern Market’ – a brand new city centre venture from the famous brewery will feature a bustling food market, beer hall and of course a fully stocked bar pouring the freshest Northern Monk beers from 10 tap lines and on-site beer tanks.
Food vendors so far include Falafel Guys, Big Buns and Six Slice Pizza with more set to be announced over the next few weeks.
Find out more here.
Herencia x Boot & Rally
Stonegate Road, Meanwood | Serving from Sunday 29 October 2023
The sad announcement that the Dijon Boys would no longer be serving up small plates at Meanwood’s Number 8 Cocktails and pop-ups across the city has been dampened by the exciting takeover from Chef Nicko at Boot and Rally.
Located opposite Dijon Boys’ former home, Boot and Rally will be hosting the chef’s new adventure, Herencia, with a Filipino-inspired roast menu on the table from Sunday 29 October 2023.
Find out more here.
White Cloth Hall
Cloth Hall Street, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
The owners behind one of Leeds’ most-loved pubs is bringing a brand new opening to the city centre: our very own food and drink hall.
This exciting new opening is set to bring together a whole host of independents, including Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology Brewery and Whitewood Distilling, amongst other food traders. Expect all the charm from the oldest pub in Leeds, but the idea is that this new opening won’t be a replica of Whitelock’s Ale House, it’s going to be far from it.
Find out more here.
Pizza Pilgrims
Boar Lane, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
The London-born pizzeria is expanding, and Leeds is lucky enough to be its next stop. Think fluffy ‘bready’ bases, slightly charred for that authentic Neapolitan taste, dusted off with fresh tomato marinara sauce and mozzarella – each paired with a different combination of toppings.
Whilst there’s no opening date announced just yet, Pizza Pilgrims has confirmed it will be opening on Boar Lane in Leeds City Centre, with signs going up earlier this week inside the former Beer Hawk site, advertising free pizzas ‘and other goodies’.
Find out more here.
Fluffy Fluffy
The Headrow, Leeds City Centre | Opening November 2023
Fluffy Fluffy is opening in Leeds – and if you’ve spotted the cloud-like pancake stacks online, you’ll know exactly how excited we are for this.
They’re at least twice the size of your classic pancakes, light and airy for that soufle-style texture. Apparently the secret behind each pancake is egg whites whipped to soft peaks before being cooked at a low temperature – and soon we’ll be able to get a taste for ourselves.
Find out more here.
Sonder
Grand Arcade, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unkown
Japanese and retro interior meets coffee store, there’s a new interior concept from Olivia Fayne is set to open in the coming weeks, stocking interior items, one-off pieces and even Olivia’s own paintings.
Find out more here.
iKaro
Victoria Quarter, Leeds City Centre | Opening January 2024
The fire and ice themed bar has just opened in Manchester, and now has begun work to open in Leeds early next year. The swanky bar will be opening inside the former East 59th site, and whilst very little has been released about the Leeds opening apart from its location, we’re in for a proper Champagne bar with everything from Grilled Lobster Tails to Australian Wagyu Tomahawk and Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye on the menu if the new Manchester site is anything go by.
Find out more here.
Craig Rogan X The Collective Inc.
Boar Lane, Leeds City Centre | Now open
Craig Rogan has taken over the kitchen at The Collective Inc, and plans to continue ‘championing sustainable local produce and suppliers whilst presenting beautifully artistic dishes that taste just as good as they look’ as The Collective embarks on its journey to become a destination in its own right.
Find out more here.
OWT
Burley Road | Opening early November 2023
OWT is officially on the move. The much-loved brunch spot has officially grown out of its Corn Exchange home. Relocating from the city centre into LS3, OWT plans to take over the old Corner Cafe site on Burley Road.
Announcing the news yesterday, OWT said: “Bye LS1, hello LS3! After 5 years spent working hard in Leeds city centre, we are moving into bigger premises. Read all about it here https://owtleeds.com/story We love you, we thank you!”
Find out more here.
Jimmy Fairly
Queen Victoria Street, Leeds City Centre | Now open
There’s a new optician in town and Jimmy Fairly is bringing some seriously cool glasses to the game. The company has give over a million people worldwide access to sight with its ‘buy one give one’ initiative, something which will extend to its Leeds site.
Find out more here.
Beyond Board
Leeds University Union | Now open
The game selection on offer is going to be vast – you’ll find everything from Cranium and Connect 4 to Mysterium, a ghost-murder-mystery game, and Sushi Go Party!, a game that involves creating ‘a party platter of mega maki, super sashimi, and endless edamame’.
Best of all, it’s not going to break the bank either. It’s just £2.50 per person, per hour for students and £4 for non-students to rent a game or you can take on a Beyond Board membership for £15 a month for unlimited game time.
Find out more here.
Mr Yang
Merrion Centre, Leeds City Centre | Now open
The Merrion Centre has welcomed a new Chinese and noodle bar that “enticing selection of rice dishes, mouthwatering noodles, and delectable dumplings”. The new opening comes from the same owner of Mi’s Noodles, rebranded with a fresh new concept and menu.
Find out more here.
Caffe Concerto
Victoria Quarter, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
Italian brasserie brand Caffe Concerto is opening its first Yorkshire restaurant. As only the second outside of London, the new Caffe Concerto promises fine-dining and afternoon tea, with seating out onto Harewood Street.
Find out more here.
Galleria
Project House, Armley Road | Opening October 2023
A new woodfire restaurant and bar promises to bring the food in at new gig and event space Project House next month – and it sounds like there’s going to be a lot to love. Brunch will be served with ‘pancake stacks, breakfast flatbreads and the obligatory Bloody Mary to boot’ whilst evenings promise a host of meaty, doughy, sweet, sour and savoury delights – we can’t wait to find out what’s on the menu.
Find out more here.
New to Leeds
Places in and around Leeds that have opened in the last month or so…
Little Leeds
Just off Street Lane, Roundhay | Opening Monday 24 October 2023
The Leeds Deli has certainly been providing the city with more than just a kid-friendly hangout spot. The popular deli hosts monthly Mum Club with different themes each week for little ones and grown ups to socialise with likeminded individuals with plenty of soft play and treats involved.
Not only this but they ensure that family-friendly activities are at the forefront of everything they do. But now the owners are taking one step further in supplying the city with child-friendly spaces and will be opening a brand new space called Little Leeds.
“This isn’t your ordinary soft play” we’ve been told… “It’s going to be a modern and chic cafe with a beautiful, design led and purpose built space for grown ups to enjoy whilst little ones play.”
Find out more here.
Boba
Belheim Terrace, Woodhouse | Now open
Boba at 24 has only been open for four weeks, but it’s already proving extremely popular for its soufflé pancakes and bubble tea. The viral pancakes have been popping up all over the place in the capital, and now Leeds has joined the hype with sweet and savoury flavours aplenty available over at Boba.
Located opposite the @universityofleeds Parkinson Steps in a cosy underground cafe, choose from the likes of Biscoff and Nutella, fresh cream and fruit or maple syrup to pair with cheesecakes, coffees, rice balls or traditional teas.
Find out more here.
The Leeds People’s Gym
Mabgate, Leeds City Centre | Now open
The Leeds People’s Gym is an inclusive space for fitness that puts its members first. Owners Chris and Daniel said “we both live in Leeds and have found our home here, and had an idea to create something where we as two queer folks could workout and access fitness in a space that wasn’t overwhelming and intimidating – so we did it”.
Find out more here.
Pizza Loco X Meanwood Tavern
Inside Meanwood Tavern, Stainbeck Road, Meanwood | Now open
Taking over from much-loved Detroit-style, Well Oiled, Pizza Loco is taking over the pizza kitchen at Meanwood Tavern. And the menu speaks for itself.
Think pizza sarnies and Neapolitan pizzas with soft, light and airy crusts, with interesting, generous toppings and an emphasis on sustainable British ingredients including Wildfarmed UK-grown and milled organic flour, Yorkshire-grown organic tomatoes, and British charcuterie.
Lunchtime will see the signature Pizza Loco Panuozzi pizza-dough butties showcased, whilst evenings will be reserved for those big Neapolitan slices.
Find out more here.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane, Leeds City Centre | Opening Monday 11 September 2023
The new restaurant has just opened its second location on Lands Lane in Leeds City Centre, with an already cult following in Harrogate we were expecting big things, and it certainly did not disappoint.
The breakfast menu is served until 4pm and consists of all the classics you could imagine, from the hangover-curing full english to the protein-packed eggs on toast.
Find out more here.
The Foundation
Otley Road, Adel | Opening end of September 2023
Following on from the success of The Meanwood Brewery’s boozy offerings, The Foundation will be opening a modern contemporary taproom over in Adel. Serving up everything from signature breakfasts and coffees to a range of craft beers, wines, cocktails and more – this is certainly going to be one to watch!
Find out more here.
Opening soon…
New openings coming to Leeds without an opening date yet.
Maki & Ramen
Bond Street, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
Although there is no official opening date yet announced, Maki & Ramen Leeds has started work to take over the former Pret A Manger site on Bond Street toward the end of the year, and we think it will be a fantastic addition to the city’s flourishing food scene.
Their extensive menu is set to include platters of fresh sushi, Katsu curry, bao buns, stir-fried noodle dishes and a range of popular Japanese side dishes such as gyoza, takoyaki and edamame.
They also serve a range of cocktails, beers, wine and soft drinks for diners to enjoy alongside their food. The interior of other branches is light and airy, with relaxed booth seating and cherry blossom branches cascading from the ceiling.
Find out more here.
DMC Brewery
Railway Street, Marsh Lane, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
A bar dedicated to alcoholic ginger beer is opening inside a Leeds railway arch in what owners are calling a ‘UK first’.
Brought to the city centre by husband and wife team Giuseppe ‘Gez’ Romano and Ele Romano, the new venture comes from Wakefield-based brewery DMC.
What first began as a kitchen brew back in 2018 has spiralled into a fully-fledged business, after Gez – who was formerly a head chef at a top Leeds restaurant – and his partner Ele found themselves with a newborn baby and little energy or time to go out.
Find out more here.
Flat Iron
Church Institute, Lands Lane, Leeds City Centre | Opening date unknown
New affordable steakhouse Flat Iron is opening in Leeds later this year, continuing the restaurant’s expansion beyond the capital. Launching to fame back in 2012 with accessible feather blade steaks served at £10, Flat Iron has since expanded across London to a total of 12 sites.
The fairly priced steak restaurant will open it’s doors in Leeds this Autumn, taking over the former Church Institute on Lands Lane in what will be a 110-cover eatery.
Find out more here.
Get Baked
Cross Hall Street, behind Leeds Corn Exchange | Opening date unknown
Get Baked has been serving Leeds up with some of the most impressive sweet treats for quite some time now. Bringing the city the ‘Bruce’, a huge chocolate cake that’ll set you back £12 a slice, as well as sell out brownies, cookies and Frankenpies – Get Baked has a huge following, with many swearing by owner Rich Myer’s desserts for all occasions.
And now, following the success of the takeaway bakery in Headingley, Get Baked has announced it will be coming to Leeds city centre to bring an eat-in dining concept with pancakes, French toast and poached eggs.
Find out more here.
Kirkgate Market Hotel
Proposed new opening
Leeds City Council has revealed that plans for a new hotel in Kirkgate Market this week.
The initial proposals are going to go before the council’s city plans panel at a meeting next Thursday 22 June 2023. The council reports that it has been exploring the potential for a hotel on George Street as part of ‘the wider regeneration of the area’.
Find out more here.