Once a fine Weslyan Methodist chapel, today Leeds' Templar House lies derelict - saved from demolition only thanks to its historic status as a Grade II listed building.
Still retaining remnants of its once-grand years, over the years, the building has had a number of different uses - most recently as an Amateur Youth Boxing Club in the early 1990s.
Originally built as a place of worship in the 1800s, it has since been used as an Army Recruitment Office, vacuum cleaner manufacturers, offices for the British Road Services, and an Unemployment Benefit Office.
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Boarded up since the 90s, it continues to engender curiosity in those who walk past - leading one local explorer to find his way inside to see what is left of the historic site.
Due to a number of health and safety concerns, the site officially remains strictly off limits - but that didn't stop local explorer Kyle Urbex from finding a way in and having a look around.
However, as the upper foundations of the structure are considered to be unsafe it has sat empty for some three decades now. As a result, the building is in something of a dilapidated state, to say the least.
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Kyle's mages show an old pool table buried beneath a thick layer of dust, as well as old lockers and curled, yellowing boxing certificates still pinned to cork notice boards harking back to better days when local champions still roamed Templar House's halls.
The ceiling and walls have seriously deteriorated, particularly on the building's upper floor, and the floors are just as decayed - coated in dirt and debris, likely the result of year's worth of significant weather damage.
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
And yet, there's still a certian macabre charm to the place. Graffiti sprawled on one wal in the bathrooms exclaims "you look beautiful!", stairwells look bleak and bare, and one room is simply piled high with rubbish.
A building that will be known to anyone who lives in or around Leeds, it's fascinating to have a are peek behind its brick and black boarding. Even if it's in a seriously dilapidated state.
Feature image - Kyle Urbex
Feature
Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Leeds has been crowned the best city in the UK for foodies outside of London
Clementine Hall
It's fantastic news for our city as Leeds has been crowned one of the best cities in the UK for foodies.
It's news that we've been pretty certain of for some time, but it's still nice to be recognised isn't it?
It comes from a new study carried out by credit card brand Aqua who analysed 30 major UK cities across a range of dining and social media metrics, including cuisine variety, restaurant availability, meal affordability, Michelin recognition and TikTok hashtag volumes.
Coming in at number on was, of course, London.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With 47 cuisines, 22.5 restaurants per 10,000 residents and 81 Michelin-starred establishments, the capital unsurprisingly continues to dominate the UK’s culinary scene.
But in at number two was our glorious city of Leeds, supported by the highest restaurant density in the study, with 38.5 establishments per 10,000 people, and strong affordability compared with cities in the south.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We will absolutely take that.
Other northern spots to feature on the list include Sheffield and Bradford in sixth and eighth place.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
London
Leeds
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Wolverhampton / Leicester
Sheffield
Birmingham / Glasgow
Bradford / Swansea
Preston
Milton Keynes
Here in Leeds we've got so many fabulous food spots, with new openings cropping up every month it's hard to keep track.
From the multi award-winning Bavette Bistro in Horsforth to the highly acclaimed indie Bundobust that started off in Leeds - you certainly won't find yourself hungry or at a loss for somewhere to eat here.
Georgina Pellant -
25th November 2022 
