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
A bakery serving giant NYC-style cookies and fluffy cinnamon buns has just opened in Leeds
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Georgina Pellant -
25th November 2022 
