It's been a difficult year for hospitality, but we've seen a whole new foodie scene rise from the ashes of lockdowns.
If there's one industry that's been hit particularly hard this year, it's hospitality. From open to close to now being left in limbo, we really feel for anyone affected by the ever-changing rules and regulations.
Despite the chaos of this year, a new wave of fresh foodie talent has emerged in Leeds, with endless new openings keeping us at The Hoot busy all year long. From Vietnamese specialist cafes to bakeries and high-end restaurants, we've seen it all this year.
Located in the former home of Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale, the new sister site Saint Jude is a new all-day bar and restaurant in Farsley that will go from brunch to late-night cocktails. Run by Farsley-based sisters Alex and Cassie Rogerson, just like their popular pizzeria Grumpy’s the new restaurant is also named after their parents. It doesn’t get much more Yorkshire than that.
After some serious rebranding, the team behind Fettle opened, Fint. Housed in the same space as its predecessor on Leeds’ leafy Great George street, the owners have rebranded following a period of closure – and we were really excited to see them back, albeit in a new guise. Fettle was known and loved for its understated, laid-back cafe-meets-restaurant vibe, and whilst the space has reemerged with a new name it seems that its overall aesthetic still holds up. The difference? There’s now more of a restaurant focus.
Following years of pop-ups, House of Fu opened its own restaurant in the city back in June this year. They teased out their ‘green ramen’, right from the beginning which will be one of the headline plant-based bowls on offer here. Filled with gorgeous ingredients like kohlrabi chashu, sapporo noodles and super deep burnt garlic oil, it’s evident a lot of care and attention went into putting this menu together, and Leeds loves it. Finishing the year on a high, the restaurant have just added a karaoke studio to their venue.
A brand new vegan bar, restaurant and arts space opened inside a former dry cleaner on Kirkstall road in 2021. Located near to the viaduct and the cinema complex, Meat is Dead was once familiar to locals as an old fireplace shop. But now, something new, the new eatery will be open all day serving up ‘junk free’ plant-based goodies. The store haven't had the easiest year, but we hope to see much more of their vegan menu in 2022.
A new burger house has been serving burgers made with the ‘world’s hottest chilli’ in Leeds and since August, 24k gold burgers; ten patty high challenge burgers and its might Carolina reaper burgers, have all been available. YOH Burgers has some insane-looking specials too: for those who want to go all-in on the chilli hype, there are two options: chicken and beef, both billed as using the ‘world’s hottest chilli’.
Sqew was previously hosted by BrewDog on North Lane but have found a permanent home on Duncan Street in Leeds city centre this November. The new venture comes from an original founder from Red’s True Barbecue. If you’ve ever tasted their irresistible burgers, you’ll have high expectations for this new opening and it seems they have been more than met during their two month opening.
Yes, a calzone in a burger is now officially on the menu in Leeds thanks to Burgamore, which opened in Trinity Shopping Centre back in August. The fusion burger menu combines some of Italy’s most drool-worthy flavours with a range of different patties and buns to create something truly unique, including some weird and wonderful fusion burger creations to be uncovered here, including a calzone burger and an ‘ice cream’ burger.
Cohen Panayiotis, a talented chef with a turbulent rise to success, his journey hasn’t been easy up to this point – but it seems like things are now about to turn around after opening Coco's Kitchen in September. On the menu, alongside the ultra-diirty Biscoff crunch bacon burger, which comes loaded with red Leicester, cheddar, crispy streaky bacon, smashed patties and more; you’ll also find some classic Caribbean options like proper curried goat with tarragon carrots, shallots and rice and peas, and BBQ-smoked and 24-hour marinated jerk chicken legs.
Tucked away on the corner of Merrion Street, Oba Leeds is serving some of the best Korean and Japanese fusion dishes, with a range of vegan-friendly meals available. This hidden gem offers a warm welcome from the the moment you walk through the glass doors. The bright hues of sunflower yellow and bright blue mirror off the panelling and glass windows and match the service, always delivered with a smile, to a tee, since opening in September.
Known for its 48-hour double-fermented sourdough pizzas, with toppings that include the likes of full English breakfast and cheeseburgers. They also offer some solid veggie and vegan options, for those who don’t eat meat at the new pizza place on Bond Street.
New to the White Rose Shopping Centre this year, Mozza is a true Neapolitan Italian Pizzeria specialising in all things mozzarella. Mozza Leeds is the first English first venue for the Scottish chain and it’s already very popular. This new Leeds spot has brought an unusual Italian delicacy, serving Panozza pizza sandwiches. Using Neapolitan Sourdough and traditional Italian fillings, these are really putting Mozza on the map.
If there’s one thing that the pandemic starved us of, it’s all-you-can-eat buffets. Long gone were the days of piling up plates of delicious cuisine from around the world, or so we thought. Sakku has brought back one of the best ways to eat at their sashimi and Asian grill restaurant, using local and imported ingredients to bring unlimited dishes back to the dining table, at their hidden Leeds restaurant.
Enjoying a £200,000 rebrand as Townhouse, the Fountain Street premises transformed into a multi-storey venue with different themes on each level. The ‘Basement’ features a sports bar screening live Premier League games and late-night boxing on an LED video wall, with dirty burgers and sharing platters on the food menu. By night, ‘Basement’ becomes a club spot featuring local DJs taking over the floor once a month since their opening in August.
The Moot Hall Arms, Leeds' favourite football pub, has just reopened its doors after a six-figure refurb.
The iconic Leeds United pub is still covered in local sports memorabilia and merch, but there's even more of it now.
That's because The Moot has now expanded across two floors and three bars, including a brand-new bar and events space upstairs, The Changing Rooms, created to celebrate the rich history of Leeds United.
That extra space is ready for busy matchdays and the full seven-days-a-week programme of events and deals, which includes live music, karaoke, bingo, quiz nights, and more.
And operator Claire says she wants to the pub to be Leeds city centre's best-value sports and entertainment venues, with pints available from £3 in the week.
The popular Craft Union Pub Company venue has reopened its doors today to the bigger, brighter pub, ready to once again attract football fans from across the UK looking to experience its unique atmosphere.
The 'significant' refurbishment includes new decor, bars, furniture, lighting, toilets, and entertainment facilities, like nine TVs, two large projector screens, and three Sky boxes.
Over this weekend and the bank holiday weekend, there'll be DJs, live music, karaoke, themed events, and special guest appearances from former Leeds United favourites Stuart Dallas, Mel Sterland and Noel Whelan.
Inside The Moot in LeedsThe new 'Changing Rooms' bar at The Moot Hall ArmsThere's still plenty of Leeds United merch everywhere
Claire, Operator at The Moot Hall Arms, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be reopening and finally showing everyone what we've been working on.
"Over the last five years we've worked extremely hard to build The Moot into something special. We're proud of the community that's grown around the pub, the friendships that have been made here and the reputation we've built among Leeds United supporters.
"This investment is a huge vote of confidence in the pub and what it has become. We've managed to make The Moot bigger, better and more versatile, while keeping everything people love about it."
Sport remains central to the venue's identity, with the pub continuing to show Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Premier Sports coverage throughout the year.
When it's a Leeds United fixture, the full matchday experience will include pre- and post-match DJs, live entertainment, and full sound for games.
Claire said: "We want The Moot to be much more than somewhere people simply come for a drink. Our ambition is to be one of Leeds city centre's best-value sports and entertainment venues, with something happening every day of the week."
New artwork in the windowsLeeds Leeds Leeds
Alongside its sporting credentials, The Moot Hall Arms has also earned recognition for its commitment to charitable causes, raising more than £100,000 for charities and good causes, supporting organisations including St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds Women's Aid and NECS Uganda.
The Moot's team has also travelled to Uganda in recent years, sponsoring the education of four children, delivering aid and supporting community projects within local villages.
For Claire and her team, the most important thing is ensuring The Moot remains true to its roots.
She said: "We’re passionate about keeping the Moot accessible and affordable. At a time when customers are watching what they spend, we want people to know they can still come into the centre of Leeds, have a reasonably priced pint, watch live sport and enjoy entertainment without spending a fortune.
"Most importantly, we want The Moot to retain its personality. It’s still going to be loud on matchdays, full of Leeds United memorabilia, packed for big games, raising money for good causes and putting on entertainment throughout the week – there’s just a lot more of it now!"
Chapel Allerton’s new Indian restaurant inspired by founder’s childhood on the Indian railways
Daisy Jackson
A new Indian bistro has opened its doors in Chapel Allerton, promising authentic dishes that span the length and breadth of Indian cuisine.
The Crossing Indian Bistro has ventured to Leeds for its first-ever UK restaurant, having already established sites in Paris, Dubai and Nice.
It comes from chef-founder Ankur Chakraborty, who has drawn on his family history for inspiration - his dad used to work for the Indian Railways, and it introduced Ankur to the incredible variety in flavours, tastes, and dishes of different regions across India.
That’s the heart and soul of The Crossing, celebrating the ingredients and techniques that have shaped the country’s vibrant cuisine.
The modern take on regional Indian cuisine will include traditional recipes but contemporary techniques, for signature dishes like Railway Lamb Curry, Alleppey Prawn Curry (inspired by Kerala’s backwaters), and a Madras Mutton Pepper Fry.
You’ll also find delicious small plates like gunpowder prawns, Kerala fried chicken, dal moradabadi, and The Crossing chaat bowl.
And as for dessert, expect dishes like the Goan-Portuguese influenced Mango Serradura, and the Dubai date toffee pudding, served with homemade carrot halwa ice cream.
At lunchtimes diners can tuck into a £15 thali deal, served in traditional silverware, and including a main curry, Zeera Aloo, Saag Makai, dal of the day, raita, house pickles, steamed basmati rice, and a choice of freshly-baked tandoor bread.
Chapel Allerton’s new Indian restaurant inspired by railway journeys across the country. Credit: TheTravelBuds
The Crossing Indian Bistro chose to open its first UK site in Chapel Allerton after being inspired by the area’s independent spirit and strong neighbourhood identity.
Ankur Chakraborty, Chef-Founder of The Crossing Indian Bistro and co-founder of Lemon Butter, said: “The Crossing is built on the idea that India is not one cuisine, but thousands of local food cultures connected by movement, exchange and memory.
“The railways helped those cultures meet as people travelled, allowing recipes to cross regions and flavours to evolve. We’ve reflected this in the menu, which takes guests on a journey through India, where they can discover lesser-known dishes inspired by its different regions.
“Chapel Allerton feels like the right first home for us in the UK with its strong identity and an independent, community-minded spirit. We hope to add something distinctive to that neighbourhood, with an expression of modern India that is regionally rooted, generous and full of discovery.”
The Crossing Indian Bistro has already opened its doors in Chapel Allerton, and is offering 50% off all food until 31 August as it settles into the Leeds suburb.
Sophie Smith -
24th December 2021 
