Residents in Meanwood have raised over £10,000 to help restore a beloved local restaurant front after a car crashed into it last month.
The accident forced Zucco to close just a week after reopening for indoor dining due to damage caused by an out-of-control motorist in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, 19th May.
Locals quickly rallied to support their favorite family-run Italian restaurant, which has been serving the community for years.
A fundraiser was set up by Zucco chef Jack Richards, saying that "anyone that knows the Leggiero family will understand that they are far to proud to ask for the help they really deserve."
Jack took it upon himself to help find the funds to restore the restaurant to how it was, and has completely blown his initial target out of the water.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser has pulled in £10,904 with donations still rolling in. The funds raised mean the family can now replace the damaged window and doors as well as retile and replace tables and chairs whilst they wait for the insurance money to come through.
Local families have also left comments, sharing their sympathies with the family and their affection for the local restaurant.
"Gutted for you all. Can't wait to come back and see you as soon as you open. The Beadnall Family" said Andrew Beadnall, who donated £200 towards the restaurant's refurbishment.
Whilst Kevin Cassidy, who donated £100, said: "Marie and I were devastated to learn of the closure. We trust the repair work will go smoothly and we can soon enjoy some great food in one of our favourite restaurants. Good luck guys."
Nigel Wilson, donating £20, said: "What is the point of coming out of lockdown if Zuccos isnt open? I hope you get back up soon. Take care."
Scenes outside Zucco following the car crash that forced it to close just a week after reopening
The family have since thanked their customers for their generosity.
Mr Leggiero said: “It’s so kind of everyone. It just shows how we’ve made a difference to the community, which is nice to see.
“It means that while we’re waiting for the insurance money to come in, we can carry on paying staff wages and rent will get paid. It makes a massive difference.”
"I’m glad to see how much Zucco means to the community and this will help us to speed up the reopening and to help pay staff their full wage as they’ve missed out on enough during the last 18 months!"
He added: “We just want to say thank you. It means so much to the entire family just to know we’ve got the whole community behind us and there’s going to be a lot of free arancini given out when we reopen.”
They anticipate they'll be able to reopen in roughly 4 weeks, so mark your calendars.
Eats
Beloved Leeds takeaway Souvlaki Corner to open new restaurant in Morley next month
A new Souvlaki Corner is set to open in south Leeds.
If you're a Leeds local who loves food, then you'll have most likely heard and dined at Souvlaki Corner.
It's an absolute gem of a restaurant and takeaway, situated in Wortley selling fabulous authentic Greek food at a great price.
And now they're opening a new site in the nearby town of Morley which is going to be even bigger and better. Get in.
The new site will feature a bigger space with more seating, offering both dine-in and takeaway options, as well as a brand-new bar.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now you're talking our language.
Souvlaki Corner told The Hoot: "We’re excited to confirm that Souvlaki Corner will be opening a new site in Morley, Leeds. Our targeted opening is in around four weeks, although we don’t have an exact opening date yet and will confirm this closer to the launch.
"One of the highlights of the new restaurant will be a traditional Greek spit where we will cook whole lamb in the proper Greek way. It will be cooked over charcoal to give the authentic Greek flavour that people would experience in Greece.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"Our chefs are Greek, bringing authentic knowledge and experience from Greece. The interior design will also reflect the style of the Greek islands, so when people visit they will feel like they are stepping into a little part of Greece."
They continued: "Souvlaki Corner was created to bring authentic Greek street food to Leeds, focusing on freshly grilled souvlaki, gyros, and traditional flavours served quickly and affordably. Since launching our first location, the response from customers has been fantastic, and Morley felt like the natural next step as we continue to grow."
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Clementine Hall
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Georgina Pellant -
1st June 2021 
