Eats

From lockdown baking to Roundhay cafe: The Savvy Baker to open its first cafe next week

"I can’t wait to be able to meet all of the customers that have been supporting since that start."

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 24th March 2022

The Savvy Baker is one of Leeds' best lockdown success stories.

Savannah Roqaa became an overnight sensation after sending her friends brownie care packages in the first lockdown two years ago, and has since captured the attention of the entire city with her innovative brownie flavours, charismatic demeanour and pop-up events in and around Leeds.

The baking entrepreneur is now celebrating two years of baking brownies and opening a cafe in Roundhay, where her business first began.

Image: The Savvy Baker

Since churning out 30-40 boxes of brownies per week from her small Roundhay home kitchen, Savannah has grown a cult following of devoted foodies, leaving her with over 50,000 Instagram followers and the likes of Leeds United legend Kalvin Phillips as fans of her delicious treats.

The new cafe is going to stock all of Leeds' favourite baked goods, expect all their usual brownies, brookies, cookies, flapjacks, cakes, tarts, sticky stuff and serving up Leeds' famous North Star coffee.

Read More: All the new openings coming to Leeds in spring 2022

Image: The Savvy Baker

Savannah told The Hoot Leeds: “We’re both so excited to be able to open a customer-facing cafe. I can’t wait to be able to meet all of the customers that have been supporting [us] since that start.

“This is still just the beginning and can’t wait for what’s in the future”.

Be sure to keep an eye out for their new brownie tubs too, which have been consistently selling out online along with their brownie stacks which are loved by Leeds United players on birthdays and other special occasions.

Klavin Phillips visiting The Savvy Baker kitchen. / Image: The Savvy Baker

Having moved into commercial bakery to handle the massive and ever-growing demand, she now regularly hosts pop-ups across the country and small business events in the Savvy Baker HQ, sharing her huge platform with other Yorkshire based small businesses.

Savannah said: “After we’ve been open a couple of months, we will be able to expand our menu, offering breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, shakes, ice cream, and more! We also want to plan events, including doggy days! But we’re taking it one step at a time”.

The cafe is going to run alongside the commercial kitchen that currently produces hundreds of brownies for local businesses and hungry customers around the city and is set to open on Thursday 31 March.

Image: The Savvy Baker

Supporting The Savvy Baker through the cafe opening and taking an active role in renovations, Savannah's partner, Jordan Simms, has come on board to allow the two venues to run in tandem.

“Jordan moved up to Leeds and has always been my biggest supporter. I’m so busy with the bakery and running that side of the business that having someone I trust to help run the cafe was a must…plus not having to make every decision alone is a bonus!

We’re both really excited; it feels like the most natural next step. Initially, we were solely online, but as the world changes, we have to adapt! So that’s what’s happened.”

Savannah Roqaa and Jordan Simms outside the new cafe. / Image: The Savvy Baker

The Savvy Baker cafe will be open every Tuesday - Sunday 8.30am-4pm from their newly-renovated premises on Lidgett Lane, Roundhay. For more information (or just to drool over the brownie selection), visit The Savvy Baker Instagram page.

Feature Image- The Savvy Baker

Eats

Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

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.

Read more:

Featured image - Supplied

Eats

Viral brunch cafe Acai and the Tribe is coming to Leeds city centre this spring

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.

Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.

Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.

Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.

Images: The Manc Group

Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.

So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.

Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."

They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.

It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.

We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.

Read more:

Featured image - The Manc Group

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