House of Koko has opened a second site in Oakwood, and you can be the first to dine in if you head down this weekend.
Bringing fine-dining to a laid back setting is a winning combination that House of Koko have got down to a tee in Chapel Allerton and now Oakwood locals can understand the hype from Saturday 4 March as the company opens its second site in the leafy suburb.
Image: House of Koko
Their menu comprises beautifully presented dishes like pancakes drenched in syrup and even their scrambled tofu is good enough to photograph for the ‘gram (who knew?).
The overwhelming success of the cafe is well-known about Leeds- and it comes with a whole host of raving reviews.
At the new site, the HOK Oakwood will be serving up all of their bestselling brunch dishes, as well as some classy cocktails and a selection of wines to be paired with small dining plates.
Inside the former Hessian building, House of Koko will continue to deliver on the brand’s infamously tasty and all-encompassing brunch offering. Hessian’s staff will remain, keeping local knowledge and friendly faces for the Hessian regulars as the venue evolves into House of Koko.
By April, House of Koko intends to channel a little of Owner Rosita’s other venue, too - Distrikt bar in the city centre. They will open in the evenings, offering a supper menu of small plates alongside wine and cocktails - and perhaps even DJs.
Image: PGHL
Owner Rosita Roger stated: “We‘re so excited to expand into another exciting Leeds foodie suburb. This up-and-coming area already has some fab foodie offerings, and we’re so happy to be joining the club.
Establishing ourselves as a regular evening venue is also an exciting new step for us, and a challenge we are ready to meet head-on!”
The idea is that the Oakwood cafe will open in March and then in April, the nighttime menu will be added to the concept, along with the occasional DJ, fingers crossed.
In addition to these exciting additions, House of Koko will continue their commitment to sourcing fantastic local produce in their Oakwood venue, from the coffee to the cakes to the vegetables.
Image: PGHL
Think Moreish cakes from The Savvy Baker, Glazed & Confused and coffee is sourced from local roastery North Star, who source their coffee beans ethically, directly from the farmers.
House of Koko will continue to serve up plenty of vegan options alongside both healthy and indulgent brunch dishes, from the likes of Turkish eggs to maple syrup-smothered banana and pecan pancakes.
Image: PGHL
House of Koko will continue to host their famous eclectic food events and pop-ups with other chefs and suppliers in their new Oakwood venue, which is looking forward to welcoming locals and HOK regulars alike, throughout the day - and now into the evening.
One of Leeds' most popular independent bakeries has addressed a recent one-star review, which slammed them for being sold out of sandwiches.
Silver's Bakehouse, which comes from the same team behind Silver's Deli, suggested that the reviewer should 'work on their manners'.
The review hit out at the Farsley bakery for being sold out of sandwiches by the time they travelled 'an 80 minute round trip', describing owner Chris Riley as a 'silly man'.
The reviewer said they have been 'loyal high-spending customers since the first one opened' but wrote that they won't be visiting Silver's again after being left empty-handed.
They wrote: "It's all very good being mr instagram but things can go south very quickly silly man, make more sandwiches if you are going to be sold out in the first hour, don't risk the disappointment!!!"
Silver's Bakehouse has now publicly shared and responded to the review, stressing that they won't tolerate 'rudeness' and detailing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
He said: "Let me explain again for you, David…
Inside Silver's Bakehouse in Farsley. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
"We start baking at 5am and rarely finish before 6pm. Everything is made fresh, by hand, often taking days to prepare, in a very small bakery. You can literally see how small it is - and we utilise every inch.
"We make as much as we physically can. Sometimes we sell out earlier than we’d like, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people want what we make. But there is, unfortunately, a limit to how much we can produce.
"For the record, I’m not overly enthused about being “Mr Instagram” - what a truly horrendous phrase to conjure up. I managed to avoid it for years, but needs must and all that.
"I am genuinely grateful for your custom, David. Rudeness, however, I’m considerably less enthusiastic about.
"So yeah, we’ll keep working hard. You keep working on those manners."
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Thomas Melia
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Sophie Smith -
3rd March 2022 
