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Food & Drink

One of Leeds’ most historic buildings is being transformed into an all-day cafe, bar and events space

We can't wait for this.

Clementine Hall - 20th July 2026

A family-run business is about to breathe new life into one of the city's most culturally significant buildings.

Introducing Moods - a new all-day cafe, bar and events venue that will open to the public at First White Cloth Hall on Kirkgate on Friday 31 July.

Created by husband-and-wife founders Will and Hayley Moody, the team behind Buzz Club Tattoo, Moods will occupy the ground floor of the Grade II* listed building.

Originally built in 1711 for the sale of white, undyed cloth, some of its roof timbers have been dated to the
mid-1470s, and the building spent more than 20 years on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register
before a major restoration by Rushbond returned it to use.

Images: Supplied

Images: Supplied

Moods will bring speciality coffee, in-house patisserie, elevated day dining, cocktails, wine, beer and
events together under one historic roof.

Doors open at 6pm on Friday 31 July for drinks and bar snacks, with all-day food service beginning at 8am on Saturday 1 August.

The kitchen will be led by Head Chef Craig Rogan, who trained within Simon Rogan's Michelin-starred
restaurant group, including time at L'Enclume and Fera at Claridge's.

Will Moody said: "Leeds has been our home since university, and First White Cloth Hall felt like the
kind of building you do not get a second chance with. From the moment we saw it, we knew it could
become much more than a studio home.

"Moods is about opening the ground floor up and giving people a reason to use the building from morning through to night, whether that is coffee, food, drinks, private events or simply a good catch-up with friends."

We can't wait to check out the space, and you can find out more about Moods here.

Read more: Leeds is set to be transformed into a huge interactive game of Trivial Pursuit this week

Featured image - Supplied (Press image)

Food & Drink

The tiny seven-seater Leeds kitchen serving some of the best Japanese food in the city

You probably walk past it without realising, but tucked away in Woodhouse Lane is a tiny Japanese kitchen serving up seriously good food.

This small, low-lit Japanese spot has been quietly building a following with its menu of proper Japanese comfort food, from crispy karaage and handmade takoyaki to loaded yakisoba, donburi bowls, and Japanese curry.

Oishi started life back in 2022 as a Japanese street food trailer before finding a permanent home in Leeds. Today, it has kept that same street-food feel, with just seven seats inside and an open kitchen where you can watch the craft and care that goes into every dish.

Behind it all are Cyrus and Katrina, who share the day-to-day running of the kitchen. Rather than trying to turn Oishi into a huge restaurant, the pair have kept things small and personal, putting the focus firmly on the quality ingredients and making sure customers get that warm, friendly experience.

And you can really feel that when you're there.

Credit: The Manc Group

Credit: The Manc Group

Oishi isn't trying to be the biggest or flashiest Japanese restaurant in Leeds. It's a small, independent kitchen where the focus is on big flavours, generous portions and seriously comforting food.

It's also the sort of place that feels like a proper local find, somewhere you could easily walk past for months without knowing what's happening inside.

Step through the doors and, for a moment, it feels like you've left Leeds behind.

With its small, intimate setting and Japanese-inspired details, Oishi has the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like you've stumbled down a side street in Japan and found a tiny neighbourhood kitchen tucked away from the crowds. It's cosy, unpretentious, and all about the food - the sort of place where you can imagine grabbing a quick bite, settling in with a bowl of steaming curry or noodles and watching the world go by.

And when it comes to the menu, there's plenty to get stuck into.

Credit: The Manc Group

Credit: The Manc Group

It's packed with dishes made for sharing, from crispy golden takoyaki and juicy karaage chicken to gyoza, tempura, and calamari. For something more filling, there are steaming bowls of Japanese curry, loaded yakisoba noodles, and don rice bowls topped with everything from crispy chicken to fried eggs and katsu.

It's hearty, flavour-packed and the kind of food that has you eyeing up everyone else's plate while you're halfway through your own.

So, if you're bored of your usual Leeds food rotation, fancy trying something different, or simply have a serious craving for Japanese comfort food, Oishi Kitchen deserves to be on your radar.

Because sometimes the best food in the city isn't hiding in the middle of town... it's tucked away in Woodhouse instead.

Featured Image - The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Free pho is coming to Leeds as popular restaurant announces new city centre home

Clementine Hall

Leeds pho fans have got something to look forward to this September.

Why? Because the popular Vietnamese restaurant Pho is swapping Trinity Kitchen for a brand-new city centre home.

The beloved restaurant group has recently announced it will be opening at 50 Boar Lane, with a rather tempting way to celebrate the move - a whole day of free pho.

Image: Pho (Supplied)

But before we delve into that, let's reminisce...

Pho was founded by Stephen and Jules Wall in 2005 and has since grown into a restaurant group specialising in Vietnamese street food, including its famously slurpable bowls of pho.

Pho first arrived in Leeds back in 2013, opening in Trinity Kitchen in a kiosk-style format.

Image: Pho (Supplied)

Now, almost 13 years later, the restaurant is preparing to close its kiosk and move into a new, bigger location on Boar Lane.

The Trinity Kitchen restaurant will close this Sunday 6 September, before the new Boar Lane restaurant officially opens its doors on Friday 18 September.

So although you have just under two weeks of a pho-less Leeds, it'll be worth it.

Firstly, you'll be given the chance to bag 50 per cent off their food during a soft launch by signing up here via Pho’s Leeds website before 7 September to be among the first to receive the dates and booking link.

Image: Pho (Supplied)

And then comes the main event.

To mark the opening of the new restaurant, Pho is hosting a FREE PHO DAY on Friday 18 September, starting from 12pm.

The offer will be available on a first come, first served basis, while stocks last, so anyone hoping to get their hands on a free bowl might want to get there early.

So, if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to swap your usual lunch for a steaming bowl of Vietnamese noodles, 18 September might be the day to do it.

Read more: Cult favourite Leeds shawarma bar hailed ‘outstanding’ by major reviewer

Featured image - Pho (Supplied)