The news has been out for a few months that POCO Sicilian is coming to Leeds city centre - but now all we need to do is count down the days.
The team have just announced the new location of POCO Sicilian Street Food - and us based in the city centre are in for a treat.
Opening on Friday 9 June, the much-loved Italian street food venue will be taking over a kiosk spot on Lands Lane in Leeds city centre.
Located slap bang in the heart of the city, the new POCO will take over the former Yorkshire Bank unit and bringing copious amounts of pizza al taglio to the masses in the process.
Image: POCO Sicilian / The Hoot Leeds
The team never fail to have a huge selection of eat, including pizza slices with flavours that change by the day: the vegan slice with mushrooms, peppers and copious amounts of spinach is a standout favourite, but there’s everything from ham and potato slices to fennel sausage to choose from. The menu doesn’t stop there, choose from lasagna, chicken and salads, calzone stuffed with ham or tomato and loads of cheese and some of the best arancini in the city (there, we said it). Those with a sweet tooth will love the bombolones: soft and fluffy Italian donuts with creamy icing and custard running through the middle – but that’s not all. Be sure to check out the cannoli or marzipan shapes on offer too.
With two sites in Headingley and Kirkstall, foodies flocking to the suburbs for quite some time now- but now there’s going to be another spot to grab your slice of authentic Sicilian treats.
The team announced the news with the following statement:
"Poco Leeds City Centre Opening Party. We have the date, guys!
"FRIDAY, JUNE 9th, from 12PM until 2PM (or until we run out of food so you better hurry!) 24a Lands Lane, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6LB
"Come say hi, meet the team, check out our brand new kiosk and enjoy all your Poco favourites ON THE HOUSE!
"That’s your Friday lunch sorted (we will be serving a cheeky Prosecco too - it’s Friday, after all)
"So guys please find a minute in your busy schedule this Friday lunchtime and come see us in the city centre. And tell your friends about the opening too. We really need all your support
"After the party on Friday, we are planing to open for business from Saturday June 10th, working hours to be confirmed.
"The first week will be a soft opening as we still need to finish off some bits. So, please bear with us, we are nearly there!
"And see you all (hopefully) this Friday, June 9th for the Opening Party!
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Sophie Smith -
6th June 2023 
