All the best places to get your caffeine fix in Leeds.
It's no secret at Leeds is fuelled by caffeine, especially given there are no less than 110 different coffee stores and within a short walk from the city centre. 2021 brought the closure of some of our favourite coffee spots, but plenty more reopened to revive the caffeine scene.
Here are our favourite openings of the year so far.
What was formerly Rum and Reason on Merrion Street was taken over by Nam Song Caphe back in June. The new cafe and restaurant has since been serving up authentic Vietnamese coffees, bahn mi baguettes, bowls of pho and more. On the drinks front, there’s some proper Vietnamese coffee to be enjoyed here. Ca phe trung – a Hanoi speciality made with condensed milk and egg yolk mix – is a house favourite, but can also be taken without for those who don’t like the sound of egg in their coffee.
A new cake shop opened inside an industrial mill unit in Stanningley, Leeds back in late May. Called Soph’s Cakes Leeds, it’s the brainchild of ex-professional dancer Sophie O’Connell – who’s had the unit for over a year but has only just been able to open now. Customers can enjoy a good range of sweet treats like cupcakes and full-size creations, alongside coffees and savoury pastries from 2-6pm Monday to Wednesday, and 9.30am-2pm on Saturdays.
A new wellbeing cafe with a focus on improving people’s mental health opened in Leeds earlier this year. Called Better Days, it’s located inside the Grand Arcade and sets itself apart from other bars and cafes in the area by offering dedicated (and free) classes in improving wellbeing. Better Days offers free support to everyone who visits and, according to owner Vicky Fytche, is the only place of its kind in Leeds- and we're so excited to see something so important pop up in our city.
The small Headingley coffee shop opened earlier this year and the little shop really is the epitome of independent coffee. There’s a new selection of cakes and baked goods each day and the store stocks whatever seems right. There’s always variation: whether it’s the morning choice of bagels or the ever-changing choice of hot chocolates, you’re guaranteed to be greeted with a smile and good vibes, which is all we can really ask from our local coffee shop.
After some serious rebranding, the team behind Fettle opened, Fint. Housed in the same space as its predecessor on Leeds’ leafy Great George street, the owners have rebranded following a period of closure – and we were really excited to see them back, albeit in a new guise. Fettle was known and loved for its understated, laid-back cafe-meets-restaurant vibe, and whilst the space has reemerged with a new name it seems that its overall aesthetic still holds up. The difference? There’s now more of a restaurant focus- but that shouldn't stop you popping in for a great cup of coffee.
A sweet lockdown success story and delicious coffee shop on wheels, Mister Coffee started serving locals just two months ago. There's fresh hot coffee made from an arabica and robusta blend, and Mister Coffee is also has pastries, sandwiches, pies and more on board. There is even fresh cannoli to snack on and brownies from locally-renowned bakery Brown and Blond.
A popular cafe and bake house in West Yorkshire has announced it will close at the end of the month, after its founder received a devastating diagnosis.
Lucy's Little Bake House in Halifax has shared the 'very difficult news' that it will be closing its doors in just a few weeks' time.
Founder Lucy Chapple told followers that she has sadly been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
She now plans to step away from the business so that she can 'focus all of my time and energy on treatment and being with my beautiful family'.
Lucy's Little Bake House has been flooded with messages of support ever since sharing the news this week.
Lucy wrote that she will 'always be deeply grateful for every order, every visit, and every kind word' received since launching the cafe.
She was first diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer a little over a year ago, and ever since has been sharing symptoms and warning signs to raise awareness, encouraging people not to ignore any signs that don't feel right.
Announcing the imminent closure of Lucy's Little Bake House, she wrote: "Hi everyone, After a lot of thought, I need to share some very difficult news. News which I never wanted to share.
"Lucy's Little Bake House will be closing its doors at the end of April. This is because I've recently been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel c-ancer
"I need to step away from the business and focus all of my time and energy on treatment and being with my beautiful family.
"Our last day will be Thursday 30th April. Before then we are open as usual so please come and see us. I would love to see you!
"Running this business and serving our Gorgeous customers for the past 7 years has meant the world to me. Your support, kindness, and loyalty over the years have helped make Lucy's Little Bake House so special, and I will always be deeply grateful for every order, every visit, and ever kind word.
"Thank you for supporting my small business and for being part of this incredible journey. With so much love and gratitude, Lucy XXX
"P.S. Please please share this post so I can reach as many customers as possible"
We've got a few weeks left before Lucy's Little Bake House closes for good, so head over to Dean Clough and show them some support.
Beloved local bakery set to expand with a new Chapel Allerton cafe
Daisy Jackson
Bluebird Bakery, a firm favourite for freshly-baked loaves and cakes in Leeds, has announced it's opening a brand new cafe.
The much-loved local business has been trading out of Kirkgate Market for almost a decade, selling hand-crafted loaves and loads of other beautiful bakes.
Bluebird Bakery already has locations dotted all around Yorkshire, including in York (where founders Al and Nicky Kippax launched the business from their kitchen table), Beverley, and Holmfirth.
And now they've announced big plans for a second location here in Leeds, setting their sights on Chapel Allerton.
The Bluebird Bakery team said they hope the 'West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb'.
They're taking over a site on Stainbeck Lane, where we'll all be able to tuck into bread, cakes and pastries, plus coffees from Roost Coffee.
And there'll even be outside seating at the new Bluebird Cafe too.
Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafeBluebird Bakery currently operates from Kirkgate Market in Leeds
Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote: "Big news. We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a shop and cafe in Chapel Allerton this summer.
"We love our Leeds Kirkgate Market shop and we hope the West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb, which is full of independent businesses like ours.
"We’ll be based on Stainbeck Lane where there’ll be both inside & outside seating, brilliant @roost_coffee and all the bread, cakes and pastries Chapel Allerton can eat!
"We’re recruiting soon - so do keep an eye on our socials if you’re a brilliant barista, an experienced cafe assistant or a hands-on supervisor.
Sophie Smith -
27th December 2021 
