Rainbow Junktion is the middleman that intercepts food waste and turns ingredients into delicious, healthy meals for the community that would have otherwise been thrown away.
Hidden in Hyde Park is one of the most generous community schemes in Leeds. Aiming to reduce food waste and food poverty, Rainbow Junktion offers a delicious range of fresh produce and warm meals on a pay-as-you-feel basis.
With a prestigious five stars glowing on their TripAdvisor, Rainbow Junktion are a firm favourite with Hyde Park residents and it's their ongoing events and hospitable staff that keep the pop-up restaurant alive and fresh.
"A hidden Hyde Park gem. This is the most wholesome foods and atmosphere. The staff and volunteers are happy to attend to your needs and you can bring your own wine."
The way it works is the non-profit intercept food that's about to be wasted and saves it from going in the bin. Their hashtag '#FeedBelliesNotBins' emphasises their belief that food is not distributed equally and this is a real cause of food poverty in the UK.
The menu at Rainbow Junktion changes daily based on the ingredients saved from being wasted. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
The popular community cafe state that: "Some people calculate that we produce 150% of our food requirements globally.
By intercepting waste and using it to feed people on a Pay As You Feel basis we aim to reduce food poverty without taking away people’s pride".
So to bring Leeds together in a non-judgemental space, the volunteer-led team create delicious healthy meals available to purchase on a pay-as-you-feel basis. By using intercepted ingredients, the cafe has a sustainable business model that helps people and the planet with respective interest.
This avoids any discriminations and brings the community together without the feeling of 'us' and 'them'. Located at All Hallows' Church every Monday and Thursday, a three or four course menu is devised based on the donations given each week.
The 'Food for Thought' event in 2019 was designed to bring Hyde Park residents together at the Rainbow Junktion. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
The team are conscious to appeal to all taste buds and cater to all dietary needs, so the menu is made up of predominantly vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Rainbow Junktion also ensure that every Friday they provide users with affordable zero waste food for the weekend. Their foodshare project also runs from All Hallows Church, as well as plenty of one-off community events.
The glowing TripAdvisor reviews suggest that the cafe truly has something for everyone:
"I've been coming here for over a year now, and the food is amazing. every day they are open there is a different menu, so you never get bored.
The volunteers are lovely and so kind and welcoming It truly is an amazing place, and there's lots of event that happen here too, like trapeze lessons and Late night dinners on some fridays."
All meals are prepared and served by volunteers. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
To get your pay-as-you-feel foodie fix, head over to All Hallows Church in Hyde Park on a Monday or Thursday before 3pm and receive your three course meal.
If it's good enough for Anton Stach, then it's good enough for us.
Well, it really is the signing that nobody saw coming...and it’s happening right opposite the station.
Meat:Stack, the Newcastle-born, award-winning burger joint on Bishopgate Street in Leeds, is giving the people what they want - a burger with Anton Stach’s name on it.
Introducing ‘The Moustachi Burger', officially launching Tuesday 18 August where Anton Stach himself will be down at Meat:Stack to meet United fans, sign autographs and, of course, tuck into his very own creation.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Even better, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Elhadj Diouf Foundation (EDF), a charity chosen by Stach that supports children through education.
Not only that, but it's a great opportunity to support Meat:Stack that has been suffering from the ongoing road works for months on end now.
So really, you've got no excuse to come down and tuck into the special which will be available through the opening weeks of the season.
Anton Stach, Leeds United and Germany midfielder, added: “Leeds has felt like home from very early on, and a lot of that is the people and the places around the ground, the businesses fans go to before and after a game. Meat:Stack is one of them, and they’ve had a hard time with the building work on their doorstep. The Moustachi Burger is a lovely nod to my YouTube channel too.
"This is a team on the rise in a city on the comeback, and support has to go both ways. I wanted to back a business Leeds fans care about and raising money for a foundation my family has given so much to at the same time means everything. I’ll be there on the 18th, bring your appetite.”
Independent Leeds coffee shop crowned one of the UK’s best for 2026
Clementine Hall
A list of the UK's best independent coffee shops for 2026 has been released, and one in Leeds has come up trumps.
The coffee shop in question may come as no surprise to some of you, as some would say that after 15 years in the city it's become somewhat of an institution.
Of course it's none other than Laynes.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's a proper Leeds staple at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
But it's not just us who think it's flipping fantastic, as a new study has revealed the top 10 most popular independent coffee shops in the country and Laynes comes in at a very respectable number 8.
The list, made by Capital on Tap, analysed coffee across the UK looking at Google reviews, monthly searches and social media success.
Laynes was in some pretty good company including Idle Hands in Manchester and Kaf Coffee in Glasgow. But most importantly, none of the top 10 were in London - make of that what you will.
The top 10 most popular independent coffee shops for 2026:
Neighbourhood Café, Belfast
Colonna & Small’s, Bath
Established Coffee, Belfast
Hard Lines Coffee, Cardiff
Rough Handmade, Liverpool
Idle Hands Coffee, Manchester
Full Court Press, Bristol
Laynes Espresso, Leeds
Kaf Coffee, Glasgow
Dom’s Coffee, Cambridge
Bravo Laynes, a well earned accolade for one of our favourite spots in the city.
Sophie Smith -
19th November 2021 
