The Canary is one of the latest additions to Leeds waterside, and comes with a host of delicious food and drink.
As one of Leeds newest bars, you'd think that The Canary is up for some serious competition- until you see the waterside views, luxurious interior and are welcomed by their accommodating staff.
Sat on the verge of Leeds Docks, opposite Mumtaz Leeds, The Canary is an innovative bar built entirely from shipping containers. Split across two floors, an intimate, cosy space leaves ample room for guests to unwind from a cold wintry day in the city.
The exterior is hard to miss. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Everything from the inviting seats with waterside views to the carefully considered Mediterranean menu speaks of the creative concept behind the bar, which wanted to incorporate as many local products as possible.
Watch the swans laze around in the river whilst sipping on Northern Monk IPA or grab a seat at the bar and chat about God's Own Country whilst supporting the local hospitality scene (which really does need our support after a turbulent Christmas period). Management here are proud to continue to support local suppliers and others within their industry, and this has only continued to drive up the popularity of The Canary.
All the seats come with waterside views. / Image: Canary Bar
If that's not enough to pique your interest, the bar has devised plenty of pub quizzes every Wednesday and live music evenings on Sundays to keep us entertained- and warm, away from the grey skies and freezing temperatures outside.
To drink, there's your Canary Lager and choice of Squareball or Northern Monk IPA, as well as plenty of wines and spirits to choose from, many of which feature on the refreshing cocktail menu.
The Spiced Pear Fizz and a mocktail. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Spiced Pear Fizz is the ultimate twist on a classic gin-flavoured drink. Made from Portobello gin, pear liqueur, lemon, sugar and cardamom seeds before being topped with a slice of lemon, it carefully balances sweet tastes with alcoholic-infusions and it's got us hooked.
For those doing Dry January or that just don't want to have a drink, there's plenty of non-alcoholic options too, including off-the-menu mocktails that can be made upon request. The management here are all too accommodating when it comes to the drinks menu and are clearly committed to helping you find the perfect drink for your stay.
Mocktails are available upon request from the bar. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The food menu carries the same level of consideration and leaves you feeling just as refreshed (forget that post-food coma, you'll just feel incredibly full and satisfied instead). The Mezzes, both meaty and vegetarian come with a fresh Greek-inspired salad with plenty of olives, as well as warm pitta bread, smooth hummus and tzatziki. In addition to these small plates, the meaty version comes with meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, as well as chicken gyros, whereas the vegetarian option swaps the meat out for halloumi strips, butter beans and stuffed vine leaves.
Both the Mezze options come highly recommended. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
There's plenty more on the menu to choose from though. Think Greek salads, wraps, burgers and mezze, all available with sides of halloumi fries and Greek olives- and all equally as fresh. Even the water for the table comes with lemons, and served in an ice-cold carafe, a far cry from the lukewarm water from other pubs in the nearby area.
Chicken gyros and pitta bread from the Meat Mezze. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking for a quiet spot to waste away the afternoon, or want to embrace the hustle and bustle of a winter's evening in a beautiful location, all whilst supporting a whole chain of local businesses, we're sure you'll lose track of time in great company and spend far longer here than you ever intended to.
For more information, including how to book a table at Canary Bar (which is highly recommended at the weekend), visit their website or pop down to Leeds Docks to check it out for yourself.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community
It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.
We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.
And then there’s the pizza.
Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”
They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.
But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.
Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.
And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.
Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.
There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.
We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.
North Star Coffee announces opening date for new site – and they’re giving away 200 coffees to celebrate
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding with two city centre openings.
Coffee lovers, you're going to love this one.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
One of their brand-new locations inside the Victoria Quarter will be opening next Monday 1 June.
Their new kiosk will be located outside Jo Malone London and marks the brand’s third site in Leeds.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
To celebrate the launch, North Star will be giving away 50 free coffees a day from Tuesday 2 June until Friday 5 June - a total of 200 free drinks across the opening week. Customers will be able to claim any coffee from the menu, with one free drink per person available on a first come, first served basis, each day.
Their other new site is expected to be on Great George Street, and we'll keep you updated with any news on that one as and when we know more.
Speaking about the opening, Holly Kragiopoulos, Co-founder of North Star, said: “Opening a third site in the centre of Leeds feels incredibly special for us. Leeds has always been at the heart of North Star, so being able to bring our coffee into Victoria Quarter is a huge milestone.
"We wanted to celebrate by giving something back to the city and welcoming both loyal regulars and new customers with free coffee throughout our opening week.”
Sophie Smith -
12th January 2022 
