A new year brings a new start- and with a new start comes new things to do.
There's so much going on in Leeds this January, it's not quite the post-Christmas time where we were expecting- not that we're complaining. Whether you're looking for good grub, winter walks or you want to do something you've never done before, here's or favourite picks this January.
This January, Veganuary is back and bigger than ever in Leeds. If you're planning on challenging yourself to 31 days of plant-based goodness, there are plenty of promotions to help you achieve your goals for less- and still allow you to eat out at your favourite bars and restaurants. The Box, Manahatta and Banyan are collectively offering 50% off all food during select times across the month and will be stocking everything from Moving Mountains burgers and 'not-dogs' to Northern Bloc ice cream.
There will be around 1 million people isolating on New Year's Day- so what can you do that's new for 2022 but still stay indoors? Muggles and wizards of Leeds will be sitting down on New Years Day at 8pm to watch the reunion of Harry Potter and the rest of the Hogwarts cast.. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will return to Hogwarts alongside character favourites like Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs and Gary Oldham.
Join the Board Games Afternoon at Hyde Park Book Club
Image: Open Gift Card
If you've been testing out your best Monopoly tactics over Christmas or just don't want to let go of the festive period traditions just yet, Hyde Park book club is hosting an afternoon of board games for all. Staff will be there to recommend and teach games from a massive selection of retro and modern games, as well as pour you some of the most refreshing pints around.
Whether you're trying out Veganuary for the first time or been vegan for years, this market will give you plenty of fresh ideas of how to live a plant-based lifestyle. The event will move from the Outdoor Market site and will bring together a huge variety of artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers, local artists, zero-waste champions, environmental charities and more. Plus, the entire event is climate positive which means the company offset the associated emissions and plant a tree for every stall holder that takes part.
To bring in the new year and raise money for Hospitality Action, a national charity supporting workers in the face of adversity, the West Park Hotel in Harrogate will play host to a charity dinner prepared by some of our county’s finest chefs. Grab a seat, splash out on the £100, because a whopping 75% of the ticket will be donated to charity, and the menu has been hand-crafted by some of Yorkshire’s top chefs.
Described as a 'fundamental cof in the Madchester phenomenon', Shaun Ryder has a tale or two to share about his time with the Happy Mondays and Black Grape. Join Shaun for an evening of intimate interviews, incredible first-hand account stories and find out what really happens when you take on the Manchester music scene.
Mean Girls inspired fancy dress is highly encouraged at this HiFi club night. Regina George was wrong- So Fetch is happening, playing all your favourite hits from the 00s. Think Britney Spears to Avril Lavigne. McFly to Usher. Rihanna to Gwen Stefani. Justin Timberlake to Busted. Beyonce to Amy Winehouse.So whether you were a skater boi, or spent the decade hanging out under your umberella-Ella-Ella-eh, you can expect to hear your faves on the night.
For two evenings, the First Direct Arena will host all your favourite Strictly Come Dancing stars. Speaking ahead of the shows, Dancer, Rhys Stephenson said “I cannot think of a better way to start the New Year! It will be fantastic to get my dancing shoes back on after Christmas and perform live in all those iconic venues.”
Take advantage of 50% off burgers all month at Almost Famous
Thanks to Almost Famous, there’s no reason we should have to go without eating out and enjoying a well-deserved burger in the new year. The chain’s January offers will allow all eaters to grab a juicy ‘best ever burger’ from Almost Famous at half price. Having recently changed their production method to produce tender fall-apart burgers, the menu consists of delicious burgers like the classic Blame It On The Whiskey variety and new found favourite, the Juicy Double.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
31st December 2021 
