Popular Leeds city centre food and drink destination Call Lane is set to welcome back hundreds more outside revellers for seated al fresco drinking and dining following recent renovations and changes to the street made by Leeds City Council.
The long-awaited changes to the thriving bar and restaurant hub have seen the expansion and laying of new pavement and dramatically reduced traffic following a successful trial in Summer 2020. The ongoing improvements on Call Lane leave it well-placed to be the next great destination in a growing list of bustling outdoor city centre spaces.
Already making the most of their new surroundings is local bar and restaurant group Akito Ltd who will be opening three of their four sites for outdoor drinking and dining from Monday 12th April in line with the government’s reopening roadmap.
With new furniture, outdoor heaters and rain cover, the bars (including Leeds nightlife mainstays Oporto, Knaves Kitchen, Neon Cactus and Power, Corruption and Lies) will be ready to welcome their dearly-missed customers in all weathers and circumstances from 12PM - 12AM, seven days a week. Bookings won’t be required for the three Akito venues, leaving space for walk-ins of groups of up to six.
All sites will be fully seated, offering table service exclusively and logging track and trace details for all guests in line with current covid regulations. From Mexican street food and cocktails, ‘Disco Dim Sum’ to vegan fast food, craft beer and coffee, the widespread and diverse offering from the various Call Lane venues will ensure that all tastes are catered for.
Following their reopening on the 12th, the bars plan to make use of the new and long awaited outdoor space to host BBQ’s, events, bank holiday specials and lots more over the Summer months. The independent Akito group along with their neighbours on the lane are excited to bring another great outdoor social space to Leeds city centre and welcome back the crowds who make Leeds such a beloved place to eat, drink and dance.
Ross Millar, Operations Manager, Akito Ltd said: “Down on call lane we are chomping at the bit to welcome people back for al fresco drinking and dining in our new and extended outside area. With extra seating available and no booking necessary the summer is going to look beautiful! We have worked really hard over the past months to ensure complete safety for our guests is achieved with all the necessary covid procedures in place.
"Having done weeks of extensive research and development on new food and drink offerings in our venues we are super excited for people to come down and sample our creations. It’s been such a tough year all round for everybody, I personally feel a real sense of excitement and emotion for the coming months when we are able to get back to what we know and see some lovely faces.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council has worked with hospitality businesses across the city as they prepare to welcome back customers from 12th April. Large parts of the city centre have been transformed over the past year, with some of our key streets and spaces now offering wider footways, more room for outdoor seating, and newly planted trees”
Oporto, Knaves Kitchen, Neon Cactus & Power Corruption and Lies will be open from 12PM - 12AM, seven days a week. Food will be served until 10PM.
Leeds
Loved Leeds cocktail bar to no longer close following ‘outpouring of love’ by the community
Posting to their social media, The Maven said: "When news broke The Maven could close its doors at the end of March, the reaction across the city was immediate. The response from customers, bartenders, and hospitality operators showed just how much this bar means to Leeds.
"For nearly 15 years, The Maven has been one of the city’s most loved cocktail destinations and a true institution within the local bar scene.
"When we told you about its potential closure we were flooded with support and interest from across the hospitality community. In the days that followed, several Leeds-based operators stepped forward with genuine offers to buy the venue and keep the bar alive.
"At a time when our industry is too often filled with stories of closures, today brings a little hope - a story about a community stepping up to protect something it values.
"The reports that The Maven would close at the end of March are now firmly in the past: The Maven Lives.
"Thanks to the passion of the Leeds hospitality community and the loyalty of its guests, the bar will continue to be part of the city’s nightlife story. More details about the next chapter for The Maven will be shared soon."
One of Leeds’ best rooftop bars has launched a brand-new cocktail and food menu just in time for spring
Clementine Hall
Leeds is about to feel the heat this summer as Uyare announces the launch of a new cocktail and bar food menu.
It's all in celebration of spring and the restaurant's first birthday.
If you haven't ever visited Uyare's rooftop then let us tell you, it is a beautiful spot.
Set high above the city in Victoria Leeds, the super-stylish rooftop destination boasts jawdropping panoramic city views, heated outdoor seating and a stellar food and drink menu.
It's the perfect pre-dinner cocktail spot as well as a standalone bar experience with tables available to book exclusively for drinks.
And where's better than a rooftop bar during the summer season?
Guests can expect a brand-new small plates menu that are perfect for sharing, a curated selection of signature cocktails and a new bottomless brunch available every weekend.
The brunch includes tapas dishes with side and bottomless drinks from £40 and there’ll also be monthly jazz nights adding a sophisticated laid-back atmosphere.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The cocktail menu features 12 signature ‘flavour forward’ creations that take inspiration from Kerala’s rich culinary heritage. Alongside the signature cocktails, the menu also introduces four Kerala-centric drinks designed to take guests on a journey through the region.
Opened in June 2025, Uyare was born from the success of Tharavadu, one of Leeds’ best-loved restaurants.
After more than eleven years of welcoming celebrities, food lovers and discerning diners from across the globe, the team expanded the Tharavadu family to create Uyare, a premium rooftop dining destination bringing refined South Indian cuisine and elevated city views to the Leeds skyline.
Image: Supplied
Founder Siby Jose said; “Uyare is all about energy, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to our rooftop bar this summer. While Leeds has a vibrant cocktail scene, many menus are built around classic recipes or rely heavily on syrups. Our new menu takes a different approach, focusing on real ingredients and culinary techniques to create bold, layered flavours.
“Our vision is to create a destination where you can book just for drinks or gather with friends and experience something special above the city. We are really excited about our new menu, which we think will satisfy and delight everyone’s tastes, whether you’re popping in for cocktails at golden hour or settling in for a full small-plates feast and soaking up the atmosphere!”
The Hoot -
8th April 2021 
