Residents in Meanwood have raised over £10,000 to help restore a beloved local restaurant front after a car crashed into it last month.
The accident forced Zucco to close just a week after reopening for indoor dining due to damage caused by an out-of-control motorist in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, 19th May.
Locals quickly rallied to support their favorite family-run Italian restaurant, which has been serving the community for years.
A fundraiser was set up by Zucco chef Jack Richards, saying that "anyone that knows the Leggiero family will understand that they are far to proud to ask for the help they really deserve."
Jack took it upon himself to help find the funds to restore the restaurant to how it was, and has completely blown his initial target out of the water.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser has pulled in £10,904 with donations still rolling in. The funds raised mean the family can now replace the damaged window and doors as well as retile and replace tables and chairs whilst they wait for the insurance money to come through.
Local families have also left comments, sharing their sympathies with the family and their affection for the local restaurant.
"Gutted for you all. Can't wait to come back and see you as soon as you open. The Beadnall Family" said Andrew Beadnall, who donated £200 towards the restaurant's refurbishment.
Whilst Kevin Cassidy, who donated £100, said: "Marie and I were devastated to learn of the closure. We trust the repair work will go smoothly and we can soon enjoy some great food in one of our favourite restaurants. Good luck guys."
Nigel Wilson, donating £20, said: "What is the point of coming out of lockdown if Zuccos isnt open? I hope you get back up soon. Take care."
Scenes outside Zucco following the car crash that forced it to close just a week after reopening
The family have since thanked their customers for their generosity.
Mr Leggiero said: “It’s so kind of everyone. It just shows how we’ve made a difference to the community, which is nice to see.
“It means that while we’re waiting for the insurance money to come in, we can carry on paying staff wages and rent will get paid. It makes a massive difference.”
"I’m glad to see how much Zucco means to the community and this will help us to speed up the reopening and to help pay staff their full wage as they’ve missed out on enough during the last 18 months!"
He added: “We just want to say thank you. It means so much to the entire family just to know we’ve got the whole community behind us and there’s going to be a lot of free arancini given out when we reopen.”
They anticipate they'll be able to reopen in roughly 4 weeks, so mark your calendars.
Eats
Grade-II listed city centre bar to open East Asian-inspired street food kitchen
Howard Assembly Room to launch new bar with permanent kitchen from Yuzu Street Food.
HAR bar, the intimate Grade II-listed space beneath Leeds City Centre's multi-disciplinary venue, the Howard Assembly Room,will now open five days a week with a brand new permanent food partner.
If you're not familiar York’s Yuzu Street Food, then allow us to fill you in.
First established in York following an enlightening culinary trip to Asia in 2019, Yuzu Street Food is now recognised as one of the north’s finest street food vendors.
Image: Supplied
Serving up contemporary takes on bao buns, fried chicken, ramen, katsu curry and much more; Yuzu are set to be the perfect addition to the Howard Assembly Room and its new bar HAR.
First launched in February, a programme of improvements saw the space previously occupied by the restaurant Kino transformed into the HAR bar.
An intimate venue in the cultural heart of the city, HAR bar guests can now enjoy fresh coffee, quality cocktails and a rotation of beers from breweries including Leeds institution Kirkstall Brewery throughout the week.
Image: Supplied Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yuzu Street Food will open at HAR on Friday 15 May.
Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Yuzu to HAR bar, with their Asian-inspired street food providing the perfect accompaniment to our range of drinks and firmly establishing HAR bar as one of Leeds’ leading spots to meet and eat.
"We want everyone in the city to feel that this is their space, where great music, a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service combine to create a truly special place that embodies the city’s creativity while also supporting Opera North’s outreach work across the north.
Chris Hargroves, Yuzu Founder & CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be back in Leeds city centre! Leeds has always shown us incredible support and energy and returning really feels like coming home. We’re excited to reconnect with the community, welcome familiar faces and introduce our new menu items to the new ones. Working with such a prestigious venue as the Howard Assembly Room is something we’re absolutely buzzing about and we can’t wait to fire up the woks!”
Popular beer festival showcasing over 35 indie breweries is returning to Leeds this month
Clementine Hall
Hop City, the long-running beer festival from award-winning Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, returns this month for its ninth year.
Beer lovers, this one's for you.
Bringing over 35 of the best independent breweries from the UK, Europe and North America together to The Old Flax Store, Hop City will have approximately 250 different world-class beers for guests to try across one weekend of festivities.
The best part? Every pour across the weekend is included in the price of the ticket alongside a Hop City branded glass to enjoy them in, so don't worry about having to continuously reach for your wallet.
Images: Supplied
Joining Northern Monk this year are UK breweries including Brighton’s Beak, Deya from Cheltenham, Manchester-based Track and Edinburgh’s Newbarns who will be pouring next to the likes of US breweries Trillium, Root + Branch, Finback and everywhere; Canadian’s Messorem and Third Moon, and a selection of Europe’s finest indie brewers.
Seriously, this is a beer lover's paradise.
And it's not just about the booze, as joining Hop City 2026 will be joined by Leeds’ own Bundobust who will be bringing their Indian street food alongside Bonehead Fried Chicken and Hermanos Caliente, courtesy of Niko’s Comfort Kitchen.
Images: Supplied
Not a beer fan? Don't fret as natural wine bar Rinse will be pouring all weekend whilst Below Stairs will be providing the cocktails.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said: “What started out as an idea to host some of our favourite breweries in Leeds has grown into something bigger than we could have imagined. From the beginning, the ambition was clear - to champion the best hop-forward breweries in the world and to create the first beer festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating hoppy beers and IPAs.
"Today, it’s about bringing some of the greatest breweries from across the globe together under one roof, creating something genuinely special for people who love beer as much as we do. Heading into our ninth year with a line-up of this calibre is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just about the beer, but the community, collaboration, and spirit behind it.”
Hop City 2026 will take place from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 of May, and you can buy your tickets here.
Georgina Pellant -
1st June 2021 
