The first ever Leon drive-thru opened in Leeds this weekso you can now grab all your favourite healthy fast food treats inside.
The popular healthy fast food store opened to the public this week in its Gildersome location near Morley.
Leon Gildersome is the UK's first drive-thru for the chain. / Image: Leon Gildersome
The drive-thru provides tasty meals to those travelling around Leeds with access from both the M62 and M621 junctions on the A650 Wakefield Road.
At the opening, the first 100 customers received free breakfast muffins and limited edition Leon tote bags.
Inside visitors can choose to dine in or takeaway. / Image: Leon Gildersome
The extensive menu for the drive-thru includes fan favourites, as well as vegan and gluten-free options.
On the breakfast menu, the classic egg and cheese muffin features alongside the vegan cumberland sausage, priced at £2.75 and £3.65 respectively.
Carbon neutral burgers are on the Gildersome menu. / Image: Leon Restaurants
Throughout the day, an abundance of festive favourites are available to purchase through the drive-thru.
Think marzipan lattes and salted caramel hot chocolates to warm up your morning commute, along with mince pies, pistachio, white chocolate and ginger tiffin and Leon's Christmas burger: the sNOw turkey.
The drive-thru menu also features regular snacks like the carbon neutral burgers, waffle fries, grilled wraps and, of course, the lunchtime meal deal.
As part of an exclusive collaboration with Karma Soda, visitors to the new drive thru can wash down their meals with iconic additive-free flavoured drinks like that Lemony Lemonade, Gingerella Ginger Ale or Razza Raspberry Lemonade.
The Christmas menu is also available from the drive thru. / Image: Leon Restaurants
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Sophie Smith -
18th November 2021 
