It's the end of an era as The Bridge announces its shock closure "with great sadness and a heavy heart".
The Bridge has been serving the LGBTQ+ community of Leeds for decades now, providing a safe space for all in the centre of town.
On Thursday 30 April, The Bridge sadly announced their sudden closure with a heartfelt statement on social media directed toward their customers old and new.
The statement read: "Due to circumstances very much beyond our control, like others we have seen rising costs cripple many independent businesses.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
"There has been blood sweat and tears put into bridge as you see it now, I can only thank our customers who have supported us for nearly five years.
"Thank you for the memories and please feel free to share yours with us and only leave positive comments as this is already upsetting for us all."
The post continued: "Thank you to all the performers and staff that have walked through our doors and were a part of making it a more inclusive venue and growing every year into something we are very proud of.
"Keep your eyes peeled for our next venture. Our final calendar of events will be posted shortly so please come and see us and have one last knees up. Love from The Bridge family.
"It's not goodbye, it's see you soon"
You can view the full post here and leave your fond memories of The Bridge in the comments.
There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Leeds.
From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties and fluffy focaccias, if you’re a sandwich lover in Leeds then you’re well catered for.
Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Leeds and beyond.
Loosen your belts a little, folks.
Cheesy Living Co.
The Corn Exchange, Oakwood and Pudsey
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're working in the city and fancy something special for your lunch, then popping into The Corn Exchange to pay a visit to the legends at Cheesy Living Co. is just the thing.
Their fluffy focaccia is baked fresh every day and packed with their delicious cheeses, cured meats, local chutneys and topped with tangy pickles to take the edge of. Have in or takeaway, it's completely up to you.
Alfonso's
Grand Arcade
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Relatively new on the sandwich scene, Alfonso's Deli in the Grand Arcade is serving up ultimate toasted Cuban sandwiches as well as stacked subs. They're also dishing out unreal breakfast bagels which are the perfect hangover cure if you've had a couple the night before.
Silver's Deli
268 Stanningley Rd, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3BS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fancy a big fat hoagie as long as your arm? Then get yourself to Bramley as soon as possible.
The moment Silver's touched down on the Leeds food scene it's truly been the talk of the town ever since, with people flocking from far and wide to queue for their ridiculously delicious subs.
Stacked breakfast buns good enough to cure any hangover and New York-style hoagies all made using the very best, quality ingredients.
Here Comes The Bun
77 Otley Road, Headingley, LS6 3PS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Just when you think you can’t love The Swine Bistro and the team behind it anymore, they relaunch their sandwich hatch, Here Comes The Bun.
Open on Fridays and Sunday, you can pre-order and get your mitts on a different sandwich every single week. Chef Paul is pulling out all the stops, think lamb merguez with harissa mayo, chicken fried steak and the ultimate brekkie buns all on homemade potato rolls
Granny G's
36 Wellington Street, LS1 2DE
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If fully-loaded subs get you going, then Granny G's inside Green Room is the one to beat.
Choose from shrimp po’boys, spicy deli meats, and our personal favourite - the OG chicken parm (which is 100% worth the mess).
Things In Bread
15 Boar Lane, LS1 6EN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Things In Bread is now a proper Leeds classic, and their concept is perfectly simple. Classic sandwiches which you might find in your average meal deal but elevated to the next level.
The bread is specially created to make the best ever sandwich, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, perfectly square and baked fresh on the daily.
With a cracking selection of seasonal specials, you'll constantly be coming back for more to have a taste of what's new.
La Grassa
Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Stuzzi comes La Grassa, located inside Amity Brew Co. inside Sunny Bank Mills they're serving up everything Italian American. Expected sandwiches bigger than your for arm which pair perfectly with a pint or two.
Brød Sandwich Bar
31 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Brod sandwich bar is an institution. This family-run independent sandwich shop has been serving us hungry lot for 20 years now, filling our lunch hour with the tastiest, freshest sarnies that you can get your hands on.
Fully customisable with a HUGE range of ingredients, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and all at really affordable prices too.
Friends of Ham
4 - 8 New Station Street, LS1 5DL
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Friends of Ham don't just serve up banging charcuterie boards, but they're really good at serving unreal toasties too.
The sourdough is perfectly buttery and jam packed with layers of meat and salty, melted cheese. And of course served with a pile of pickles on the side for good measure.
Eat Your Greens
42 New York Street, LS2 7DY
Image: The Hoot Leeds
There's no denying we love this special spot that champion the very best local produce in everything they do, but their sandwiches are also seriously something to shout about.
Grab to go or savour every mouthful in their light drenched space. The flavours rotate with the season but if you have chance to sample the pork mince sandwich with black pudding, house smoked bacon and bunt apple ketchup then it'll be the best decision you have ever made.
Morty's Focacceria
White Cloth Hall
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inside Leeds' newest food hall you'll find Morty's, a dough haven serving up Sicilian style slices and of course, sarnies.
These bad boys are made with freshly-made panuozzo bread that is baked on-site every single day, filled with two big stacks of fried mortadella and topped with melted provolone, mustard mayo, pickles and a drizzle of garlic oil.
You'll need a nap after, but it'll be worth it.
Shokupan
27 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem on Wellington Street are serving up delicious, Japanese katso sandos that you'll want to fit into your weekly routine.
Husband and wife team, Alan and Alison, took inspiration from trips around the world to bring Leeds a menu of delicious Japanese-inspired sandos on Shokupan- a Japanese milk bread known for its light, fluffy texture, golden crust and a subtly sweet flavour.
Get a side of the crispy karaage chicken on the side too, you won't regret it.
Livett's Coffee Shop
6 St. Peters Square, LS98AH
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're round that side of town, then grabbing a sarnie from Livett's is a no brainer.
There’s a flavour combo for everyone to get their chops around, from fresh Caprese, Falafel and Houmous, and a packed out Italian Deli sub. But keep your eyes pealed because these flavours are always changing. All served on a satisfyingly soft demi baguette from the best of the best, Balzersen Bakery, and made fresh daily, you already know these bad boys will blow your bog standard meal deal out of the water.
A Japanese-inspired cafe serving spam sandos and traditional tonkatsu has opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
This family-run Japanese-inspired cafe is one not to miss.
Okay, so technically this one isn't brand-new...but it is definitely worth shouting about.
Shokupan first opened its doors on Wellington Place in 2022, and since then they have gone from strength to strength serving the people of Leeds with their deliciously fluffy shokupan sandwiches.
So much so, that they have relocated to a bigger and better space smack bang in the city centre on Central Road.
Born out of a passion for cooking at home and travelling overseas, husband and wife team Alan and Alison, swapped jobs in digital marketing and mechanical engineering to bring carefully-perfected recipes to Leeds.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Taking inspiration from trips around the world, including America's west coast where the couple were first introduced to the popularity of Shokupan, returning to normal life after years of being on-the-go seemed like the perfect opportunity to change paths and take a passion for home cooking to a commercial level.
The couple spent time trying and testing the perfect shokupan recipe at home before sending samples to a bakery, who now deliver bespoke batches of the Japanese milk bread to their cafe.
For those unfamiliar with Shokupan, it's a style of Japanese milk bread known for its light, fluffy texture, golden crust and a subtly sweet flavour- and it's truly delicious.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their new space is just beautiful, light and airy complete with plenty of space for you to perch and enjoy your sando.
And It's safe to say that Shokupan are easily selling some of the nicest sandos you’ll find anywhere in the North.
From classics like the tamago and their British breakfast twist the ‘Spamago’, to the South American-style chorizo sauasage patty version, it’s really quite tough to decide on your favourite.
Their other generously portioned carby mains are a standout, too, with classic katsu curry or the tonkatsu rice bowls with your meat of choice keeping you full for hours.
Wash it all down with authentic imported drink, and you’re laughing.
Clementine Hall -
5th May 2026 
