Leeds’ oldest all-day dining institution is being brought back to life by celebrated chef
A daily changing menu showcasing the best produce of Leeds’ Kirkgate Market, The Empire Cafe is going to be an exciting new opening from the chefs behind the transformation of The Bear at Carriages in Knaresborough.
Promising a blend of old school hospitality and new-wave gastronomy, No. 6 Fish Street, in Leeds old Shambles spot is going to truly bring a culinary feast to the city centre.
Just a stone’s throw from Leeds Victoria Quarter and the markets, owner Sam Pullen and his partner Nicole Deighton plan to elevate local ingredients with barbecue flavours, right in the heart of Leeds.
The menu focuses on local produce brought to life by a ‘wall of flame’ rotisserie. Rotisserie chickens will be spinning around the clock, available to sit in, or takeaway, dredged in house made butters and aioli’s.
Market breakfasts will ease early birds, Council workers, and businesspeople into their weekday, whilst shoppers can enjoy a glass of natural wine to indulge a Saturday afternoon’s retail therapy.
And the venue itself comes with bags of history – some of which has only just come to light as the owners began their renovation journey.
Extensive renovations began in Spring 2023, un site’s unique heritage has been uncovered. “As we started taking off the old cladding covering the front of the building, we discovered this ‘ghost sign’ for the Empire Café,” Sam commented. “The former owner of Cafe Strega, who bought it in the 1970s, didn’t realise the sign was even there.”
During a successful decade directing The Bears Pantry, catering for high-profile clients from the world of fashion and media, the team behind the transformation clearly know how to bring venues to life. Having also helped transform The Bear at Carriages where the menu quickly became known for its rare breed steaks and sharing plates, chargrilled over their purpose-built solid fuel ‘bear-pit’, housed in gastropub’s panoramic beer garden – this is certainly a new opening to keep your eye on.
Sam added: “In developing and transforming this once very popular and characterful Leeds institution, we want to give a little bit of Leeds back to Leeds. This type of service is almost unheard of these days and there certainly aren’t many independent places that are like that in existence anymore.”
The Empire Cafe is expected to open in the coming weeks, with an opening date yet to be announced.
Feature Image- Empire Cafe Leeds