There's a new coffee shop coming to Leeds' suburbs.
Opposite, locally known as 'the pioneering force behind Leeds' speciality coffee scene', announced this morning that it would be opening a brand-new spot in Meanwood next Tuesday 9 April 2024.
Situated at Stonegate Road next to Boot & Rally bar, the new location will offer speciality North Star coffee blended as part of a collaborative project to highlight women in the industry; baked goods (yes, including those infamous brownies and vegan banana cake), alongside brunch dishes from local Levantine favourite MorMor.
The initial menu will feature Shakshuka, Merquez & fried egg sandwiches, Mezze platters (think Za’atar, garlic mushrooms, Tabbouleh Salads) and Pancake stacks and will be served Thursday to Sunday from the following Thursday, 18 April.
Opposite joins what is becoming known city-wide and beyond as one of Leeds' most popular suburbs for a bite to eat.
In the past twelve months, Meanwood has been dubbed one of UK’s top 15 coolest neighbourhoods by The Telegraph and included in the 30 things we love in the world of food right now from The Guardian.
Owner Lou Henry is eager to introduce Opposite’s newest venture to the residents of Meanwood. "We're incredibly excited to bring Opposite to Meanwood," says Lou. "It's a vibrant community, and we can't wait to become a part of it."
Founded in 2005 at Leeds University, Opposite has become a much-loved name around the city. After selling the leases for the Victoria Leeds Kiosk and the original Leeds University outlets in 2015 and 2023 respectively, Opposite remains steadfast in its commitment to providing unmatched coffee experiences to its customers with a thriving Chapel Allerton shop and Meanwood now joining the family.
The new location reaffirms the team's commitment to sustainability, and repurposed materials, furniture and equipment sourced from previous projects and other local businesses have all been used to create an eco-conscious spaces.
"We believe that sustainability should be at the heart of everything we do," explains Lou. "By succeeding in giving environmental and social sustainability as much importance as financial sustainability, we hope to inspire other people and businesses to make these small but important changes."
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
Brand-new ‘party pub’ to take over the old Revolution site on Call Lane after £600,000 investment
Clementine Hall
We hope you're ready to party Leeds, because a 'party pub' experience is coming to Call Lane.
Following a whopping £600,000 investment, Bonnie Rogues is preparing to open in the former Revolution site in Leeds city centre that will close this month.
After a major refurbishment, Leeds’ first Bonnie Rogues venue and the sixth site for the fast- growing UK brand will open in November 2026.
Designed as an all-day-to-night social destination, Bonnie Rogues combines live music, live sport, and late-night celebrations in one immersive venue.
From big nights out to spontaneous after-work drinks and even Sunday Roasts, Bonnie Rogues aims to offer something completely different from the traditional pub experience.
Expect live performances, crowd-involved entertainment and interactive moments in an atmosphere that flows seamlessly from day to night.
Russell Quelch, CEO of NEOS Hospitality, said, “Leeds has such a strong social scene and a real appetite for experience-led venues, so we think Bonnie Rogues will fit perfectly into the city.
"It’s a concept that brings together everything people love about going out - live music, sport, food, entertainment and great atmosphere, all in one place. We’re excited to bring something new to Leeds and can’t wait to welcome guests later this year.”
The Leeds opening forms part of a wider rollout of Bonnie Rogues venues across the UK, as NEOS Hospitality continues to expand its portfolio following its acquisition of multiple Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites earlier this year.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more.
Sophie Smith -
4th April 2024 
