New plans have emerged to convert the former House of Fraser building into student accommodation have been submitted to the council.
The plans include a new retail store and huge student accommodation complex that would include space for almost 400 residents.
The new plans include the full conversion of 140-142 Briggate, formerly House of Fraser, into eleven storeys of new space right in the heart of the city centre.
The huge plot on Briggate is right in the city centre, with shops like Zara and Foot Locker on its doorstep.
The new space will be named Grand Central Place, as a homage to the Grand Central Hotel which occupied the site in the early 1800s.
The proposal for the site is to create two storeys of retail space, assumably on the lower levels where House of Fraser operated from, then above will be nine floors of student accommodation.
The living quarters includes 131 self-contained studios and a further 47 cluster flats, bringing the total number of flats to 178.
Image: WikiCommons
The flats will be aimed at students: an ideal location for those studying at either Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds, as both university campuses are less than a mile away. Overall, 369 beds will fill the building and a further communal areas and shared living spaces will be provided throughout.
Sustainability will be at the heart of the planning, and the plans hope to rival the popular accommodation available at present.
Plans need to be approved for construction to begin, but once confirmed the last of the House of Fraser signage would be removed and the building would take a step back in time to reignite the luxe Grand Central Hotel that once stood in its stop- just reimagined in the 21st century as a modern, sleek block of flats.
Feature Image- WikiCommons
Leeds
Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend
The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.
It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.
The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.
Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.
The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.
Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.
Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.
We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.
But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.
Team behind Mint Warehouse to open new 2,000 capacity venue in Leeds with strict no-phone policy
Clementine Hall
An exciting new venue is set to open its doors this year, marking a significant moment for the city’s nightlife scene.
Introducing Mint XL, the latest venture from the team behind the Mint brand that represents the next evolution of a name that has been central to Leeds’ music culture since the 90’s.
Built on over three decades of experience in the industry, the team’s track record spans from intimate club spaces to major outdoor festivals.
Mint XL will build on this knowledge to bring a venue designed to operate on another level, bigger and better than ever before.
Image: Supplied
With a capacity of over 2000 across multiple rooms, Mint XL has been purpose-built to host a wide range of events. Think large-scale electronic music lineups and extended DJ sets to live performances, brand activations, and private hires.
At the heart of the venue is a focus on sound and experience. A newly-installed Funktion-One Vero system will power the main rooms, supported by high-spec production throughout.
Mint XL will also operate a strict no-phones policy during club events, keeping the focus on the music and the moment.
Images: Supplied
“Mint XL is the next chapter for the brand,” says Owner Shane Graham. “From Mint Club through to Mint Festival, we’ve spent nearly two decades building something special in Leeds, and this is a natural progression of that journey. It allows us to take everything we’ve produced over the years and deliver it at a much bigger club setting.”
Director Mikey McMahon adds: “Mint XL is a big step forward for us. It allows us to programme multi-bill lineups at a much bigger scale across multiple rooms, while also expanding beyond electronic music into live bands, private hires, and brand-led events. At its core, we’ve designed it as a fully versatile space that can adapt to different audiences and experiences under one roof.”
Sophie Smith -
9th February 2022 
