One of Leeds’ most iconic buildings is set to be brought back to life.
Plans for a brand-new padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse on Wellington Road have been approved by Leeds City Council’s West Plans Panel.
Consent has been granted for Ollo Padel to transform the Grade II* listed Roundhouse into a state-of-the-art sport, fitness, food, drink and community venue subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, The Roundhouse was once home to the steam locomotives that powered industrial Victorian Leeds. In recent years, the building has stood largely unused.
Image: Supplied
The approved plans will restore and protect the landmark building and give the site a new, long-term future as one of the city’s most distinctive leisure destinations.
The three-acre site, located on the edge of Leeds city centre, will include nine outdoor doubles padel courts under a 10-metre canopy, plus a dedicated indoor coaching court within The Roundhouse itself.
At the heart of the site will be the Ollo Clubhouse; built around an all-day kitchen and bar, it will combine a comfortable lounge and co-working space, meeting rooms and live sport and events spaces.
The kitchen and bar will be run in partnership with Southbank Provisions, the independent Leeds hospitality team behind Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Galleria whilst the gym will be operated by fitness and performance specialists Northbound, who will bring strength and conditioning practice, Hyrox training and pilates classes to The Roundhouse.
Image: Supplied
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the venue aiming to open in early 2027.
Luke Gidney, Founder & CEO Ollo Padel: "This is a huge day for Leeds, for The Roundhouse and for Ollo. The Roundhouse has been part of the city’s story for nearly 180 years. It’s an incredible building but it needs people, energy and purpose again. Our plan is to bring it back to life as a place where people can play, eat, work, meet friends and feel part of something.
"Padel is growing so quickly because it’s fun, social and easy to pick up. But for us, this is about more than just the courts. We want Ollo to become a proper community destination for Leeds, somewhere welcoming, joyful and full of life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to Leeds City Council’s planning team, our case officer, the wider council team and everyone who has supported the project to this point. This has been a complex project but the sport and engagement throughout has been brilliant. Now the real work starts and we cannot wait to open the doors for you.”
EasyJet will stop flying from Leeds Bradford Airport, the airline has announced, affecting flights to five popular destinations.
The budget airline has confirmed that flights from the Yorkshire airport to destinations including Paris and Barcelona will cease in the coming months.
EasyJet currently also operate routes to Belfast, Malaga, and Palma, whisking travellers from Leeds to sunnier climes and city breaks.
In a statement, EasyJet confirmed that it will pull out of Leeds Bradford Airport fully on 5 January, 2027.
They said: "Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.
"Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.
"We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport, and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand."
They have stressed that flights will continue to operate as normal until 5 January.
Eight other airlines currently fly from LBA, including Ryanair and Jet2.
A new rotisserie chicken restaurant promising to be ‘clucking delicious’ is coming to Leeds
Clementine Hall
A restaurant and cafe is coming to Leeds city centre - and it's all centred around rotisserie chicken.
We live in a world where food trends are really leading the way that we eat.
From matcha and frozen yoghurt to stacked sub sandwiches and acai bowls - it seems us foodies just can't help but jump on the ever evolving bandwagon.
And now there's a new one, rotisserie chicken.
A number of restaurants have popped up all over the UK serving up this protein-lover's dream, and now Leeds is getting in on the action.
Rotisserie Club will be taking over the old Shokupan site on Wellington Street in the city centre and although we don't have many details just yet, we've got a small inclination of what's in store.
It seems that in the morning the space will be occupied by Habitum, a trendy coffee shop that opened on Lower Briggate last September.
They'll be slinging out all the caffeinated beverages throughout the morning until lunch time hits and everything rotisserie chicken takes over.
We're talking wraps, bowls, salads, pittas - all jam-packed with deliciously tender chicken cooked on the rotisserie.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, the Rotisserie Club said: "The secret is out..Leeds is about to get its own Rotisserie Club with an Habitum to boot.
"More details will be revealed in time, but expect us at the back end of Sep - early Oct. Habitum will look after the AM’s with Rotisserie Club stepping in from lunch.
"Two new quality additions to the area - from a bunch of familiar faces from the Leeds Hospitality scene.."
Clementine Hall -
10th July 2026 
