Picture the scene. It's early 2021 and we're just about to reopen hospitality for the first time this year.
At that point, we never imagined so many wonderful foodie cafes, bars and restaurants would emerge from a world gone quiet- but to our pleasant surprise, 2021 has been a year of opening after opening.
This is especially true for pizza places: here are our top picks of new places to grab a slice this year.
Known for its 48-hour double-fermented sourdough pizzas, with toppings that include the likes of full English breakfast and cheeseburgers. They also offer some solid veggie and vegan options, for those who don’t eat meat at the new pizza place on Bond Street.
New to the White Rose Shopping Centre this year, Mozza is a true Neapolitan Italian Pizzeria specialising in all things mozzarella. Mozza Leeds is the first English first venue for the Scottish chain and it’s already very popular. This new Leeds spot has brought an unusual Italian delicacy, serving Panozza pizza sandwiches. Using Neapolitan Sourdough and traditional Italian fillings, these are really putting Mozza on the map.
Yes, a calzone in a burger is now officially on the menu in Leeds thanks to Burgamore, which opened in Trinity Shopping Centre back in August. Classic Italian street food favourites include their ‘pavarotti’; a mini nduja calzone served with homemade tomato and oregano sauce, the ‘caponata’; a classic, tangy and sweet Sicilian dish of aubergine, carrots, celery, white onion, tomatoes, olives, raisins, pinenuts and red wine vinegar.
& Company already has a well established site in Liverpool, this new opening will be its first in Leeds. The ‘from noon’ features some lovely-looking sourdough pizzas, topped with the likes of sausage and fennel, nduja and pimento peppers, or squash and vegan mozzarella. Other tempting plates include beef burgers, teriyaki tofu, chicken Milanese and sea bream with dill, fennel, lemon and tomato.
To end the year, Luigis pizza have taken over the food truck at Trinity Leeds with an incredible menu of traditional Italian dishes with a twist. To put Luigi’s deep fried calzone to the test, make sure to get over to Trinity Kitchen before the end of January 2022, or find their speciality menu at the likes of Northern Refectory, Chow Down and other bestselling foodie hotspots around the city.
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Sophie Smith -
27th December 2021 
