There's a lovely cafe in Roundhay that's run almost entirely by adults living with disabilities like Down's syndrome, autism and loss of hearing.
Called Cafe Leep, it's an extension of Leep 1 - a self-advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities that launched about ten years ago.
The cafe itself opened in 2015 and was very busy pre-covid. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible, and there's a daily specials menu that uses up donated supermarket food from FareShare that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Here people can learn the skills they need to progress into the world of paid work, like preparing and cooking food, food safety hygiene, applying for jobs, interview techniques and professional etiquette.
The cafe serves a full breakfast and lunch menu, with morning favourites like the full English, bacon sandwich and toasted teacakes all good and present as you'd expect.
There's a good selection of veggie options on offer, with daily specials, omelettes, baked potatoes, cold and warm sandwiches, toasties, burgers and salads all making appearance at lunch.
And of course there's a good supply of coffee, tea and cake to get stuck into all day long.
Staff range from 19 to 62, and all undertake a level 1 or 2 NVQ programme in food safety whilst training at Cafe Leep. Four or five also go for professional barista training at Caffe Society in Sherburn In Elmet.
When it initially opened, the plan was to just sell coffee and cake but after manager Angie Marshall came on board with significant catering expertise she decided to introduce a bigger menu.
Now as well as serving customers in the day, Cafe Leep also runs several cooking classes a week and provides catering for functions and events. There's also the hope of expanding into the city centre and opening a second site, Cafe Leep 2.
The cafe is currently running a fundraiser to replace their coffee machine after the old one broke during lockdown. The new machine is crucial to helping with staff's coffee training.
It states: "Café Leep wants to change people’s perceptions of adults with learning disabilities and see their abilities and Not disabilities by helping our trainees gain qualifications and employment."
So far, they've raised £4,635 of the £5,000 target, If you'd like to donate to Cafe Leep’s GoFundMe campaign, visit the GoFundMe website.
Eats
Grade-II listed city centre bar to open East Asian-inspired street food kitchen
Howard Assembly Room to launch new bar with permanent kitchen from Yuzu Street Food.
HAR bar, the intimate Grade II-listed space beneath Leeds City Centre's multi-disciplinary venue, the Howard Assembly Room,will now open five days a week with a brand new permanent food partner.
If you're not familiar York’s Yuzu Street Food, then allow us to fill you in.
First established in York following an enlightening culinary trip to Asia in 2019, Yuzu Street Food is now recognised as one of the north’s finest street food vendors.
Image: Supplied
Serving up contemporary takes on bao buns, fried chicken, ramen, katsu curry and much more; Yuzu are set to be the perfect addition to the Howard Assembly Room and its new bar HAR.
First launched in February, a programme of improvements saw the space previously occupied by the restaurant Kino transformed into the HAR bar.
An intimate venue in the cultural heart of the city, HAR bar guests can now enjoy fresh coffee, quality cocktails and a rotation of beers from breweries including Leeds institution Kirkstall Brewery throughout the week.
Image: Supplied Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yuzu Street Food will open at HAR on Friday 15 May.
Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Yuzu to HAR bar, with their Asian-inspired street food providing the perfect accompaniment to our range of drinks and firmly establishing HAR bar as one of Leeds’ leading spots to meet and eat.
"We want everyone in the city to feel that this is their space, where great music, a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service combine to create a truly special place that embodies the city’s creativity while also supporting Opera North’s outreach work across the north.
Chris Hargroves, Yuzu Founder & CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be back in Leeds city centre! Leeds has always shown us incredible support and energy and returning really feels like coming home. We’re excited to reconnect with the community, welcome familiar faces and introduce our new menu items to the new ones. Working with such a prestigious venue as the Howard Assembly Room is something we’re absolutely buzzing about and we can’t wait to fire up the woks!”
Popular beer festival showcasing over 35 indie breweries is returning to Leeds this month
Clementine Hall
Hop City, the long-running beer festival from award-winning Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, returns this month for its ninth year.
Beer lovers, this one's for you.
Bringing over 35 of the best independent breweries from the UK, Europe and North America together to The Old Flax Store, Hop City will have approximately 250 different world-class beers for guests to try across one weekend of festivities.
The best part? Every pour across the weekend is included in the price of the ticket alongside a Hop City branded glass to enjoy them in, so don't worry about having to continuously reach for your wallet.
Images: Supplied
Joining Northern Monk this year are UK breweries including Brighton’s Beak, Deya from Cheltenham, Manchester-based Track and Edinburgh’s Newbarns who will be pouring next to the likes of US breweries Trillium, Root + Branch, Finback and everywhere; Canadian’s Messorem and Third Moon, and a selection of Europe’s finest indie brewers.
Seriously, this is a beer lover's paradise.
And it's not just about the booze, as joining Hop City 2026 will be joined by Leeds’ own Bundobust who will be bringing their Indian street food alongside Bonehead Fried Chicken and Hermanos Caliente, courtesy of Niko’s Comfort Kitchen.
Images: Supplied
Not a beer fan? Don't fret as natural wine bar Rinse will be pouring all weekend whilst Below Stairs will be providing the cocktails.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said: “What started out as an idea to host some of our favourite breweries in Leeds has grown into something bigger than we could have imagined. From the beginning, the ambition was clear - to champion the best hop-forward breweries in the world and to create the first beer festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating hoppy beers and IPAs.
"Today, it’s about bringing some of the greatest breweries from across the globe together under one roof, creating something genuinely special for people who love beer as much as we do. Heading into our ninth year with a line-up of this calibre is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just about the beer, but the community, collaboration, and spirit behind it.”
Hop City 2026 will take place from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 of May, and you can buy your tickets here.
Georgina Pellant -
10th June 2021 
