Pangaea Home is a shining example of how you can decorate your home sustainably.
Filled with practical and aesthetic interior furnishings and appliances, Pangaea Home is a 'sustainable where possible' brand.
This means that, for the founders, there was "no long winded story to our existence, no epiphany moment happened, and we were not born out of a desire to banish all the 'bad' things in world and pressure you into living in a log cabin in the woods".
To put it simply, there's a "none wasteful attitude to life and a passion for homeware" store that's available at your fingertips.
These cushion covers are made entirely from recycled plastic. / Image: Pangaea Home UK
At Pangaea, it's all about making those lifestyle changes that are realistic. The new Leeds-based business are showing the city that it's entirely possible to find quality, unique and sustainable products that are fit for any home.
With the promise that products "will last a lifetime above ground, or a very brief time below ground", you can rest assured that your in good hands.
You can't even tell that most of the Pangaea Home range come from recycled products: take these rugs for example.
They have stain and UV resistance, suitable for asthma sufferers, soft and easy-to-wash, yet they're made from recycle plastic.
Recycled Pet Yarn Throw from Pangaea Home. / Image: Pangaea Home UK
These are just a few of the great finds that Pangaea will be offering to Leeds and surrounding areas.
The eco-company will be charging £1 for delivery to LS27 and BD11 postcodes. The cost will go towards planting a tree for each delivery, and the package will be delivered with no packaging to reduce unnecessary waste.
The founders of the eco-company believe that they are bringing sustainable change through realistic incentives:
"Nowadays there are so many highly stressful and pressuring messages that we see in the news, on TV and on social media surrounding sustainability and living an eco-friendly lifestyle.
There is so much conflicting information that it de-motivates us and leads us to think 'what i do won't even make a difference'.
What we provide will hopefully help you make that difference."
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”
Inside Pardon Me – Leeds’ newest neighbourhood record bar inspired by Japan
Clementine Hall
Farsley is now home to an ultra-cool record bar with coffee, cocktails and an unbeatable sound system.
Tucked away in the beautiful Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is a record bar built around 'music, atmosphere, and detail'.
It's been launched by Scott Rapson, who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with music around the time of the arrival of hip hop in the early 80s.
He then spent time travelling for raves, and visiting venues like Glasgow’s Sub Club and London’s Plastic People, giving Scott an appreciation for how 'music can shape a room, not just fill it'.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Scott and his partner Laurie have then spent the past three years travelling, visiting listening bars across Europe to shape the foundations of Pardon Me.
Listening bars, also known as hi-fi bars, originated in 1920s Japan - and you can really see the Japanese influence within the space and it's super cool interiors.
Images: The Hoot Leeeds
Bartenders here create a small but perfectly formed menu of cocktails and pour natural wines from Wayward Wines in front of a wall of vinyl, while a collection of Scott's records play as a soundtrack to your evening.
The sound system Scott claims is one of the "best in the North East", which he says has a "real sense of depth and balance to it" with a "coverage that stays incredibly consistent across the room".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Whether it's for coffee during the day, or drinks into the evening, they want Pardon Me to be a place to spend time, looking out across Sunny Bank Mills.
Pardon Me is open Thursday - Sunday, and you can find out more about this wonderful new opening here.
Sophie Smith -
12th November 2021 
