IKEA meets sourdough and marmite meets garlic bread- the genius menu from one of Leeds latest lockdown success stories.
If you visited Chow Down or just about any indie pop-up in Leeds this past year, you're likely to have stumbled across Homeboy Pizza Co., a pizza company with some of the most outrageous flavoured pizzas in Leeds.
We're not just talking about throwing on some 'nduja or giving it a funky name, these guys are making pizzas out of this world- and must be some of the first of their kind.
The Dillmatic is a dill and onion creamy based pizza with mozzarella, Lengonberry Jam, Parmesan and topped with Swedish meatballs or mushrooms, depending on your preference- and sounds like it came straight from the IKEA food canteen.
Of course, it's far from a canteen meal, all pizzas are cooked in an Ooni pizza oven and catering to the masses at pop-ups and restaurant takeovers around Leeds.
The Homeboys announced their winter menu by stating: "We know you people love those goddam meatballs from that Norwegian furniture store so we slapped em on a pizza with some LENGonberry Jam, jheeeeze."
The unique combos don't stop there. The Neapolitan Dynamite, which is available to order on the weekends via Deliveroo, has Vimto pickled onions on it, as well as 'nduja San Marzano tomatoes and Fior di Latte Mozzarella.
The Yeastie Boys garlic bread is just as wild, made up of Marmite, garlic butter, basil and Fior di Latte Mozzarella- either you'll love it or hate it, but either way it'll get you talked.
The Notorious ‘Doner McGregor’ has been a previous success and is one of the tastiest doner meat pizzas we've ever seen. Made up of homemade lamb doner, pickled onions, pomegranate seeds and parsley- these guys clearly know the way to our hearts and stomachs.
The Homeboys is another of our city's lockdown success stories and it's clear that their experimental style and creative flair is continuing to allow them to cook up a storm in the city and beyond.
"We saw an opportunity during the great lockdown of 2020 to create some of the best Sourdough pizza in Yorkshire. We do strictly sourdough, Neapolitan style pizzas with creative, ever changing toppings and our pizza names come with a strong and powerful hip hop theme.
"If you've had a chance to try one of our pies, you'll know how much of a sensation they are in the gob. If you haven't, head to our instagram and reserve your slot for the weekend."
To get your order in, you'll have to wait until the weekend begins to get your order in on Deliveroo or head over to the Homeboy Pizza Co. Instagram page to find out where their next pop-up will be.
Feature Image- The Homeboy Pizza Co.
Leeds
Claire’s shutting down all standalone shops in UK and Ireland
In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Slam Dunk festival’s statement in full as director steps down amid allegations
Daisy Jackson
Slam Dunk festival has shared a statement confirming one of its directors has stepped down, in the wake of allegations.
The popular punk festival takes place next month across two sites, one of which is here in Leeds.
This year's line-up is set to include headline performances from the likes of Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime, and Taking Back Sunday.
But Slam Dunk has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week after allegations against one of its directors came to light.
Slam Dunk said in its statement, which did not get into specifics about the nature of the allegations, that the festival 'remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers'.
They added that the director has stepped down, but 'strongly refutes' the allegations.
The statement then promised 'transparency and honesty' and said that more updates would be provided when appropriate.
Slam Dunk wrote: "We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors. We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community.
"Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority.
"While he strongly refutes these allegations, the director in question has agreed, in consultation with the board, to step down from Slam Dunk operations while this matter is ongoing.
"Slam Dunk remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers.
"Our values and culture are fundamental to how we operate, and we are committed to upholding them.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on an ongoing legal matter.
"However, we promise transparency and honesty to our Slam Dunk community and will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so."
Slam Dunk returns to Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday 24 May.
Sophie Smith -
11th January 2022 
