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Eats
You can now book out this incredible Leeds bar with live DJs and cocktails ‘on tap’ 
Award-winning Yorkshire craft brewery SALT Beer Factory has been expanding across the city over the past year.
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24th April 2022
SALT Craft + Cocktails is the perfect backdrop to your next special occasion.
Award-winning Yorkshire craft brewery SALT Beer Factory has been expanding across the city over the past year. Taking over the former Craft Asylum buildings, they have set up an incredible exposed brick bar and dining space in Granary Wharf and East Parade, each with their own concept.
In a joint effort with Middle Eastern food vendors, Falafel Guys, SALT Craft + Falafel opened earlier this year to serve up falafel, shawarma and halloumi to the masses on the Leeds Liverpool canal whilst their city centre location, East Parade, focus on drink offerings for the late night crowd.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Called SALT Craft + Cocktails, this is the place to grab a speciality drink or two right in the beating heart of the city centre.
Naturally the cocktails here are the go-to choice, not just because they're delicious (and we’re happy to vouch for that), but because you can grab anything from a Salted Caramel Espresso Martini to a Rum Punch in the same time it would take to pour a pint.
Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find summer offerings like Strawberry and Rhubarb Cosmopolitans, Aperol Spritz and Blood Orange Margarita.
These refreshing options come in addition to Ossett Brewery’s Yøn Helles Lager and SALTs much-loved selection of core range craft beers Jute, Citra, Huckaback, Alpaca and Ikat along with their specials and collaboration series brews such as The Hexagon Project #14 and Can I Borrow a Feeling?.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The interior is decked out with a “living wall” of plants and greenery, with bi-fold windows opening out onto a brand-new outdoor seating area, acting as the perfect spot to socialise over a drink in the sunshine as the beating sun heats the outdoor space. Decorated with neon signage and exposed brick, it’s also incredibly understated in its décor, making it an ideal location for those looking for a photo op or two.
The genius bartenders here have cocktails on ‘tap’, so there's no waiting about and they're even 2 for £12 all day every day, making them an ideal location for any occasion. Whether you're treating the team at the office or hosting a birthday celebration, SALT Craft + Cocktails is set up perfectly for private events, so guests can expect quality service and incredible flavours on tap, no matter how busy the bar is.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Located just moments from one of Leeds' busiest nightlife spots, the East Parade location is slap-bang in the middle of all of the action especially once the sunny skies turn from pastel hues of aqua and lilac into midnight black.
Best of all, you can hire rooms for free, so there's no extra expenses involved, and if that’s not enough, there's a live DJ from 7pm every Friday and Saturday. So, although there's every opportunity to venture out into Leeds after you've partied at SALT, there isn't any necessity to leave this much-loved venue.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
All that’s really left to do is grab your desired company be it family, friends or colleagues and even their four-legged companions (yes, you can bring your dogs along too) to your next big event:
For more information, including how to book Leeds Craft + Cocktails at East Parade, Leeds city centre for your next big event, email salteastparade@saltbeerfactory.co.uk.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community
It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.
We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.
And then there’s the pizza.
Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”
They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.
But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.
Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.
And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.
Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.
There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.
We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.
North Star Coffee announces opening date for new site – and they’re giving away 200 coffees to celebrate
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding with two city centre openings.
Coffee lovers, you're going to love this one.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
One of their brand-new locations inside the Victoria Quarter will be opening next Monday 1 June.
Their new kiosk will be located outside Jo Malone London and marks the brand’s third site in Leeds.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
To celebrate the launch, North Star will be giving away 50 free coffees a day from Tuesday 2 June until Friday 5 June - a total of 200 free drinks across the opening week. Customers will be able to claim any coffee from the menu, with one free drink per person available on a first come, first served basis, each day.
Their other new site is expected to be on Great George Street, and we'll keep you updated with any news on that one as and when we know more.
Speaking about the opening, Holly Kragiopoulos, Co-founder of North Star, said: “Opening a third site in the centre of Leeds feels incredibly special for us. Leeds has always been at the heart of North Star, so being able to bring our coffee into Victoria Quarter is a huge milestone.
"We wanted to celebrate by giving something back to the city and welcoming both loyal regulars and new customers with free coffee throughout our opening week.”
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24th April 2022 
