2025 is bringing some pretty big changes to the city and we're feeling very excited indeed.
We're already spoilt for choice for incredible restaurants, shops and things to do here in Leeds.
But our cityscape is about to get even better and it's all thanks to a whole host of new openings cropping up over the next few months.
From Danish homeware shops and bakeries to wine bars and delis, let's take a look at what we've got to look forward to this year.
Sostrene Grene
Image: The Manc Group
The Danish brand, famed for its trinkets, homewares, and craft supplies, announced it was coming to our city for the first time last month.
And now, the affordable homeware brand has announced it will be opening in Trinity Shopping Centre on Friday 24 January.
The brand is often labelled a ‘mini Ikea’, thanks to two things – one that it sells just about everything you can think of for your home, the other that shoppers are taken on a one-way maze through the departments.
In the Scandinavian-inspired shop you’ll find everything from kitchen essentials and soft furnishings to Christmas decorations and craft supplies. It’s also very reasonably priced too, with candles on offer for under a quid and picture frames for as little as a fiver.
Well-known UK bowling activity bar Lane7 is set to open its first-ever location in Leeds in 2025.
The bowling alley and entertainment specialists already have a site in Sheffield, and another site is coming to York very soon, making Leeds the third venue in the region.
Set to pop up in the city centre, they’ll be opening just down the road from popular adult playground and competitor, Roxy Ball Room – more specifically their Roxy Lanes site.
Talk about championing your competitors.
Aesop
Image: Aesop
Aesop, which is well-known for its luxury fragrances and skincare, will open the doors to its new shop in the Victoria Quarter this coming January.
It’s the place to go to if you’re looking for some fancy shmancy hand soap and hand cream that you’ll want to show off when your next guests are round.
BAKE
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Now this is a very exciting one indeed.
From the masterminds behind Doh'hut and Things in Bread, BAKE will complete the ‘All Things Dough’ trilogy acting as a nostalgic British bakery concept serving all the classics with precision and flare.
Think cheese twists, focaccia slices, vanilla slices served alongside great coffee by fantastic people. Opening on the 8 January, you don't want to miss out on this one.
UYARE
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The award-winning South Indian restaurant, Tharavadu, is set to launch a new rooftop restaurant and bar, taking over the old Issho site at Victoria Gate.
The huge new space, UYARE, will be serving up the rich flavours and spirits of Kerala, in an impressive environment spanning 7,000 sq ft.
UYARE’s rooftop restaurant will also be home to a new bar, Agni, with a curated selection of fine wines, champagnes, crafted cocktails and local craft beers.
Green Room 2.0
Image: The Hoot Leeds
One of the city's best rooftop bars is getting a major glow up.
Green Room on Wellington Street is the place to go for great vibes, fabulous drinks and an unbeatable late night atmosphere. And now they're doubling the size of the place which can only mean, double the fun. What a winner.
Rinse Natural Wine
Image: Rinse Natural Wine
It's absolutely no surprise that we are huge fans of Bottle Chop over in Headingley. It's the place to go for lashings of natural wine, great small plates and a wonderful deli for you to buy bits and bobs to take home with you.
So when we heard that the team behind it were opening a spot in the city centre, we nearly fell over with excitement.
Their brand-new site will be called Rinse Natural Wine, bringing natural wine, beers and all things deli to Call Lane - get in. An opening date isn't yet set in stone but great things are pending... we can't ruddy wait.
Cheesy Living Co.
The city’s best cheese and charcuterie specialists, The Cheesy Living Co, are opening their third site and we're genuinely buzzing.
As one of Leeds’ most exciting lockdown success stories, The Cheesy Living Co. has gone from strength-to-strength in the past few years having started in their flat to opening a spot in the Corn Exchange and then a site in Oakwood – and now, they’re expanding again.
Although we don’t have any information yet on the location, we’ll be waiting patiently to find out what area of Leeds is getting its cheesy fix.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant The Empire Cafe has recently unveiled exciting plans to open a brand-new city gastropub.
The Empire Cafe shared a photo of the old pub, The Highland, which stands just west of Leeds city centre.
It had been open for four decades but shut down in 2023 after ‘five price increases in six months’ from various breweries.
But now its about to be saved by an excellent team who run one of the most popular spots in the city, so it's safe to say we're in for a treat...
The Swine That Dines
Image: The Swine That Dines
The much-loved Leeds bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as Swine That Dines, recently announced a big move to Headingley.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro is upping and moving to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
We don’t have long to wait – they plan to have the doors open in January 2025.
Food might be the last thing you want to think about right now, but if there's anything to brighten up the gloomy month of January then it's the deals.
Right across the city centre, you’ll find generous discounts, special set menus, and other offers all the way through January, to help our local hospitality scene through famously one of the most difficult times of year.
You'll be able to save money on just about every kind of food you can think of, from steaming bowls of ramen to champagne and steak.
There are a lot of January offers to discover around Leeds, and it can get a bit overwhelming to narrow it all down, so we’ve done the hard work for you with a fairly comprehensive guide to the very best January deals.
The Cut & Craft
23 King Edward Street, LS1 6AX
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What is it: A luxury steak and seafood restaurant in the heart of the city centre.
The offer: Steak and Chips for £19′ offer, available Monday to Friday from 11:30am-4pm; there’s also a new set evening menu priced at £26 for two courses – Monday to Thursday, 4:45-10pm.
Blackhouse
What is it: An iconic Leeds steakhouse just moments away from the train station.
The offer: Enjoy 50% off food when you book online.
Galleria
Armley Road, LS12 2DR
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:One of Leeds' trendiest all-day hangouts and restaurants, located next to Project House this spot is perfect for some pre-gig scran.
The offer:Every Friday and Saturday night from 5pm through January (starting on the 9th), guests will be able enjoy a whopping 25% off their evening menu when booked advance.
House of Fu
15-19 The Headrow, LS12 2DR
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:A staple for ramen lovers in the city with an interior so bright it'll blow away the January blues in an instant.
The offer:£10 ramen and rice bowls on weekdays plus a scratch card revealing a special prize.
Oporto
33 Call Lane, LS1 7BT
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:The city's most iconic late night Irish bar.
The offer: This one's a good one, £3 pints of Guinness from 12 - 3pm and £5 Guinness 3pm - close. Every single day throughout January.
Olive Tree Brasserie
8 S Parade, LS1 5QX
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:A modern Greek-inspired restaurant in the heart of the city centre.
The offer:Diners can enjoy 40% include Sunday - Friday throughout January and half of February.
Harvey Nichols Brasserie and Bar
107-111 Briggate, LS1 6AZ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:A restaurant serving brunch, small plates, and lunch options at any time of day.
The offer:30% off the a la carte menu from from 12pm between 6 - 30th January, excluding Saturdays.
Tattu
29 East Parade, LS1 5PS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:A swish Chinese restaurant famed for its enormous cherry blossom tree in the dining room, and its refined take on Chinese favourites.
The offer:30% off the a la carte menu, all Sunday to Thursday (plus until 4.45pm on Fridays) between 1 January and 8 February, when you book online.
Bundobust
6 Mill Hill, LS1 5DQ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:Indian street food at its finest, Bundobust is a firm favourite amongst Leeds locals and has been for the past 10 years.
The offer: Two dishes and a beer for just £12.50.
Belgrave Music Hall
Cross Belgrave Street, LS2 8JP
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it: A laidback bar and music venue serving up delicious food from different vendors.
The offer: Get half price slices from Dough Boys Pizza until 7pm Sunday to Thursday and 5pm Friday and Saturday, or between Sunday and Friday choose from five dishes for just over a fiver from Patty's Burgers - we're talking smash burgers and their iconic session fries.
Power, Corruption and Lies
36 Call Lane, LS1 6DT
What is it: The funkiest bar on Call Lane serving dim sum and great cocktails.
The offer: Get 50% off dim sum and £20 bottles of prosecco every Monday throughout January.
Meat:Stack
3 Bishopgate Street, LS1 5DY
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:A laidback burger joint serving American-style smash patties, fries and milkshakes.
The offer: Get a burger, chips, dip AND drink for just £10 between 11 and 3pm Monday to Friday.
Cinnamon Kitchen
City Square, LS1 1PJ
What is it: Leeds' newest Indian restaurant located in the beautiful Queen's Hotel.
The offer: Dine on two courses for £19 or three for £22 if you visit between 12 and 5pm, Monday to Sunday.
Neon Cactus
35 Call Lane, LS1 7BT
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it: A Mexican cocktail bar and taqueria that gives ultimate party vibes.
The offer:A whopping 50% off food throughout January. Simple, but very effective.
Waterlane Boathouse
Canal Wharf, LS11 5PF
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What is it:The city's best canal side pub and eatery.
The offer:From 5 - 22nd January, enjoy 35% off all food all day every day and a sandwich plus drink for just £9.95 lunchtimes from Monday to Friday.
Where to get the best bagels in Leeds at any time of day
Clementine Hall
Looking for the best bagels in Leeds? Look no further.
In honour of National Bagel Day, we've chosen five of our favourite cafes, shops and bodegas to get our hands on a delicious bagel.
Thought of as an iconic New York food, the big apple has done wonders for the reputation of this chewy, boiled breakfast snack - and it's even come over to Leeds, where there are plenty of bakers turning their hand to the humble bagel.
Whether you like yours slathered in cream cheese and loaded with smoked salmon, or kept simple with a lick of butter, keep reading to discover some of our top picks for the best bagels in Leeds.
Slow Rise Bakery
2a Sunnybank Ave, Horsforth, LS18 4LZ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
In the bagel game since 2014, where they learnt their trade assisting Berlin's formidable Fine Bagels, Slow Rise knows what they're doing when it comes to boiling bagels. Whilst they already supply wholesale to quite a few different places in Leeds, you can also find their famous bagels at their own cafe in Horsforth.
Served freshly toasted and stuffed with your choice of hummus, turkey, salt beef, pastrami; or salmon, or simply slathered in the likes of butter, cream cheese, or avocado, there are over twenty different ways to enjoy a bagel here. These are some of the best bagels in Leeds, no doubt about it.
Streetlane Bakery
Caretakers House, 399 Street Ln, Moortown, LS17 6HQ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This community bakehouse seemingly does it all, bagels included. These can be bought individually or in packs of six and are made fresh daily to a classic Jewish recipe, with flavours including plain, onion and poppy seed. Filling choices are quite limited if you're eating in, with options including Nutella and smoked salmon.
Fika North
94 Otley Rd, Headingley, LS6 4BA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Situated in the leafy suburb of Far Headingley, this speciality coffee shop also knows a thing or two about bagels. Served from 9 am - 3 pm daily, there are nine different options to choose from including nduja and avocado, rose harissa chickpeas with pink pickles and pea shoots, peanut butter and banana.
Alfonso's Deli
Grand Arcade, LS1 6PG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you've got a hankering for a proper New York-style breakfast bagel, then the Grand Arcade is where you should be heading.
Relatively new to Leeds, Alfonso's breakfast bagels are the perfect hangover cure - loaded with hash browns, perfectly cooked eggs and dripping in melted cheese.
The Cheesy Living Co.
Oakwood and Pudsey
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You already know by now that everything that Jake and team at Cheesy Living Co. does is absolutley stellar, and their bagels are no exception.
Baked and boiled at their own bakery in town, they're then filled with whatever your heart desires and served with a coffee of your choice for just a tenner.
Clementine Hall -
3rd January 2025 
