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.
If you're got a sweet tooth, then you're going to want to keep reading.
Oh Leeds, if there's one thing we're good at - it's baking.
Just walking around the city you'll bump into delightful bakeries offering sweet treats galore, and you'll find even better gems when you venture into the suburbs.
We've rounded up a handy little guide for you to make your way through when you're looking to treat yourself to a cheeky baked good, which should be every day if we're being honest.
So, without further ado let's dive into the best bakeries in Leeds.
Bake
Mustard Approach, Mustard Wharf
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Things in Bread and Doh'hut comes this absolutely beautiful bakery by the water.
Led by mastermind Tom, they're serving up great British bakes but with a refined twist. Think ultra cheesy cheese twists, sticky school cake and unbeatable sausage rolls.
Fat Pigeon Bakery
406 Broad Lane, Leeds LS13 3DF
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fat Pigeon is a micro-bakery in Bramley that opens every Saturday to queues of adoring fans. And it’s no surprise why, as here you’ll find some of the very best bakes - from croissants to cinnamon buns - that Leeds has to offer. Oh, and owner Ruth is about as lovely as they come too.
Fold
62 Brussels Street, LS9 8AB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the absolute masterminds behind The Cheesy Living Co. comes Fold, a hidden bakery serving up from under the arches every Saturday morning.
You can get your chops around their famous focaccia, stuffed sausage rolls, cookies, sarnies, bagels and the creme de le creme for us: the foot-long three-cheese twist.
Underground Bakery
Call Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're after a really great almond croissant, then you've got to get yourself to Underground Bakery. They're serving a whole array of baked goods but doing them all really, really well.
Right in the centre of town, it's a great spot to swing by on your way to work because everyone deserves a midweek croissant every now and again.
Laynes
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one probably doesn't need any introduction, as Laynes bakery are known amongst the city for their exceptional bakes and it's not hard to see why.
They stock a number of coffee shops across Leeds but for the true experience, pop in and enjoy a bake alongside a cup of their fabulous coffee.
Nova
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Nova Bakehouse is a beautiful sun drenched spot that serve up irresistible morning buns, chewy cookies and speciality bread.
They focus on 'flavour forward baking' using seasonal ingredients to create monthly specials that'll have you going back time and time again.
Oh, and they've been named one of the best bakeries in the UK by The Good Food Guide two years running now - so you know it's good.
These guys have really made a mark for themselves since opening, and have cured all of LS6’s sweet tooth cravings and caffeine fixes.
You'll find everything from stacked brownies and blondies to incredible red velvet cookie pies, and how could we forget their savoury options too?
Chunk
174 Kirkstall Hill
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If cookies are your kryptonite, then Chunk is where you need to be.
From baking inside her student shared house to opening her very first bakery, the last few years have been a whirlwind for owner Amy Bennett- and there's really no stopping her now.
Her gooey NYX-style cookies are out of this world, served with great drinks to match.
The Savvy Baker
Albion Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Again, this one needs absolutely no introduction. A Leeds staple that has been curing sweet toothed brownie-lovers for years, it's The Savvy Baker.
Their new site in the city centre is truly one to behold, baking cookies on site and whipping up speciality matchas from a dedicated matcha bar - you don't want to miss it.
Karpaty Bakery
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This traditional Polish bakery inside the market is selling some of the cheapest bakes you can get your hands on. Their authentic donuts are as big as your head and the perfect sweet treat that won't break the bank.
Street Lane Bakery
399 Street Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Hidden away just behind Street Lane, is Street Lane Bakery.
These guys have been baking up a storm in the kitchen for over a decade, from their ever-so-famous home-cooked bagels to the sweetest of treats.
Slow Rise Bakery
Sunnybank Avenue, Horsforth
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Can't get over to New York but craving a proper chewy, stacked bagel with all the trimmings? Slow Rise Bakery is the only answer.
Pick your flavour bagel from sesame to everything and then pick your fillings, we'd recommend going for lashings of cream cheese and layers of smoked salmon. Delicious.
The Leeds Chilli Shop selling sauces so hot they come with a warning
Clementine Hall
If you think you can handle your spice, then there’s one shop in Leeds that will put that to the test.
Tucked away on Merrion Street, Chilli Shop has been a staple of the Leeds high street for over a decade.
First opening back in 2014, Chilli Shop was founded by Frank Jay and has built a reputation as one of the city’s most wonderfully niche (and hottest) destinations.
It's basically a shrine to all things hot, a proper haven of everything spicy to get your tastebuds tingilng.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We're talking everything from chilli hot sauces and jams to chocolate, cheese, dried chillies and even novelty gifts perfect for the chilli lover in your life.
But what they're most famous for is a shelf fully dedicated to the Youtube hit Hot Ones, a show where celebrities are pushed to the limit and served hot wings coated in a variety of hot sauces from mild to blow-your-head-off hot.
So if you've ever watched that show and wanted to have a go yourself, this shop stocks all the sauces so you can be the star of your own Hot Ones episode.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Best of all, you can try before you buy. Free, heat-rated tasters are available, meaning you can work your way up from “that’s got a bit of a kick” to “I can no longer feel my face”.
We can't promise there's any milk or ice cream on hand though, so get tasting at your own risk.
So whether you’re looking for a new sauce, a spicy gift for your mate or simply want to discover exactly how much pain your tastebuds can withstand, the Chilli Shop is one Leeds independent that deserves a visit.
Clementine Hall -
3rd January 2025 
