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A much-loved Leeds coffee shop is celebrating 15 years in the city with £1.50 coffees

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 2nd June 2026

One of Leeds' best-loved coffee destinations, Laynes Cafe, is marking 15 years in the city - and is saying thank you with £1.50 coffees.

When? This Wednesday 3 June.

Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.

It's practically a Leeds institution at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.

To celebrate an impressive 15 years in the city, this Wednesday 3 June they'll be selling £1.50 coffees all-day.

Not only that, Laynes will be rolling out a brand refresh with Saul Studios, refreshing its daytime menu (including what Dave reckons might be the best hash browns in the world…maybe), and continuing to grow Laynes Bakery, which launched in 2023 and now supplies a growing list of independent cafes and delis across Leeds.

Dave Olejnik, founder of Laynes Cafe, said: "We never really got to celebrate being 10 — covid had other ideas — so 15 feels like the one to do properly. When I opened Laynes in 2011, the aim was to create somewhere that really cared about coffee, quality and hospitality. To be celebrating 15 years now is incredibly special. Leeds has changed so much in that time, and it's been amazing to see the city's independent food and drink scene grow and flourish. We're really proud to have been part of that journey.

"Rather than mark it with one big day, we wanted to celebrate across the whole year — kicking off with £1.50 coffees on June 3rd as a thank you to everyone who's kept us going. This next chapter for Laynes is a bit of a refresh with Saul Studios, an updated menu with quite possibly the best hash browns in the world, and the bakery continuing to grow. Feels like a great way to celebrate where we've come from while continuing to evolve."

Read more: North Star Coffee announces opening date for new site – and they’re giving away 200 coffees to celebrate

Featured image - Supplied

News

A look inside Leeds’ first Sardinian restaurant serving soul food on the water’s edge

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Domo is ready to open its doors and sun-drenched terrace this Friday.

Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.

Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.

Opening this Friday 5 June, we had a peek inside and let us tell you, it's even better than we imagined.

Image: The Hoot Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds

First off, the interior is just drop dead gorgeous.

From the moment you step inside you feel as though you've been whisked away to an Italian island, the walls are lined with hundreds of booze bottles and on each table you'll find beautifully hand-painted plates ready to be adorned with delicious food.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Every corner is dotted with antique trinkets, and we already know the stretching terrace will be the place to be when the sun comes out.

Now, onto the food.

From small plates made for sharing to hearty bowls of seafood pasta, everything is made with the freshest ingredients and made entirely in-house.

You could do a lot worse than plonking yourself on the terrace with mates, ordering a selection of their cocktails and tucking into a heaping plate of fried calamari and prawns or a carefully curated plate of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses.

They also serve pizzas and salads, all accompanied by a brilliant wine and cocktail list. Whether you're after a long lunch, celebrating an occasion with a slap up meal or fancy a few nibbles - Domo can cater to all.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.

“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”

You can book your table here.

Read more: A much-loved Leeds coffee shop is celebrating 15 years in the city with £1.50 coffees

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

News

‘Devastating’ vandal attack destroys community pond as farm launches appeal to bring it back

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A fundraising campaign has been launched after a much-loved wildlife pond in Sheffield was destroyed in what has been described as a "devastating" act of vandalism.

The pond over at Heeley City Farm, which had recently been refurbished by a dedicated group of volunteers aged 16 to 24, was almost completely destroyed over the weekend after its lining was deliberately slit, causing the water to drain away.

According to the farm, the project had been months in the making and was designed to create a peaceful haven for wildlife while also providing a tranquil space for visitors to enjoy.

The volunteer group behind the project invested countless hours into transforming the area and even helped secure nearly £5,000 in funding to bring their vision to life.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Announcing the heartbreaking news to Instagram, Heeley City Farm said: "Last weekend, we experienced a truly devastating act of vandalism at the farm. Our newly refurbished pond area, lovingly created by our incredible 16–24 volunteer group, was almost completely destroyed.

"This space was so much more than a pond. It was designed to be a peaceful haven for wildlife, a calm area for visitors to enjoy and somewhere nature could thrive in the heart of the city. The group poured many hours of hard work, care and passion into transforming the area, even helping to secure nearly £5,000 in funding to bring the project to life.

"In just a matter of hours, so much of that work was torn apart. The pond lining, a fundamental and vital part of the entire project, was deliberately slit, causing the pond to almost completely empty. Plants purchased especially for the habitat were ripped up and frogs and newts had only recently begun returning, making the destruction even more heartbreaking. Valuable habitat has been lost overnight.

"We are devastated for our volunteers, staff, and everyone who enjoyed this special space. It is incredibly disheartening when so many people are working tirelessly to improve the farm and create better facilities for the community, only to face setbacks like this that drain already scarce time and resources. It also leaves understandable fears about future projects and improvements being targeted in the same way.

"The police are investigating this incident and CCTV footage of the group responsible has been provided to them. Despite this, we are so proud of our volunteers and everything they achieved. Their hard work created something beautiful, and although right now we are heartbroken, we are determined that this will not take away the passion and community spirit behind the project.

"If anyone would like to support us in rebuilding the pond area and restoring this important wildlife habitat, any donations, no matter how small, would be hugely appreciated (link in bio). Your support will help our volunteers bring this special space back to life. Thank you."

You can donate to the fundraiser here.

Featured image - Heeley City Farm

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