Pizza Punks has revealed it is opening a new pizza restaurant on Bond Street in Leeds this summer, bringing its San Franciscan style sourdough pizzas to West Yorkshire for the very first time.
Forget Neapolitan pizza, because the chefs here use a handcrafted San Franciscan sourdough base that has been double fermented for 48 hours.
Essentially, they've "taken all of the best bits from Neapolitan Pizza" by using top-tier Italian ingredients and methods before introducing them to their sourdough starter – which is sourced from the infamous Boudin Bakery in San Francisco.
In line with their anarchic branding, Pizza Punks restaurant is known for offering diners unlimited toppings for one set price, giving you the choice to build your own pizzas exactly how you like it - at no extra cost.
Popular pizza dishes on the restaurant menu include the "breakfast club" and "cheeseburger", but there are also plenty of veggie options too try - plus a couple of changing monthly specials.
Pizza Punks pizzas come with a huge variety of toppings / Image: Pizza Punks
They don't just do pizza, either, in fact there are a few pasta dishes on the menu here and those - just like the pizza dough - use freshly made pasta that has been prepared, rolled and cut on site.
Think tagliatelle with nduja sausage ragu, crab and prawn linguine and linguine cacio de pepe - or, build your own pasta dish from theit list of sauces and other ingredients, with categories ranging from protein and veggie to 'rogue'.
What is a rogue topping you ask? According to Pizza Punks, it's things like mac n cheese, rum ham hock and chilli chocolate pulled beef. Fair enough, but we definitely want to try them all.
This will be the first Yorkshire opening for the Scottish restaurant chain, which already has three other northern sites in Glasgow, Belfast and Newcastle.
“At Pizza Punks we do things differently and don’t conform to the norm when it comes to making incredible food that appeals to everyone," said owner, Brad Stevens.
One of Pizza Punks 48-hour fermented sourdough pizzas, ready for takeaway / Image: Pizza Punks
"We offer customers the freedom to make the experience their own because pizza is the new punk and there are no hard and fast rules with it. Our restaurants provide the perfect spot for meeting with friends and family, sharing great food and drinks and having an epic time.
“For us it is about providing excellent quality ingredients as well as unrivalled levels of customer service because it’s not just about the food, it’s about having fun."
"Our attitude is all geared towards helping our customers have the best time when they visit our restaurants. Leeds will be no different and we are looking forward to having a new customer base that will join the Pizza Punks movement.”
Pizza Punks new pizza restaurant is due to open on Bond Street in Leeds this summer.
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A new bar dedicated to Guinness and games is coming to Leeds city centre
Expect live music, a load of craic and plenty of Guinness at Leeds' brand-new bar.
Opening on Leeds' bustling Merrion Street, 'Love, Jackie' is the latest concept from the team behind Roxy Ball Room and King Pins.
Love, Jackie will be taking over a 7,000 sq ft space,and will be promising proper prints, late nights and plenty of Irish charm.
Pouring will be the holy trinity of Irish stouts - Guinness, Beamish and Murphy's.
Image: Supplied
These will be served alongside Leeds' own Kirkstall Virtuous IPA and a vast whiskey selection that celebrates the best of Ireland.
Games wise, try your hand at crazy pool, interactive darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The opening comes as Merrion Street enjoys a new wave of investment and hospitality openings, helping bring new life to one of Leeds' best known night life attractions.
Image: Supplied
Matt Jones, CEO of Professionals at Play, said: “Everyone knows a Jackie. She’s the one who gets everyone together, convinces you to stay for another and makes sure there’s never a dull moment.
“We wanted to create a pub with that same personality. Somewhere with brilliant drinks, live music, plenty of games and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you were only popping in for one.
“Merrion Street is coming back to life, and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. We think Jackie will fit right in. And because Jackie’s never been one to turn up empty-handed, the first drink’s on her."
We'll keep you updated on opening times as and when we find out, but for now you can sign up here for a pint of free Guinness. Cheers to that!
Leeds City Council granted £1.6m to tackle rough sleeping by Christmas
Clementine Hall
A £1.6m grant has been given by the government to Leeds City Council to help tackle rough sleeping.
The funding has been allocated to Leeds City Council as part of the Government’s national Rough Sleeping Programme.
The overall target is to help rough sleepovers off the streets by Christmas through providing safe accommodation.
The council have said that voluntary organisations and charities will be able to help them reach this target.
The council report said: "This funding will be used for immediate interventions to ensure all those rough sleeping have an offer of accommodation by Christmas and support longer term sustainment of accommodation.
“The initial target is to provide a suitable offer of accommodation for everyone who is rough sleeping by Christmas 2026.
“Providing a path into supported accommodation and independent living is the key objective and sustaining this independent living with, where necessary, ongoing support to prevent any return to rough sleeping and homelessness.”
The government announcement spoke of the scheme: "The programme is intended to support people experiencing rough sleeping.
"People experiencing rough sleeping may have differing entitlements to housing and support depending on their individual circumstances, including their immigration status and eligibility for public funds."
The funding is intended to help provide immediate support for people currently sleeping on the streets, while also helping them access longer-term accommodation and the support needed to maintain independent living.
By working with local charities and voluntary organisations, the council hopes to ensure people are not only offered a place to stay but are also given the help they need to avoid returning to the streets.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd July 2021 
