Leeds' clubbers have rallied around a beloved bouncer following news of his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Revellers and hospitality workers were shocked to hear the news of hospitality legend Salahuddin Sharif's diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer.
Friends and family moved quickly to rally around him, with one creating a gofundme fundraiser to support his final wish - to visit his brother in America before he passes away.
The page was set up Jodie Osakwe, a general manager at Individual Restaurants, and has already raised over £5,000.
The fundraiser reads: "Our beautiful friend Sharif, a true gentleman, Leeds hospitality legend and our head doorman of 20 years has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
"We are still all in shock and still can’t believe it.It has been truly amazing to watch all Sharif’s family & friends come together at this difficult time to ensure he has all the support and care he deserves.
"Sharif would really love to be able to visit his brother’s family in Tampa Florida and Jodie Osakwe has therefore decided to create this page to see if together we can fundraise this money to give him this opportunity while we can.
"We would need to ensure he is travelling first class to make sure he is comfortable, and his care needs are being met on this long flight.
"I know Sharif is loved by many in Leeds, whose lives he has touched with his infectious smile and warm greeting. Any money raised that is surplus to this initial goal will be given to his family.Thank you in advance to everyone who donates, no matter how small.
"Let’s show Sharif just how much respect we all have for this amazing guy."
Since being set up last month, the fundraiser has been shared many times on social media including on Leeds' Mint Festival Facebook page.
Donations have been pouring in, large and small, with the fundraiser now just over a third of the way towards its £15,000 goal.
And comments of solidarity have also been coming in thick and fast from those who've met and come to love him as an iconic part of the Leeds' nightclub scene over the years.
Gerald Acheampong, who donated £100 to the fundraiser, said: "There are very few like this man. He is a gentleman in the truest meaning of that word . Please give what you can if you can."
Whilst Filip Wron, donating £10, added: "Sharif is Leeds legend and all clubbers than know him should help! Sending Love to Sharif and family!"
If you'd like to donate to the fundraiser to help Sharif get to America, you can do so here.
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Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
15th May 2021 
