A fundraiser has been launched to help the family of Leeds brewery owner Jesus Moreno cover the costs of his funeral.
The co-founder of Piglove Brewery disappeared last summer but his body was only found this month following an eight-month search.
A Go Fund Me page has now been set up to help his loved ones cover the cost of his funeral, which will take place in May at Cottingley Crematorium.
Afterwards, family and friends will raise a beer at 'one of his happy places, Piglove by the River.'
So far, the fundraiser has beaten its target of £4,000 with its total sitting at £4,160 at the time of writing.
A statement from Jesus's family and friends reads: "To all of you that have supported our continued search for Jesus Moreno, thank you.
"We are sorry to tell you that after over eight months of heartache our beloved ‘Chucho’ has been found.
"His funeral service will be held at Cottingley Crematorium, Leeds on Monday 22nd May @ 12:15pm.
"We invite all of you, who are able, to attend and to please join us in raising a beer to his memory afterward at one of his happy places Piglove by the River.
"We are all devastated to hear of his passing and were not prepared for the high costs of a funeral service.
"We have been inundated with well wishes and during this difficult time are reaching out to you to help.
Jesus Moreno, 41, was the co-founder of craft brewery Pig Love and a much-loved member of Leeds’ local hospitality scene.
According to West Yorkshire Police, he was last seen boarding a Harrogate-bound bus from Leeds bust station in the early hours of the morning before getting off on the A61 Harrogate Road in the vicinity of Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick at 6.39am.
He was last seen on CCTV near to Harewood Bridge at 6.14am that morning, but family and friends maintain they don’t know why he would have gone to Harrogate – insisting that he was in “good spirits all weekend and up early, and ready for work on Monday.”
The staff at Piglove said at the time: “Nobody knows why Jesus chose to travel to Harrogate. His daughter and all his family are extremely worried for his well-being.No one has seen or heard from Jesus since."
Featured image - West Yorkshire Police
Leeds
End of an era as historic Leeds pub announces shock closure with ‘heavy heart’
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
Brand-new ‘party pub’ to take over the old Revolution site on Call Lane after £600,000 investment
Clementine Hall
We hope you're ready to party Leeds, because a 'party pub' experience is coming to Call Lane.
Following a whopping £600,000 investment, Bonnie Rogues is preparing to open in the former Revolution site in Leeds city centre that will close this month.
After a major refurbishment, Leeds’ first Bonnie Rogues venue and the sixth site for the fast- growing UK brand will open in November 2026.
Designed as an all-day-to-night social destination, Bonnie Rogues combines live music, live sport, and late-night celebrations in one immersive venue.
From big nights out to spontaneous after-work drinks and even Sunday Roasts, Bonnie Rogues aims to offer something completely different from the traditional pub experience.
Expect live performances, crowd-involved entertainment and interactive moments in an atmosphere that flows seamlessly from day to night.
Russell Quelch, CEO of NEOS Hospitality, said, “Leeds has such a strong social scene and a real appetite for experience-led venues, so we think Bonnie Rogues will fit perfectly into the city.
"It’s a concept that brings together everything people love about going out - live music, sport, food, entertainment and great atmosphere, all in one place. We’re excited to bring something new to Leeds and can’t wait to welcome guests later this year.”
The Leeds opening forms part of a wider rollout of Bonnie Rogues venues across the UK, as NEOS Hospitality continues to expand its portfolio following its acquisition of multiple Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites earlier this year.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more.
Georgina Pellant -
24th April 2023 
