House of Koko is opening a second site in Oakwood, and we're counting down the days until it opens.
Bringing fine-dining to a laid back setting is a winning combination that House of Koko have got down to a tee in Chapel Allerton. Their menu comprises beautifully presented dishes like pancakes drenched in syrup and even their scrambled tofu is good enough to photograph for the 'gram (who knew?).
The overwhelming success of the cafe is well-known about Leeds- and it comes with a whole host of raving reviews. At the new site, the HOK Oakwood will be serving up all of their bestselling brunch dishes, as well as some classy cocktails and a selection of wines to be paired with small dining plates.
Image: House of Koko
The second cafe was originally reported to open on Friday 4 March- but this hasn't been confirmed by the owners themselves.
The idea is that the Oakwood cafe will open in March and then in April, the nighttime menu will be added to the concept, along with the occasional DJ, fingers crossed.
The cafe announced their second venture on Instagram this afternoon along with the unveiling of a separate account for House of Koko Oakwood.
The owners shared this message on the House of Koko's Chapel Allerton account.
"Do you know we are expanding into Oakwood next month? Hessian will be turning into @houseofkoko_ow.
"We'll be keeping the KOKO vibe by serving our new brunch menu and by April, looking to change it up a bit and re-open on an evening serving everything small plates, wine, cocktails and potentially DJs on a weekend (neighbours permitting), see you there!"
The cafe is currently hiring staff for its new venture too, for more information about the jobs available and the cafe opening, visit the House of Koko Oakwood Instagram page.
Feature Image- House of Koko
News
Huge new £15m sports hub in Holbeck to be given green light by Leeds City Council
The final go-ahead is expected to be given for work to start on a major new £15million sports hub in Holbeck.
Senior councillors are expected to give the approval next Wednesday 11 March at an executive board meeting.
An agreement will be made on a contractor to complete the work which will bring state-of-the-art sports pitches and a community space to the city.
Holbeck Sports Hub will provide three full-size artificial grass football pitches, two multi-use games areas and a building with changing rooms and a café.
Image: Supplied
Work is expected to begin in August 2026 and is set to be built at the site of the former Matthew Murray High School.
The plan is to also provide a home to a new GP surgery as well as a children’s play area and walking and running routes through the green space which sits off Brown Lane East and Ingram Road.
Image: Supplied
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “We look forward to the work starting on the Holbeck Sports Hub, which will be a significant asset to the local community and residents in south Leeds.
“It will provide affordable and accessible quality sports pitches, providing more opportunities for physical activity and play and spaces to meet up and connect.
“We are also working towards an agreement with a GP practice so that the area can benefit from new high-quality healthcare provision to meet the needs of the community.”
The programme is joint funded by the Football Foundation and Leeds City Council capital funding.
New grassroots music space aiming to make DJing and music more accessible opening in Headingley this month
Clementine Hall
A new grassroots music space is opening in Headingley with a mission to make DJing, vinyl and music culture more accessible.
Meanhood Studios, founded by long-time LS6 residents Jim and Katie Young, will combine a professional DJ rehearsal studio, record shop, performance space and tuition hub all under one roof.
Their aim is simple, "to level the playing field in a scene that has often felt exclusive and gatekept.”
Meanhood started as a guerrilla pop-up record shop in lockdown when Jim started selling records from his personal collection.
Built solely on quality and word-of-mouth reputation, the venture quickly grew into a respected local record spot known for its carefully curated vinyl selection.
Images: Supplied
Jim’s roots trace back to Manchester’s late-90s free party scene, he began DJing at 17 and from Hyde Park house parties to residencies at legendary clubs, he went on to host nights featuring artists who would later become major names in UK dance music.
Katie grew up in rural Cumbria, discovering music through pirate radio, library tapes and out-of-town raves. After moving to Leeds for university, she built a 20-year corporate career while supporting events, fly-posting for club nights and working behind the scenes.
“DJing is so much more than pushing buttons,” says Jim. “You’ve got to love it when no one’s watching. We want to share that knowledge and remove some of the barriers we experienced.”
Meanhood Studios will open on Friday 13 March and will offer access to equipment, rehearsal space, vinyl records and tuition for aspiring DJs and music lovers.
It's more important now than ever to support grassroots music venues, and we can't wait to check out this new space.
Sophie Smith -
21st February 2022 
