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Inside Leeds’ first mental health and wellbeing cafe bar

Better Days is the only bar that offers mental wellbeing support completely for free

Georgina Pellant - 9th July 2021

A new wellbeing cafe with a focus on improving people's mental health has opened in Leeds.

Called Better Days, it's located inside the Grand Arcade and sets itself apart from other bars and cafes in the area by offering dedicated (and free) classes in improving wellbeing.

Better Days offers free support to everyone who visits and, according to owner Vicky Fytche, is the only place of its kind in Leeds.

Waffles with strawberries, bananas and blueberries / Image: Better Days

The cafe also organises walks and talks out in Leeds in the day, as well as hosting self-care and mindfulness sessions upstairs: teaching customers new breathing techniques, and leading gratitude and mindfulness sessions.

In-house wellness coach Kayleigh Bradshaw is on hand throughout the week to chat with guests, she also hosts weekly wellness classes above the cafe to help spread positivity and good vibes.

A pornstar martini, made perfectly at mental wellbeing cafe Better Days / Image: Better Days

The mental wellbeing cafe and bar serves up pizza, pancakes and cocktails throughout the week and does boozy bottomless brunches, waffles and charcuterie boards on the weekends.

The food and drink here looks brilliant, ranging from perfect pornstar martinis to big boards of cheese, olives, antipasto and cured meat.

Every Wednesday to Friday between 6 and 9 pm, Better Days also run a deal on their pizzas where you can get a pizza and a pint for £10 - a winner in our books, considering the dearth of offers in Leeds since the pandemic.

And on Thursdays, they host a live open mic night with a host of different singers, poets and musicians taking turns on the mic.

A cheeseboard and charcuterie board at mental wellbeing cafe Better Days / Image: Better Days

According to the restaurant, these events have made a huge difference in breaking down barriers and bringing people together in the cafe.

"Music, honestly brings people together so much, we have strangers meeting, making friends and singing together for the first time," said the restaurant in an Instagram post.

"We have people who arrived in week 1, really quiet, now chatting away and staying until close with new friends!"

Better Days is open Wednesday to Sunday, from midday to 7pm.

Find the mental wellbeing cafe inside the Merrion Street Grand Arcade in Leeds.