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.
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A Miami-inspired deli serving Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and cigars has opened in a Leeds suburb
After making a name for itself over in Leeds city centre, Alfonso's Deli 2.0 has touched down in Horsforth.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonso's Deli in Leeds' beautiful Grand Arcade serve up some of the best sandwiches in the city.
They've built up such a good reputation in fact, that they have now opened a second deli in the up-and-coming suburb of Horsforth.
Located in a prime location on New Side Road, this deli has a slightly different look to their original space, complete with a beautiful red awning and stuffed to the brim with American memorabilia.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Here you can find fresh Cuban coffee which goes wonderfully with their authentic toasted Cubano sandwiches, perfectly crafted with their house-made bread which are then pressed made-to-order.
New for Horsforth, they're now serving New York deli sandwiches on brand-new house schiacciata bread.
And the bread is as fresh as it gets, made in their own bakery downstairs alongside a selection of New York deli bakes.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Stuffed with toppings such as smoked deli meats, cold cuts, fresh cheese and whatever else you fancy.
Oh and it doesn't stop there, you can also buy a cigar if you fancy it alongside a selection of merch, hot sauces and provisions like tinned fish.
So whether you're stopping by on your way to work for a morning coffee or treating yourself to a stellar sandwich for your lunch, Alfonso's Deli is here to whisk you away to Miami for the afternoon.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They're officially opening their doors to the public this Thursday 15 October, and we just know it's going to go down and absolute storm.
Make sure to pop down and give them a big warm welcome to the neighbourhood.
A 1970s-inspired cocktail bar is coming to Leeds this month from the team behind some of the city’s best bars
Clementine Hall
We've been waiting a while for this one - and it's finally here.
If you know a thing or two about cocktails, or just drinks in general, then you're going to be just as excited as us.
The very talented team behind Roland's and The Domino Club, just to name a few, are setting their sites on a brand-new venture.
Introducing Paper Plane, an intimate new cocktail bar that will be taking over the old Casa site in the city's beautiful Grand Arcade.
Paper Plane will be inspired by the glamour of 1970s air travel and will be a vinyl-only listening bar, serving a world-inspired cocktail menu alongside a carefully curated whisky collection.
The space will be lovely and intimate, with around just 40 covers, designed to transport guests somewhere completely different from the minute they step foot through the door.
And what a location too, joining a whole host of fantastic independents in the arcade such as Alfonso's Deli, Stuzzi and Sonder.
Not only has Roland's been consistently one of the busiest bars on Call Lane since they opened back in 2014, but The Domino Club was recently crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world. Now that is some accolade worth shouting about.
Paper Plane was announced all the way back in July, and just this week they have announced their official opening date.
Paper Plane will be opening its doors on Thursday 29 October, and we can't wait to welcome them to the city. We'll definitely see you there for a cocktail or two (or three).
Keep an eye for further updates via their Instagram page here.
Georgina Pellant -
9th July 2021 
