A Leeds restaurant group has surprised its foodie fans by making the decision to expand into the world of beauty by adding a salon to its repertoire.
The team behind Culto Italian and Poco Sicilian have taken over Spirals, a Meanwood hair salon that has been on the same parade as them for decades.
They made the decision to take on the salon after finding out that the previous owner was planning to retire, feeling that it would be a shame to lose such a piece of Meanwood history if the new owners decided to turn it into something else altogether.
The team behind Culto Italian and Poco Sicilian have taken over the Spirals, a Meanwood hair salon that has been on the same parade as them for decades / Image: LINEA
"Just like this, right in the middle of the pandemic, lockdown, and staff shortages, we took over the business to keep it as a hairdressers salon," the team said in a social media post.
"The main idea was to create the salon that we ourselves and all residents would want to visit regularly. The perfect destination where you could escape your daily routine, relax and treat yourself without breaking the bank. An affordable indulgence, if you want.'
The team is known in Leeds for its popular Italian eateries POCO Sicilian (team pictured) and CULTO / Image: Poco Sicilian
Applying the concept of “Beauty in Simplicity” to the new salon, which they've named LINEA, the space is dedicated to enhancing your natural beauty - offering treatments on everything from hair to brows and nails.
Following the mantra of "less is more" they promise they won't be offering anything "artificial or over the top, only the necessary treatments that will make you feel and look beautiful."
"We know, it sounds ridiculous - a team specialising in restaurants have decided to go into beauty now. To be honest, there was not a single day when we haven’t regretted this decision," they continued.
"But, on the other hand, we’ve created CULTO and Poco from scratch once, and we are up for a challenge, even if we have to completely step out of our comfort zone this time."
The salon is located on the same parade as restaurant CULTO / Image: CULTO
As well as helping you to perfect your hair, brows and nails, further treatments on offer at the salon will also include lashes.
Keeping in step with the ethos of the restaurants, products used in the salon will be vegan and cruelty-free.
The team will be using the Kevin Murphy range for hair treatments and colouring, which they say are the "best on the market" for those who want organic, cruelty-free, sulphate and paraben-free vegan products.
To create ethical but stylish nails, meanwhile, they'll be working with The Gel Bottle company - which is also 100% cruelty-free and vegan.
The CULTO team pictured outside their restaurant on the Meanwood parade / Image: CULTO
Explaining their decision to take over the salon, the team said: "When we first found out last year that the owner of the Spirals, the hair salon that’s been on our parade for decades, decided to retire and sell the business, we thought it would be a shame to lose this piece of Meanwood history if the new owners would turn it into something completely different.
Followers were quick to offer their support, with one commenting "This will be a great addition to Meanwood, look forward to visiting."
Another simply said, "You guys are amazing!"
To keep up to date with LINEA, you can follow them on Instagram here and find the salon at 93 Stainbeck Road, Meanwood, Leeds.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2021 
