The team behind Grumpy's pizzeria has opened a new restaurant in Farsley at Sunny Bank Mills.
Located in the former home of Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale, the new sister site Saint Jude is a new all-day bar and restaurant that will go from brunch to late-night cocktails.
Run by Farsley-based sisters Alex and Cassie Rogerson, just like their popular pizzeria Grumpy's the new restaurant is also named after their parents. It doesn't get much more Yorkshire than that.
Serving up everything from beautiful cruffins and buttered bagels to naughty burgers, cocktails and loaded fries, the menu here looks incredible.
Alex commented: “We wanted to create a venue that complemented Grumpy’s and the other surrounding eateries, including our brilliant neighbours Mill Kitchen.
“Saint Jude opens at 10am for brunch and offers tables to walk-in customers all the way through to evening food and late night cocktails.
“The decor is cosier and darker than Grumpy’s, giving it a more grown-up feel where you’re welcome to stay and drink all day. No booking is needed.
“The outdoor terrace and side garden is a real sun trap and twinkling festoon lights make it a great spot for alfresco dining and drinks with family and friends on a warm evening.
“We couldn’t imagine opening our second place anywhere other than Farsley. It is a really wonderful community that encourages us to do our best.”
John Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse Ltd, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Alex and Cassie have decided to open a new restaurant at Sunny Bank in the wake of the success of Grumpy’s.
“Saint Jude is a fantastic addition to our ever-growing community and will be a real asset for everyone who works and visits here. We are proud to be a part of Alex and Cassie’s exciting journey.
“Saint Jude is the final part of the jigsaw for this part of the mill with Mill Kitchen, Grumpys, Saint Jude, Anahata Yoga and of course Jackaboos play gym working together to create a really vibrant street scene and atmosphere.”
To find out more and book, head over to their website and view the sample menu here.
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”
Inside Pardon Me – Leeds’ newest neighbourhood record bar inspired by Japan
Clementine Hall
Farsley is now home to an ultra-cool record bar with coffee, cocktails and an unbeatable sound system.
Tucked away in the beautiful Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is a record bar built around 'music, atmosphere, and detail'.
It's been launched by Scott Rapson, who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with music around the time of the arrival of hip hop in the early 80s.
He then spent time travelling for raves, and visiting venues like Glasgow’s Sub Club and London’s Plastic People, giving Scott an appreciation for how 'music can shape a room, not just fill it'.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Scott and his partner Laurie have then spent the past three years travelling, visiting listening bars across Europe to shape the foundations of Pardon Me.
Listening bars, also known as hi-fi bars, originated in 1920s Japan - and you can really see the Japanese influence within the space and it's super cool interiors.
Images: The Hoot Leeeds
Bartenders here create a small but perfectly formed menu of cocktails and pour natural wines from Wayward Wines in front of a wall of vinyl, while a collection of Scott's records play as a soundtrack to your evening.
The sound system Scott claims is one of the "best in the North East", which he says has a "real sense of depth and balance to it" with a "coverage that stays incredibly consistent across the room".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Whether it's for coffee during the day, or drinks into the evening, they want Pardon Me to be a place to spend time, looking out across Sunny Bank Mills.
Pardon Me is open Thursday - Sunday, and you can find out more about this wonderful new opening here.
Georgina Pellant -
20th September 2021 
