Get ready, because Leeds city centre is about to get an exciting new addition.
Introducing Nyla's, a stunning new cocktail bar that will be opening on Saturday 24 October.
With a whopping £160,000 invested into transforming the space, Nyla's isn't just a bar but an experience that'll have you going back for more time and time again.
The interior really sets it apart from the rest, with a striking feature tree at the heart of it as well as a beautiful wall mural created by Leeds-based artist Jamie Ridgeway.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Boasting an urban-chic aesthetic, the walls feature a stylish mix of exposed brick and raw concrete, adding to the venue’s contemporary and trendy vibe.
So what's on the menu at Nyla's? The brand new menu blends innovation and indulgence ready to take you from afternoon to evening.
Cocktail lovers can enjoy classics like the "Cosmopolitan," a chic mix of citrus vodka, triple sec, cranberry, and lime, or the bold "Espresso Martini," combining vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso for a smooth, sophisticated sip.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Paying homage to the local brewing scene, Nyla’s will proudly offer draught beers from nearby favourites like Kirkstall Brewery.
And if you're feeling peckish, the kitchen will be preparing delicious dishes to keep you satisfied.
The food menu includes “Salt & Pepper Squid” served with garlic mayo and lime, “Buttermilk Chicken Strips” paired with BBQ sauce and pickled slaw as well as “Nyla’s Club Sandwich” featuring sourdough, chicken, egg, and bacon.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking to kick it up a notch, why not try the“8oz Fillet Steak” with chips and house peppercorn sauce or the fresh “Creamy Lobster Roll” on brioche with fries.
Alicia Varley, formerly of Turtle Bay and Dirty Martini, leads the charge as Nyla’s General Manager, Alicia shares her excitement: “Nyla’s is set to be a game-changer for the Leeds bar scene. We’ve combined stunning design with a standout menu and top-notch entertainment to create something truly special.
"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome the community to this unique space.”
Nyla's will be opening their doors from midday on Saturday 24 October with a weekend-long party, expect DJs spinning the decks and providing the ultimate party atmosphere until late.
To find out more about Nyla's, take a look at their Instagram page.
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Clementine Hall -
2nd October 2024 
