Kirkstall road favourite POCO has revealed plans to open a second site in Leeds and we're very excited about it.
First opened in 2018 by the team behind popular Italian kitchen Culto in Meanwood, it's developed a big following for its different flavoured arancini, as well as dishes like focaccine, fried Sicilian calzone and Pizza Al Taglio.
Sicilian street food treats on display in the window at POCO's original store on Kirkstall Road / Image: POCO
But that's not all they do - not by a long way. As well as a host of gorgeous savoury treats, they've also developed quite the reputation for their sweets, which range from classic cannolis and warm brioche filled with gelatp, to sweet arancini balls and oven-baked bombolones.
Honestly, every single thing they create here looks incredible. So we can understand why there's a lot of demand in Leeds for a second POCO opening.
A selection of sweet Sicilian treats including bombolone donuts - filled with Vanilla, Chocolate, Pistachio, Nutella cream and even with Whiskey and Bailey’s sometimes / Image: POCO
The POCO team announced their big news this week, encouraging their followers to guess where the new site will be in order to win a yummy prize.
Sharing the news on Instagram on Monday 9 August, they said: "Poco Number 2 is coming to Leeds!"
"Yes guys, this is happening.
"After over three years since opening our first shop on Kirkstall Road, we are finally ready to expand and bring Poco to a new location in Leeds.
Sweet Sicilian arancini balls with pistachio, almond and Nutella / Image: POCO
"We’ve got the keys now and can’t wait to transform this beautiful space into your favourite Sicilian street food destination 😉 Fingers crossed, we’ll be open in a month or so.
"Also, the first person to guess right where Poco Nr. 2 will be located will get a yummy prize from us
Guesses in the comments so far are limited to Headingley, but there are no obvious congratulations in POCO's reply so we're guessing it's not going to be there.
A special birthday request: POCO's moist Italian sponge with vanilla cream loaded with fresh seasonal berries and homemade profiteroles filled with cream / Image: POCO
It shouldn't be too long to wait now until the location is revealed, though.
TO keep up to date with the new opening, make sure to follow POCO on Instagram if you don't already.
After closing for the entire second day, The Warehouse stage at Leeds Festival has once again been forced to evacuate.
One of the most anticipated dance acts of the day has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns just moments before the set.
Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa was due to take to The Warehouse stage today at 1:30pm, but the set was cancelled due to overcrowding.
It's not the first time this has happened at Leeds Festival 2026, as yesterday Omar+'s set was cancelled due to the same issue and the stage was subsequently closed for the rest of the day.
The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Silva Bumpa said: "So so sorry Leeds Fest but due to over crowding my set was cancelled last min I was just behind the stage and got told right before such a massive shame."
Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading on Friday afternoon, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.
"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."
It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.
If yesterday is anything to go by, we wouldn't be surprised if The Warehouse was closed for the rest of the day which means anticipated sets from Rossi and Mall Grab will also be cancelled.
‘Actually lost for words’ – huge artist speaks out as Leeds Festival set is cancelled due to overcrowding
Clementine Hall
For the second day in a row, a huge set has been cancelled due to overcrowding at Reading and Leeds Festival.
Day two of the festival and there's some pretty disappointed ravers hanging their head as one of the biggest dance music sets of the day is cancelled.
Omar+, a rising British electronic DJ and producer, was due to play on the brand-new Warehouse stage at Reading yesterday and Leeds today.
Yesterday's set was cancelled last minute due to overcrowding, and low and behold the same has happened here in Leeds.
Announcing the sad news to his story, Omar+ said "Actually lost for words. My Leeds set has been cancelled due to overcrowding."
He then went on to show a screenshot of a text message, reading: "I've never seen something like this in my entire life where two shows back to back are cancelled due to overcrowding."
The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.
Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading yesterday, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.
"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."
It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2021 
