The world-famous Louisiana fried chicken restaurant is opening in Leeds City Centre this Friday, and they're celebrating in style.
If you haven't heard the news then first of all, where have you been? And secondly, allow us to fill you in.
Popeyes is bringing its shatter crunchin' fried chicken to Commercial Street, and last night the space was turned into a late night rave hosted by legends Lab 54.
Iconic DJs Shauna Devlin and Sam Sax provided the tunes and had everyone partying all night long.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Queues were forming down the street until the lucky ravers were let into the space and treated to margarita cocktails by Pimentae , cans of Red Bull and plenty of Popeyes goodness.
We're talking mini Chicken Sandwiches, shatter crunchin' chicken tenders and samples of their new Saucin' range which provided the fuel for head bopping and two stepping.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Chicken Sandwiches and a full-on rave? Sign us up.
Music and chicken lovers from across the city enjoyed a night of epic tunes and even better food.
If you missed out on the rave last night then don't worry, as Popeyes will officially be opening the doors to its Commercial Street site this Friday 4 April at 11am.
The first three in the queue will get free Chicken Sandwiches for an entire year, and the first 100 in the queue will get themselves a free sandwiches and maybe even some exclusive Popeyes merchandise.
So run, don't walk.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The colourful fast food spot will be serving up the full Popeyes menu meaning you can grab staple items like the buttery biscuits and cajun gravy and the iconic Shatter Crunchin’ Popeyes Chicken sandwich alongside cajun fries, tenders and their brand-new saucin’ range which is bursting with flavour.
Are y'all ready for it? Because we definitely are.
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Clementine Hall -
3rd April 2025 
