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Renowned Leeds restaurant The Empire Cafe reveals big plans for a new gastropub
The empire is expanding
Award-winning Leeds restaurant The Empire Cafe has just unveiled exciting plans to open a new pub.
The beloved Fish Street restaurant, which has been feeding Leeds locals under various guises and different ownerships for more than a century, teased the plans on social media today.
They announced that the team are set to launch a brand-new city gastropub.
The Empire Cafe has shared a photo of the old pub, The Highland, which stands just west of Leeds city centre.
The Highland has gradually become surrounded by high-rise student accommodation in recent years and the pub closed for good back in April 2023.
It had been open for four decades but shut down after 'five price increases in six months' from various breweries.
They wrote at the time: "It is with a heavy heart that due to five price increases by the various brewery's in the last six months, together with utility bills et al it has now become unsustainable to keep operating.
"It's always sad when a venue like ours is forced to close."
But now The Empire Cafe has swooped in to save this historic little building just off Kirkstall Road.
They shared today: "This little bit of history is now saved. City gastropub incoming…"
Read more: Beloved Leeds restaurant Swine That Dines announces major move to Headingley
Featured image: The Hoot Leeds
News
Tom Odell announces huge outdoor Leeds show as part of Sounds of the City
Clementine Hall
UK singer-songwriter Tom Odell is set to play a huge outdoor Leeds show this summer.
Sounds of the City is making a triumphant return this summer and we couldn't be more excited.
Being added to the already star-studded lineup is Tom Odell, a Chichester-born singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt piano ballads and distinctive tone.
You may also know him from a certain John Lewis advert which made sure there were no dry eyes in the house.
The announcement follows a huge year for Tom Odell, who released his latest album A Wonderful Life and completed a major UK arena tour.
Known for his emotionally charged, piano‑led anthems, Tom Odell first rose to prominence after winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award in 2013 and has since become one of the UK’s most successful contemporary artists, with massive global hits like “Another Love”, which has now surpassed three billion streams on Spotify.
The ‘Another Love’ singer will perform on Saturday 4 July and will be supported by Matt Maltese.
Already announced for Sounds of the City are Dylan Gossett, Alabama Shakes, Wet Leg, The Human League and The Cribs.
The Millennium Square gigs are always fantastic fun, with previous acts including Blossoms, McFly and Mika bringing huge audiences to the city.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 6 February at 10am and you can get your tickets here.
Pre-sale starts this Thursday 5 February which you can access by signing up to Millennium Square's mailing list here.
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Featured image - Publicity Picture
News
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.”
Emba will remain open until Saturday 1 March.
Read more:
Featured image - Emba
Daisy Jackson -
22nd December 2024 
