Everything to do in Leeds in the last week of Spring.
This week there's loads on in Leeds from huge tattoo expos to 3-hour long bottomless brunches. And as always there's new places now open to try including the long awaited indie burger spot Meat:Stack and a new café bringing the iconic Australian brunch scene to Leeds
One of the most famous bands in the world is coming to Leeds this week after two years of delayed shows from Covid.
Kings Of Leon were a hit from the start, if not quite the hit they would become. Formed by brothers Caleb, Jared and Nathan with cousin Matthew, their 2001 debut landed right slap band in the middle of the great guitar rush of the early 00s. Success was almost immediate, helped by the single Molly’s Chambers and the band’s incendiary live shows, a flurry of hair and guitars that felt inspired by childhoods spent traversing the south with their father’s travelling show.
The Leeds Tattoo Expo is returning this weekend to Leeds at the First Direct Arena.
Leeds Tattoo Expo will see around 190 top artists working under one roof to showcase some of the best in tattooing both locally and internationally. It is also home to a carefully selected market of boutique traders and a host of exciting entertainment across the weekend, along with the popular competitions for tattoo artists, held on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The popular 3-hour long bottomless brunch with unlimited Prosecco, Gin, pink Gin & blood orange Gin and bottled beer, is back.
The brunch includes unlimited salad selection, continental charcuterie, BBQ smoked bacon skewer, onion bhaji cracklings , smoked salmon, croque madame ham & cheese croissants and plenty more of your brunch favourites. To top it all off there is a pancake and waffle toppings station. This is taking bottomless brunching to the next level.
All week | 34 Boar Lane, opposite Leeds Train Station
Image: Meat Stack
The long-awaited opening of cult indie cheeseburger joint, MEAT:STACK is finally here. Opening its door to the public for the very first time on Friday 10 June 2022, burger connoisseurs need to go this week to try the new spot for breakfasts or burgers.
MEAT:STACK has built up a loyal following in the north of England since they first launched as a pop-up in six years ago and after operating within Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market, the company took the plunge in 2020 and opened their first high street store on the Bigg Market in Newcastle.
The success of their burgers followed them onto the main streets and now they’re bringing their attention to detail, authentic preparation methods and moreish flavour combo to Leeds.
Find out more here.
Kulture Coffee now open
All week | Kirkstall Road, Leeds
Image: Supplied
Bringing a taste of the iconic Australian brunch scene to Leeds, Kulture is all about the coffee. The new opening will see some serious coffee blends frothed up over the opening weekend with ample opportunity to make the most of discounted coffee beans and merch, live music and a fun ‘name our cookie’ competition,
Honestly, if were thinking about a time to try out this new spot then this would be the perfect opportunity, so why not fill your weekend with a pit stop here?
Sharon Van Etten is a songwriter, musician, performer and actress returning to Leeds on the 'Darkness Fades Tour' in support of her new song "Porta". Famous for her incredible rise from Homelessness to stardom through insane talent, her tour is not one to be missed, tickets are still available at £30.40pp.
Those looking to tie the knot soon or just love wedding, need to get down to Leeds dock hall this weekend for the The big wedding sale by Wedding Fayres Yorkshire. The fayre will feature stands from exhibitors from across Yorkshire as well as live entertainers and a compere. There will be free goodie bags, free wedding magazines and over 80 wedding businesses with something special to offer you.
The event is completely free you just need to register online to attend.
A new family-run Italian deli and coffee house has opened in Ben Rhydding, bringing a little taste of Italy to the outskirts of Ilkley.
Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.
The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.
The idea for the bottega was inspired by founder Fabrizia Wagstaff-Pignanelli's own childhood memories of Italy and the role her local bottega played in everyday life.
She said: "The idea for Rizia's Bottega was brought to life whilst me and my family were watching our family videos and sharing memories of how we would spend our days in our local bottega in San Giovanni.
Inside Rizia's BottegaThe menu at Rizia’s BottegaRizia’s Bottega is now open in Ben RhyddingCredit: The Hoot Leeds
"The Bottega was the heart of our little town, where you would pop in for a quick coffee but unknowingly spend hours catching up with old friends and leave with freshly baked bread, pasta and all the weekly essentials."
That sense of community is central to Rizia's Bottega, which aims to recreate the friendliness and relaxed pace of a traditional Italian neighbourhood shop.
Rather than simply being a deli or coffee shop, the idea is to create a space where people can meet friends, enjoy good food and coffee, and take their time.
Schiacciata sandwichesBreakfast and coffeeCredit: The Hoot Leeds
Fabrizia said: "Rizia's Bottega is a reflection of the values that have shaped me growing up in the world of hospitality and what I have been taught in the many years I have worked in my family's restaurant.
"Furthermore the ideals ingrained in me through my Italian upbringing, such as the art of experiencing life at a slower pace, the importance of community and making sure everyone is well fed."
Inside, visitors can expect a deli-style offering packed with Italian products and ingredients, alongside freshly prepared food and bakes.
There are sandwiches and other bites to eat, including a spicy La Calabrese sandwich with both spicy and fennel sausage, plus sweet Romano peppers and nduja lemon butter.
Italian provisions at Rizia's Bottega. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Other fillings you'll find on the menu include burratta and black pepper porchetta, avocado and olive tapenade, and mortadella with pistachio cream.
The shelves are also stocked with Italian provisions and goodies to take home, from olives and oils to pasta and cookbooks.
The family hopes the bottega will become a familiar part of life in the local community, reflecting the welcoming atmosphere they remember from Italy.
"You can think of the Bottega as your neighbourhood space to meet up with friends, enjoy a great coffee, share a bite to eat or pop in to pick up some high-quality Italian provisions," Fabrizia said.
Rizia's Bottega is now open on Bolling Road in Ben Rhydding, offering a relaxed slice of Italian life just outside Ilkley.
It's open Tuesday to Friday, 7.45am–4pm; Saturday, 8.30am–4pm; and Sunday, 10am–2pm.
The independent Leeds cafe speaking up after massive coffee chain opens opposite
Daisy Jackson
An independent bakery and coffee shop in Leeds has spoken out after a huge chain opened its doors opposite her cafe.
Savannah Roqaa, owner of The Savvy Baker, has said that she's on a mission to overtake the sales of Blank Street, the massive matcha chain that opened just metres away within weeks of her new site.
She said that while her brand is best-known for its baked goods, they also specialise in high-quality matcha - something Sav says wasn't in good supply in Leeds at the time she opened.
And now she's publicly spoken out about her mission to tempt people away from the big chain and into her independent business.
In a video shared online, Sav has been inviting customers leaving Blank Street to swap their matcha for one of hers, free of charge.
She then remakes the white chocolate matcha herself, but using quality Callebaut white chocolate, melting real chocolate into the drink.
The customer in the video says: "You can tell, it's way sweeter and like actually white chocolate tasting. And the matcha is greener, which is better."
Sav from The Savvy Baker has spoken of her mission to overtake Blank StreetMatcha from The Savvy Baker in Leeds
Sav said: "So when we signed the lease on literally the biggest risk ever, which is this huge shop in Leeds city centre, we had absolutely no idea that Blank Street were opening their biggest store in the entire world across the road.
"They are a global brand that is obviously very very popular, and we just wanted to try and at least match their sales."
She said that she's heard Blank Street sells 5,000 drinks every single week and is hoping to increase sales at The Savvy Baker enough to match.
Sav said: "Last week we sold 890 drinks. We've converted one, so that is 4,109 more people to convert...
"But we have a lot more tricks up our sleeve, so follow along to see if we can do it. And we would massively appreciate any support that you can give us."
Abbie Bartlett -
13th June 2022 
