A new patisserie has opened in Leeds selling lemon meringue eclairs - and we're already drooling over them.
French-inspired bakery L'eclair Leeds is creating some gorgeous flavour combinations, ranging from the aforementioned lemon meringue clair to raspberry and Belgian chocolate versions.
And that's not all - they're also selling freshly made cakes and breads, with their Instagram page showing off such delights as dainty pink macarons, sumptuous little Victorian sponges filled with cream and jam, fruit and cream-topped treacle tarts and mini granary and rye loaves.
IUp until now, they've been creating desserts, cakes, tarts and afternoon tea patisserie for Leeds' restaurants, pubs, cafes, and garden centers / mage: L'eclair
Brought to Leeds by a team with a huge amount of wholesale experience, the bakers behind the new patisserie are award-winning pastry chefs with years of experience supplying restaurants and bars in the city,
Up until now, they've been creating desserts, cakes, tarts, and afternoon tea patisserie for Leeds' restaurants, pubs, cafes, and garden centers - but now, they're on a new adventure, having opened their retail patisserie shop this summer 2021 to begin trading to the public part time.
According to L'eclair's website, the word eclair translates to 'flash of lightning' - which some say is because of the sparkly glaze, but others prefer to think of as a reference to how they are eaten. Namely, 'in a flash'.
Alongside the excellent eclairs, other sweet treats that have us drooling whilst scrolling through the shop's Instagram include a marvelous-looking summer fruits frangipane tart, a chocolate and espresso tart with salted caramel and honeycomb, and a lemon burnt Basque cheesecake with gin-soaked raspberries. Mmmmmm.
Alongside the excellent eclairs, other sweet treats that have us drooling whilst scrolling through the shop's Instagram include a marvellous-looking summer fruits frangipane tart / Image: L'eclair
Located in Pudsey, the patisserie is open to the public on Thursday between 12-5 pm, then on Friday and Saturday from 10 am - 3 pm.
The rest of the time, the team will still be busy beavering away creating goodies for their wholesale clients.
Leeds restaurant The Cut & Craft has announced further expansion plans for the spring.
Swanky all-day dining restaurant and bar, The Cut & Craft, is expanding its popular Leeds site, investing a whopping £1.2 million to create a new adjoining elegant bar, lounge and private spaces.
Located within the former historic Collinson’s Cafe, the renovation will transform the former neighbouring Paul Smith store, to extend the existing brand offering.
The extension will celebrate the original beauty of the space, whilst acknowledging the legacy of Wallace Hartley - a talented musician who played at Collinson’s Cafe in the early 1900s before his role as bandleader on Titanic during its maiden voyage.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Grade II-listed building’s features including its iconic glass dome, stained glass and circular central bar will remain, with the addition of two beautifully designed private dining rooms.
The extension is due for competition this spring and will transform the existing venue into a space with seating for an impressive 370 covers.
Oscar Akgul, CEO at The Cut & Craft said: “Planning for this new chapter began within the first year of opening. By year two, it was clear that we required additional space to serve the city’s appetite for The Cut & Craft’s signature hospitality.
Image: Supplied
“The brand’s deep affinity with the Victoria Quarter and the heritage of the building played an essential role in the decision to grow here.
“We want to thank our regular guests and everyone who has joined us at The Cut & Craft Leeds since opening and we look forward to entering this exciting new chapter with you all.”
New BBC TV drama starring Bel Powley and Harley Squires to be filmed in Leeds this spring
Clementine Hall
The BBC has announced a brand-new crime drama set to be filmed in Leeds and Hull.
We all love a BBC drama, and luckily for us one is about to be filmed right here in Leeds.
The new drama will be titled Shy & Lola, starring Harley Squires from The Night Manager and Bel Powley from The Diary of A Teenage Girl.
The six-part series has been described as a "dark comedy" about two women caught up in a murder in the criminal underworld.
The plot follows an unassuming pair in a small coastal town in northern England where the pair both realise they have a hidden talent for crime.
The series synopsis states: "As they build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, opposing futures beckon – using their earnings to fund a fresh start, or becoming the new bosses in town."
The show is based on a popular French TV series and is written by Amanda Coe, an acclaimed English screenwriter and novelist.
Amanda Coe spoke about the announcement: "With such a rich and spiky central relationship at its core, Shy & Lolais a dream of a show to write, full of fun, action and emotion. I can't wait to see our hugely exciting cast and director bring it to life."
Rachelle Constant, executive Producer for Clerkenwell Films, said: "Amanda has written a brilliantly bold series centred on a dynamic female duo, which blends dark comedy with propulsive storytelling.We’re thrilled to have Hayley and Bel as our leads, alongside an exceptional cast and crew."
The new series will begin filming in Leeds and Hull this spring and will air on BBC One and iPlayer and we'll absolutely be tuning in.
Georgina Pellant -
28th October 2021 
