Given the scorching weather this week, we're on the lookout for some foodie options to temporarily relieve the heat- and we've found some seriously cool options.
Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato is a true hidden gem, described by TripAdvisor users as "the best gelato"- and that includes tourists of Rome, Bologna, Pisa, Florence and Paris.
There's plenty of flavours to choose from. / Image: Roberto Gelato
Best of all, there's no need to travel to the motherland, or even the Yorkshire coast, to get a cone to battle the heatwave, this sweet treat spot is located right in the heart of the city centre.
Freshly churned and an abundance of flavours, there you can grab gelato by the scoop, fresh cannoli, coffees and other sweet treats from the Kirkgate Market stall, in Driffield, York or at a local pop up.
Recently spotted at Chow Down combining the highest quality ingredients from Italy and Yorkshire, you're unlikely to find flavours like Roberto's anywhere else.
There's flavours like Guinness Sorbet available. / Image: Roberto Gelato
In addition to your usual, but nonetheless exciting, pistachio cream, salted caramel and hazelnut, you'll find unique combos like passionfruit cheesecake and Guinness stout sorbet.
If that's not enough, there's even a "Bownana" made specially for your four-legged friend to cool off during the summer heatwave.
The latest addition to the menu is enough to get you into the markets on its own. The Robertone is a sweet pastry roll with a crunchy yet soft exterior that you can fill with a gelato, fruit and syrup of your choosing.
Roberto's Gelato isn't the only gelato store in Leeds that'll keep you going through this unprecedented heat wave, you can find The Hoot's guide to the best ice cream and gelatos in and around the city centre here.
Feature Image- Robertos Gelato
Eats
Leeds United’s Anton Stach has launched his very own burger at a local indie – and it’s all for a good cause
If it's good enough for Anton Stach, then it's good enough for us.
Well, it really is the signing that nobody saw coming...and it’s happening right opposite the station.
Meat:Stack, the Newcastle-born, award-winning burger joint on Bishopgate Street in Leeds, is giving the people what they want - a burger with Anton Stach’s name on it.
Introducing ‘The Moustachi Burger', officially launching Tuesday 18 August where Anton Stach himself will be down at Meat:Stack to meet United fans, sign autographs and, of course, tuck into his very own creation.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Even better, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Elhadj Diouf Foundation (EDF), a charity chosen by Stach that supports children through education.
Not only that, but it's a great opportunity to support Meat:Stack that has been suffering from the ongoing road works for months on end now.
So really, you've got no excuse to come down and tuck into the special which will be available through the opening weeks of the season.
Anton Stach, Leeds United and Germany midfielder, added: “Leeds has felt like home from very early on, and a lot of that is the people and the places around the ground, the businesses fans go to before and after a game. Meat:Stack is one of them, and they’ve had a hard time with the building work on their doorstep. The Moustachi Burger is a lovely nod to my YouTube channel too.
"This is a team on the rise in a city on the comeback, and support has to go both ways. I wanted to back a business Leeds fans care about and raising money for a foundation my family has given so much to at the same time means everything. I’ll be there on the 18th, bring your appetite.”
Independent Leeds coffee shop crowned one of the UK’s best for 2026
Clementine Hall
A list of the UK's best independent coffee shops for 2026 has been released, and one in Leeds has come up trumps.
The coffee shop in question may come as no surprise to some of you, as some would say that after 15 years in the city it's become somewhat of an institution.
Of course it's none other than Laynes.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's a proper Leeds staple at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
But it's not just us who think it's flipping fantastic, as a new study has revealed the top 10 most popular independent coffee shops in the country and Laynes comes in at a very respectable number 8.
The list, made by Capital on Tap, analysed coffee across the UK looking at Google reviews, monthly searches and social media success.
Laynes was in some pretty good company including Idle Hands in Manchester and Kaf Coffee in Glasgow. But most importantly, none of the top 10 were in London - make of that what you will.
The top 10 most popular independent coffee shops for 2026:
Neighbourhood Café, Belfast
Colonna & Small’s, Bath
Established Coffee, Belfast
Hard Lines Coffee, Cardiff
Rough Handmade, Liverpool
Idle Hands Coffee, Manchester
Full Court Press, Bristol
Laynes Espresso, Leeds
Kaf Coffee, Glasgow
Dom’s Coffee, Cambridge
Bravo Laynes, a well earned accolade for one of our favourite spots in the city.
Sophie Smith -
13th July 2022 
