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The new Leeds burger joint where you can build your own burger and loaded fries
Hooyah has taken everything you know about a burger joint and flipped it on its head. Here, the customer is in the driving seat and can tell you the chef's exactly what you want.
Loaded fries, dirty burgers and Biscoff milkshakes: Hooyah Burgers is a build-your-own-burger joint that really is a fussy eaters dream.
The new restaurant has only been open as a restaurant in Leeds for two weeks, but their takeaway service has been interrupting the burger scene for quite some time.
Hooyah burgers have become a big name in Leeds- especially on Deliveroo. Their range of vegan alternatives are always recommended in The Hoot’s comments section so when we heard that the burger company would be opened a permanent store on Albion Street: we were all ears.
Combining American-style diner culture with neon lighting and quirky furnishings, Hooyah is all about that big burger experience. Think giant milkshakes, onion rings aplenty and unlimited burger choices, with 15 different sauces.
The menu concept was made out of the owner's longing for a choice when it comes to burger options in restaurants: questioning why should you have to have pickles or tomatoes as standard (not to mention the sauce options), Hooyah has taken everything you know about a burger joint and flipped it on its head.
Here, the customer is in the driving seat and can tell you the chef's exactly what you want- it really is a fussy eater's dream.
On the menu, you choose everything from what type of bun to whether or not you add pickles, simply make your selections by writing on their menus and build your own burger combo.
Buttermilk chicken burger with slaw, hash brown, salad and burger sauce. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Go through the four different types of buns, wraps and salads before selecting the patty: there's Beyond Meat vegan, two 4oz beef and a choice of either fiery or regular buttermilk chicken before moving onto the complimentary salad options.
There's even four different types of cheese to choose from (american, nacho, mozzarella and Applewood smoked vegan) and a whopping 15 different sauces.
After that it's an extra 25p-£1.50 to add extra toppings like slaw, caramelised onion, onion rings, hash browns or even meaty additions like BBQ pulled pork and streaky bacon. You'll also have the chance to double up your patties and choose from house cooked fries, curly fries and sharer portions on a vast range of pre-formulated loaded fries options.
Beyond Meat burger with cheese, caramelised onion and barbecue sauce. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're anything like us, this method will give you the freedom to design your dream burger: albeit with a little self-inflicted stress to ensure that you pick all the right flavours.
The Chic-a-go loaded fries are made up of crumbled Falafel and Spinach and come highly recommended: making them our go-to choice. Accompanied by a vegan yoghurt and mint Sauce, mango chutney, chopped red onion and chilli sauce- all inspired from the Indigenous tribes of Chicago, these are going to be our regular order once Hooyah opens its doors in the coming weeks.
Each burger starts at an equal price of £9.99 and can be ordered with a range of additional sharers like chicken strips, onion rings and a vast selection of thick, creamy milkshakes.
To make up your dream burger, or to find out more information about newly-opened Hooyah, visit the burger joint's Instagram page or restaurant space on Albion Street in Leeds city centre.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
News
Leeds speakeasy crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world by industry experts
The beloved Domino Club is receiving its flowers, and rightly so.
Rapidly becoming one of the industry’s most respected accolade of excellence, The Pinnacle Guide is a worldwide ranking of the best bars across the globe.
Based on a thorough self-application process, rigorous assessment modules, followed by a series of spot check interviews and anonymous in-bar reviews, it's no easy feat to get a spot on this list.
Which is why it makes The Domino Club's achievement all that more impressive.
Known amongst locals and visitors alike as basically one of the coolest bars in town, the hidden speakeasy invites you through a barbershop in the Grand Arcade where downstairs you'll find a dimly lit jazz and cocktail bar oozing sex appeal.
Not only are the cocktails exceptional, but their live music listings is something to behold playing everything from jazz and funk to cabaret and disco every Wednesday - Sunday.
Announcing the news to Instagram, The Domino said: "Listed by The Pinnacle Guide. The Domino Club has been recognised on the global list of the world’s best bars.
"What began as a hidden basement bar in Leeds, built around live music, cocktails and atmosphere, is now being recognised alongside some of the finest bars in the world.
"A huge thank you to our team, musicians, suppliers and every single guest who has supported us over the years. This means a lot. Leeds belongs on the world cocktail map."
We absolutely could not agree more and if you haven't ventured behind the barbershop and discovered the magical Domino Club, then we very much recommend you do.
2:22 A Ghost Story at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House: When silence becomes the scare
Declan Kelly
The supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story arrived at Leeds Grand Theatre as part of its UK tour, bringing Danny Robins’s hit production to a packed audience.
Since its West End debut in 2021, the play has become known less as a straight horror and more as a gripping psychological debate wrapped in a ghost story.
At the centre of the story is one key question: do ghosts actually exist? Set during a dinner party between two couples, the drama unfolds as Jenny becomes increasingly convinced their home is haunted, claiming she hears strange noises every night at exactly 2:22am.
Her husband Sam dismisses her fears as irrational, while friends Lauren and Ben challenge both sides, turning the evening into a lively clash of belief and scepticism. What begins as a conversation gradually becomes something far more tense, as personal fears and buried tensions rise to the surface.
Image: Supplied
Rather than relying on traditional horror, the production focuses on atmosphere and psychological tension. The script builds unease through sharp dialogue, awkward silences and shifting power dynamics between the characters. Instead of delivering constant shocks, it keeps the audience questioning what is real and what might simply be a coincidence or imagination.
That said, the play does use theatrical jump scares effectively. Sudden loud noises, abrupt lighting changes and eerie sound cues interrupt the dialogue at key moments, creating jolts of tension without ever fully tipping into outright horror. These moments are brief but impactful, designed more to unsettle than to terrify.
Image: Supplied
The cast works strongly together to maintain this balance. Shvorne Marks brings emotional intensity to Jenny’s growing fear, while James Bye plays Sam with grounded scepticism that slowly begins to crack. Natalie Casey adds sharp humour and bite as Lauren, and Grant Kilburn provides openness and curiosity as Ben, keeping the debate lively and unpredictable.
The production design is another standout element. The modern, stylish home feels realistic and lived-in, but subtly shifts in tone as the story progresses. Careful lighting and precise sound design ensure the space never feels entirely safe, even in silence, reinforcing the idea that something might be just out of sight.
Image: Supplied
As the final moments unfold, the play returns to its central idea: the waiting. The quiet anticipation of night, the smallest unexplained sounds, and the creeping awareness of time passing.
Ultimately, 2:22 A Ghost Story succeeds because it is not really trying to scare its audience traditionally. Instead, it plays with uncertainty, asking viewers to decide what they believe and how far they trust their own senses. And let’s be honest, you might find yourself thinking what might happen if you were still awake when the clock strikes 2:22.
Running until 16 May at the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House - tickets available here.
Sophie Smith -
15th April 2022 
