After a whirlwind year in Leeds, The Savvy Baker has gone from strength to strength and will now be adding a cafe to her incredible portfolio of brownie-related business ventures.
Incase you haven’t met The Savvy Baker before, the lockdown-success bakery hasn’t been around in Leeds long, but has gained a cult following for its delicious baked goods.
Image: The Savvy Baker
Owned by Savannah Roqaa, the Leeds-based baker has been cooking up a storm online, with almost 50,000 Instagram followers and her brownies are loved by thousands of us in Leeds, including no less than Kalvin Phillips and Tyler Denton.
The new cafe will be located on Lidgett Lane in Roundhay and will be a first for The Savvy Baker, who is taking on the project as a joint venture with partner Jordan Simms.
Savannah told The Hoot Leeds: "We're both so excited to be able to open a customer-facing cafe. I can't wait to be able to meet all of the customers that have been supporting [us] since that start.
"This is still just the beginning and can't wait for what's in the future".
The pair are currently renovating the existing premises, but hope to be open for business by the end of March.
Image: The Savvy Baker
The bakery will be serving all your favourites from the existing bakery, including those incredible brownies and slabs, as well as coffee from North Star and cakes too.
The announcement was made on the business' Instagram page and has since had over 8,000 likes, with countless messages of approval.
The caption said: "OMG. THE SAVVY BAKER CAFE IS COMING!!!!!! We got the keys to the first savvy baker cafe, a new venture and we’re doing it together! So many of you have been asking for it for ages so.. here you have it!! It’s going to take us a little while to renovate and change it from a shell to our dream but it’s worth it!!
"I'm so excited to be able to offer Leeds a place to get your hands on our stuff all the time and we’ll be serving the best @northstarroast coffee. It’s in North leeds. Can anyone recognise where abouts? Tag a mate who you’d bring when we’re open too!!!"
It's big news for Sheffield as the city has officially been long listed to become the UK City of Culture in 2029.
It’s one of just nine places across the country to make the cut, alongside the likes of Blackpool, Portsmouth and Wrexham.
Winning the title could bring huge investment to Sheffield, thousands of visitors, and a massive spotlight on everything that makes our city special - and let’s be honest, Sheffield’s got plenty to shout about.
From music and film to art and grassroots creativity, culture runs right through this city, and it would be a huge achievement to receive this title.
So, what happens now? Each arena will now receive £60,000 to develop a full application with the aim to build a vibrant cultural programme by 2028.
The nine confirmed long listed locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.
"I look forward to seeing what the nine long listed places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people."
Go on Sheffield, we're rooting for you big time. We can't think of a city more worthy.
Popular Japanese restaurant Sticks’n’Sushi is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Sticks’n’Sushi is set to open in Leeds as the restaurant's northern expansion continues.
It’s a Danish brand but a Japanese restaurant, with 16 sites nationwide so far proving its popularity.
Sticks’n’Sushi serves (as if you hadn’t guessed) a menu of sushi dishes as well as grilled meats served on sticks.
They’re set to join the heritage-led Vicar Lane regeneration scheme with the opening of its 18th UK restaurant early next year.
Occupying an 8,839 sq ft grade-II listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.
Sticks’n’Sushi is founded by half-Japanese, half-Danish, brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek, and Thor Anderson in Copenhagen.
They have 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, as well as three in Berlin, and now Leeds is set to be the 18th UK site for Sticks’n’Sushi.
Image: Supplied
The menu will feature the brand’s signature sharing dishes of sushi, sashimi, salads and grilled sticks, available à la carte or in generous set menus.
Expect favourites like Ebi Bites (tempura shrimp with miso aioli, lime and chilli) and the Maki Maki selection of four signature rolls.
The sharing side of things includes a premium selection of build-your-own handrolls, maki and sticks, and classic Japanese grills like Shōyu Tebasaki (chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger, tamari and soy), Gindara No Miso (miso-glazed black cod), and Aka Ebi (shrimp in gochujang and garlic butter).
The drinks menu showcases sake, Japanese teas, cocktails, premium spirits, and beer – including the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale – alongside a concise wine selection.
Andreas Karlsson, SticksʹnʹSushi Group CEO comments: “We are delighted to be joining this development; Vicar Lane is one of the most vibrant retail and leisure hubs in Leeds and aligns perfectly with our dining experience from lunch through to late evening.
"We look forward to building a new team and becoming part of the Leeds community.”
Sophie Smith -
8th February 2022 
