"My motto is, ‘If my mam won’t eat it, then we won’t sell it" says Butcher Malcolm Leary, who has worked in Kirkgate market almost every day since he was just fourteen.
Today he is a bit of a local legend and a very much part of the furniture at the market, where he's worked now for four decades.
A much-loved part of the community, Malcolm is known as the guy who'll help anybody, and is often doing outreach work.
At Christmas, he set up a huge cube outside his butchers and asked his customers to donate new toys to give to children whose families were impacted by addiction - raising £15,000 worth of toys.
He also did a ‘Get Your Kit Off’ campaign to encourage people to donate their unwanted clothes to charity, even getting the Leeds Rhinos team involved to donate some of their actual kits with names and numbers on.
The popular butcher also hosts daily coffee mornings for the homeless outside his shop, giving out 20 free drinks and food every day.
He's got a big heart and, for him, it's all about giving back to the market that helped him to turn his life around.
When he was a young lad he was given a second chance by his boss after messing around, and never looked back. Now he's on a mission to pay it forward, having worked his way up the ranks from washing trays on Saturdays to being co-owner.
“It honestly saved me,” Malcolm said about the market. “It’s saved a lot of people. That’s important.
"I employ ex young offenders, people from broken homes, and people who have had a tough time."
“As long as I see something in them - if they’re a little bit cheeky and have that market quality - then I’ll give them a job.
“The only condition is that they work hard and don’t get involved in the wrong things.”
As well as being famous in Leeds for his charitable giving, he's also a bit of a local celebrity in his own right.
With over 15,000 followers on Instagram alone, Malcolm Michaels Butchers is very well known in the city - thanks in part to the hilarious content he posts with best friend and colleague Danny Malin of Rate My Takeaway fame.
“Danny’s the celebrity, but I would say I’m the most famous butcher in Leeds - and I don’t think other butcher’s would argue with that.”
You can find Malcom Michaels Butchers in Kirkgate market and follow them on Instagram here.
Feature image - Malcom Michaels Butchers.
News
Leeds to be transformed into a giant board game as Trivial Pursuit takes over the city
Leeds is set to become a giant board game this summer as Trivial Pursiot arrives in the city centre to celebrate a landmark moment in its history.
To mark 400 years since Leeds was granted its royal charter, LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) is transforming the city into a live interactive version of Hasbro’s iconic Trivial Pursuit board game, inviting residents and visitors to test their knowledge of all things Leeds.
It follows the huge success of the MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover back in summer 2024 and this year, LeedsBID is once again working with leading game, IP and toy company Hasbro to bring another of its iconic games to life.
This time, the focus is on the stories, achievements and surprising facts that have shaped Leeds over four centuries.
Running from 25 July to 30 August 2026, the free experience will see participants journey across the city centre answering questions and collecting wedges, just like the classic trivia game.
Key locations will represent the six traditional Trivial Pursuit categories: Entertainment, Geography, Sports & Leisure, Science and Nature, History, and Art & Literature.
Matt Proulx, Senior Vice President of Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro said: “After the incredible response to the MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover in 2024, we’re proud to collaborate with LeedsBID once again to reimagine another iconic brand in a bold new way.
"This is exactly how we think about Global Experiences at Hasbro - taking our brands beyond the table and creating experiences that are social, shareable and deeply connected to the communities they celebrate."
Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive of LeedsBID, said: “TRIVIAL PURSUIT Leeds is about celebrating everything about this great city, from those headline facts and figures people know to the lesser-known surprising details and discoveries.
“LeedsBID’s raison d’etre is to put Leeds on the map and tell the stories and successes of the city. Trivial Pursuit Leeds is doing just that, providing a free, fun and entertaining activity for all ages while sharing new and interesting achievements of this amazing place.”
Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’
Clementine Hall
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Georgina Pellant -
4th June 2021 
