Back in May, the team behind Whitelock's and The Turk's Head, the oldest pub in Leeds, acquired a new Meanwood property, East of Arcadia.
Since taking over, the new owners have invested a six-figure sum into the building to complete a full refurb and rebrand before reopening in September.
The acquisition was a new move for the company, who currently own pubs steeped in history. Whitelock’s first opened in 1715 and is locally known to be the oldest pub in Leeds, whilst The Turk’s Head was estimated to exist around the same era- named after the family that once owned the building.
East of Arcadia will become The Meanwood Tavern. / Image: East of Arcadia
Choosing the name The Meanwood Tavern, the pub is said to take inspiration from traditional British pubs, but offering a contemporary twist that will see a refreshed new site with all-new bar and seating areas, and capacity for up to 160 guests.
The tavern is going to have a particular focus on locality, bringing together a plentiful drinks menu with craft beers from Yorkshire and well-kept real ales, as well as a full selection of wines, spritz and a dedicated cocktail menu.
Ales from Whitelock's. / Image: Whitelock's Ale House
Taking over the kitchen, indie pizza operators Well Oiled will be showcasing the best of Detroit-style slices from October 2022.
Inspired by the unique American style of cooking pizzas in rectangular steel pans, Well Oiled also focuses on championing locals without compromising on quality. Think artisan-made slices topped with meats, veggies and flavours from local British producers and housemade fermented and pickled ingredients.
The Full Spec Pizza from Well Oiled. / Image: Supplied
Having sold the public on a series of successful pop-ups, Well Oiled will be topping their focaccia-style doughs with toppings aplenty. Take the Full Spec pizza for example, we're talking about Trealy Farm fennel salami, whipped ricotta, hot honey and pepper mash, whilst sharers include the brand’s signature garlic donut bread with a whole burrata centre, filled with turbo chimichurri.
Popular vintage store brand Glass Onion is returning to Leeds with a brand-new permanent site.
Following the huge success of its temporary pop up shop in Leeds Trinity, Glass Onion is coming back with a bang and expanding into a larger, two-floor space in Leeds city centre.
They'll be taking over the old Levi's jeans unit on Lands Lane and will be opening on Wednesday 18 March, so we really don't have long to wait.
Customers can shop Leeds' best collection of sustainable vintage clothing with every piece hand selected for store at their Yorkshire HQ.
Images: The Sheff
Shop from an expertly curated mix of all your vintage favourites, including Y2K, techwear, workwear, sportswear, boho, and loads more.
The store will also feature big-name brands like The North Face, Nike, Levi’s, Adidas, and Harley Davidson, along with an exclusive Rare Archive section - home to some of Glass Onion’s rarest vintage finds.
Glass Onion’s journey began in 2005, when founder John started selling vintage clothing out of his grandma’s coal shed in Barnsley. They opened their first retail store in Sheffield in 2019, quickly becoming a local favourite and their commitment to quality and sustainability has earned them “Best Indie Retailer in Sheffield” and “Best Vintage Retailer in Sheffield” at the Exposed Magazine Awards for three consecutive years.
To celebrate the exciting launch, Glass Onion are offering free VIP tickets where shoppers will be treated to first entry as well as freebies and vouchers from Leeds indies and entry into a competition to win a £100 Glass Onion voucher to spend on the launch day.
Leeds Pride 2026 announces dates and first wave of acts for 20th anniversary celebration this summer
Clementine Hall
Leeds Pride has confirmed the dates for its 2026 festival, which will mark the event’s 20th anniversary this summer.
And you bet that organisers are pulling out all the stops.
The city-wide celebration champions local LGBTQ+ talent alongside world-class headline acts, and this year for the first time ever, celebrations will be held across two days on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2026.
Headlining the main stage will be Strictly Come Dancing Icon and RuPaul’s Drag Race Star La Voix, Charlie XCX tribute performer Rachel Fuller and International Eurodance act Livin Joy.
Image: Supplied
Joining them will be The Harry Styles Show and UK dance act Sweet Female Attitude. More acts and performers are due to be revealed in the coming months.
The announcement was made at the official Leeds Pride pre-festival campaign launch, held at Crowdedhouse and attended by Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches, sports star Keegan Hirst, council leaders and supporters of the annual event.
Leeds Pride will also feature a full weekend of diverse events, including the Leeds Pride Drag Brunch Fest, street parties across the city and of course the iconic Pride parade, which is set to be even bigger and better than ever before.
A Leeds Pride spokesperson said: "We're incredibly excited to celebrate 20 years of Leeds Pride. This milestone anniversary represents two decades of bringing our community together, championing LGBTQ+ voices and creating unforgettable moments.
Images: Supplied
“Leeds Pride is growing and stronger than ever and we're committed to giving Northern LGBTQ+ performers a platform to shine. This 20th anniversary festival will be our biggest and best yet, but as we expand, we need public and sponsor support more than ever to make our vision a reality. We're calling on businesses and individuals to get behind Leeds Pride and help us deliver an incredible celebration that our community deserves.
“Expanding to two days for the first time shows just how far we've come, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back to Leeds this summer for what will be our most spectacular Pride yet."
More details will be announced soon and you can find out more here on the Leeds Pride website.
Sophie Smith -
10th August 2022 
