Situated between Leeds and Bradford, the small and charming market town of Pudsey has a lot to offer.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for the weekend? Pudsey, just ten minutes away from Leeds, may be the perfect place for you.
Spend your day exploring the sprawling nature reserves, stopping in for a pint at one of their many quaint, old school pubs, before heading for a lovely meal at an independent restaurant.
There's so much to do in this family friendly, up-and-coming suburb that we have pulled together a list of our favourite spots for you to visit.
Chippy Tea from The Bearded Sailor
Image: The Bearded Sailor
Sometimes all you need is a good fish and chips to celebrate the end of the week, and The Bearded Sailor is an indie takeout that'll sort you right out. Shortlisted as one of the top ten chippys in the country, find an array of deep fried goodness, friendly service and plenty of mushy peas.
Fusing modern with traditional, this cosy bar and restaurant serve a range of locally sourced food alongside a great range of cocktails, beers and wines.
Their menu is small but expertly formed, using only the best quality ingredients from Yorkshire which changes seasonally. Opt for the 'Chef's Experiment', where award-winning chef James Turner will cook up a storm for you using the best produce readily available on the day.
If you're a meat lover then there is an entire grill section for you to choose from, share a perfectly cooked Chateaubriand for 2 or tuck into the 7 Steps Beef Burger which is topped with smoked bacon, black pepper mayo, cheddar and crispy onions.
Pudsey Park
Church Lane, Pudsey.
Image: Leeds City Council
Stretching over 7.5 hectares of beautiful green open space, this park is the perfect spot for a leisurely weekend stroll.
The park has a green flag award for excellence and is one of the most visited parks in Leeds. There's a rose garden, a bedding area, an aquarium, an aviary and a glasshouse for you to explore as well as a bowling green, a playground and a skate park.
Viet-Thai
32/134 Bradford Road, Stanningley, Pudsey.
Image: Viet Thai
This small cafe-style restaurant is the place to go for authentic Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Run by Minh and Huong, a husband and wife team both originating from Vietnam, they use family recipes passed down through the generations to transport you to South-East Asia from the heart of Pudsey.
There are the favourites like Green Thai Curry and Pad Thai on offer but you can also sample something a bit different like the Crunchy Mango Salad with ground peanuts or the Crispy Catfish marinated in fresh herbs and spices.
No.54 Tearooms and Antiques
54 Fulneck, Pudsey.
Image: No. 54 Tearooms and Antiques.
Travel back in time at this historic tea room and antique shop. Occupying a shop which first opened it's doors in 1766, this historic building still maintains it's charm and is the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of tea and a freshly baked scone whilst gazing at the walls adorned with hundreds of antique photographs.
All of the furniture used is for sale, so each visit will be different every time. Take a fancy to the chair you're sitting on? No problem, you can buy it and take it home! All of the cakes and sweet treats are baked daily on-site and make for the perfect end to their brilliant afternoon tea.
The Fox and Grapes
124 Smalewell Rd, Pudsey.
Image: Fox and Grapes
This charming and cosy pub is the place to go for a delicious Sunday roast which you can wash down with a cold pint of real ale.
This dog-friendly pub boasts a fantastic beer garden and hosts live music events every week. The staff are uber friendly and will make you feel right at home. Enjoy the sunshine on a summer's day and order one of their famous pizzas or get snuggled by the real fire and tuck into a homemade steak pie and chips.
Black Carr Woods
Looking to explore the great outdoors? Head to Black Carr Woods and walk round this beautiful wet woodland and feel at one with nature.
With numerous winding trails, pretty little streams, bluebells in the warmer months and wild mushrooms aplenty, it is a classic English wood which makes for a perfect hike. If you're coming here then make sure to bring your furry friend alongside with you, we can guarantee they will love it too.
The Manor Inn
3 Manor House Street, Pudsey.
Image: Manor Inn
This quirky, independent bar have a passion for fine Yorkshire ales, wines, gins and ciders. Every Sunday they host a live music night which we think sounds like the perfect way to end the week.
An array of gig posters line the walls and wacky, mis-matched furniture fills the room. They have one of the biggest selections of ale and beer in Pudsey including the latest creations from local indie breweries like Eyes and Saltaire.
Feed by Sushi
163 Richardshaw Lane, Pudsey.
Image: Feed by Sushi
After some authentic Japanese food? Then Feed by Sushi is the place for you. Whether it's fresh tuna sashimi, traditional sliced pork ramen or a wagyu beef burger you're craving, the chefs at Feed can provide all this and more.
Available for both eat in and take-out, the fish used is incredibly high quality and the prices are very reasonable.
Pudsey Market
1 Market Pl, Pudsey.
Image: Pudsey Market
Being a Victorian market town, Pudsey Market is about as traditional as you'll get and well worth a visit if you're there on a Friday or Saturday. Open from 9am til 2pm, you can find anything and everything from fresh produce to homemade candles to tasty sweets and baked goods.
There's also a craft market that takes place on the first Sunday of every month and sees traders of all different types visit the town to sell their handmade goods and food.
From completing the infamous Otley Run to sipping on a glass of natural wine, there's so much to do in the vibrant neighbourhood of Headingley.
Sandwiched between the two largest universities in Leeds, Headingley is known nationally as the playground of the young professionals, and internationally as the place in the North to watch the cricket.
Just minutes away on the bus from Leeds City Centre, Headingley is a great place to visit on the weekend with plenty of brilliant independents to support from coffee shops to restaurants.
So, here's ten things to do in Headingley over the weekend...
Watch a game at Headingley Stadium
St Michael's Lane, Headingley
Home of Yorkshire Country Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos, Headingley stadium is the main reason that this little suburb is known worldwide. In the winter, Leeds Rhinos season will keep you entertained, whilst the summer usually sees international test matches on the pitch.
This is the ultimate crowd-pleasing event for anyone interested in sports, and for those that aren’t- there’s plenty of food, drink and activity options within walking distance instead.
Drink a glass of wine at Bottle Chop
14 Weetwood Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Maybe our favourite wine bar in the whole of Leeds, Bottle Chop is a pastel pink paradise serving up a huge selection of natural wine, craft beer and irresistible deli bits.
Stop by for a couple glasses and dive into a charcuterie board alongside it, it's the perfect afternoon activity if you ask us.
If you're looking for some authentic Japanese cuisine in an elegant yet casual setting, then get yourself to TADA.
It's a fantastic independent restaurant serving up fresh sushi and the most comforting bowls of ramen ever. The staff are always lovely and happy to guide you with what to order on their extensive menu.
Watch a film at Hyde Park Picture House
Brudenell Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now this is a proper bit of Leeds history. The Hyde Park Picture House is a Grade II listed building that dates all the way back to 1914 and is known for being the last gas-lit cinema in the whole of the UK.
They are community focused and are determined on providing an inclusive space for everyone to learn and discover. Showing a selection of bigger as well as indie films, it's a great spot for cinema lovers to stop by and immerse themselves into a flick.
Shop vinyls at Vinyl Whistle
12 Otley Road
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're into vinyls, then Vinyl Whistle is the spot for you. Not only do they stock plenty of records for you to browse, but they also host open decks and gigs for you to get involved with.
Oh and they serve great beer and banging coffee too, what more could you want?
Tuck into traditional Mexican food at Lupe's Cantina
204 Cardigan Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Lupe's Cantina is one of those 'if you know, you know' sort of spots and now thanks to us, you do know.
It's a family-run restaurant that's been feeding the people of Leeds for a decade, using traditional recipes passed down from head chef Rudy's family. Here you'll not only find your classic tacos, margaritas and guacamole but it's the standout dishes like the mussels in a creamy chipotle white wine sauce that'll have you going back time and time again.
If you haven't heard of Get Baked, then you've most likely been living under a rock. Famed nationwide for their mammoth Bertha cake, their original shop is right here in Headingley and you'd be silly not to take advantage of this indeed.
If you can't stomach a whole slice of Bertha, then they've got slices of pie, stacks of cookies and so much more for you to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Get your caffeine fix at one of the many coffee shops
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Okay we might be cheating with this one, but there's so many great coffee shops in Headingley that we couldn't just choose one.
From the experimental brews at Caffeine Addict to a cosy catchup at Loaf followed by a bagel and brew at Fika North, you're really spoilt for choice if you're looking for that morning pick me up. Trust us, just take a stroll through town and you'll find a cracking coffee in no time.
Enjoy a Sunday roast at The Swine Bistro
77A Otley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As the weather takes a turn for the worst a roast dinner is the only right way to spend a Sunday, and you'll find a fantastic one at The Swine Bistro.
This beautiful restaurant is loved by Leeds locals and it's not hard to see why, run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers who are basically legends at this point for providing the city with fantastic seasonal food at an affordable price point. And I mean...look at that Yorkshire pud.
Complete the Otley Run
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yep, it wouldn't be a Headingley guide without the Otley Run now would it.
It is a true rite of passage to any students who find themselves in Leeds during their studies and a firm favourite for societies and clubs from the various student unions across the city.
Starting at Woodies, the route takes you through fourteen boozers from Far Headingley, into Headingley itself, then towards Hyde Park before heading right into the centre of town – if you get that far.
Officially the route hosts the first eight pubs in Far Headingley and Headingley: Woodies, The Three Horseshoes, New Inn, Headingley Taps, Manahatta, The Box, Skyrack, The Original Oak before runners move onto Hyde Park pubs like The Hyde Park pub, The Library, Pack Horse, The Eldon and The Fenton before arriving at the final pub: The Dry Dock in the city.
How to spend a weekend in Chapel Allerton – one of Leeds’ most loved suburbs
Clementine Hall
As one of the top ten places to live, as voted by The Sunday Times, Chapel Allerton is a hive of community-spirit withlots to explore.
Back in 2021, The Sunday Times judges said that Chapel Allerton is: “a well supported independent high street – with a fishmonger, bookshop, cheese shop and much more – and an inspiring and imaginative community group, CA Spaces, make this urban village our favourite corner of Leeds.”
They’re not wrong. One of our favourite points about Chapel Allerton is its strong focus on supporting local businesses- there aren’t many places in Leeds, or indeed the UK, that you can visit a separate butchers, greengrocers, cheese mongers, wine store and more to complete your food shop with all locally grown and sold produce.
That’s not all that Chapel Allerton has to offer: there’s a host of indie cafes, plenty of green space and even a posh Aldi (whatever that means) that keeps this a family favourite place to visit.
Keep reading to find out what The Hoot recommends for a weekend in the leafy suburb…
House of Koko
62 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4LA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The overwhelming success of the cafe is well-known about Leeds- and it comes with a whole host of raving reviews.
Bringing fine-dining to a laid back setting is a winning combination that House of Koko have got down to a tee in Chapel Allerton. The menu here comprises beautifully presented dishes like pancakes drenched in syrup and you can't leave without trying their famous hash browns...if you know, you know.
George and Joseph, an incredible Cheesemongers on Chapel Allerton high street, is the place to go for everything squeaky and delicious.
You can grab everything from truffle brie to charcuterie essentials like cooked meats, fresh sourdough and local low-batch bottles of booze to accompany your dishes. This truly is the place to shop local and experience some brand new tastes you’d never pick up in the supermarket.
Originally a bike clothing brand, Paria has grown from an online side hustle to a full time business online and in Chapel Allerton. There’s coffee from local roasters Hard Lines and sweet treats from Laynes Bakery to choose from, all whilst you browse the cool collabs on the wall.
Name a better duo than a nice cold pint and a fluffy bao bun...we'll wait. Because that's exactly what you'll find at Brew + Bao, Chapel Allerton's newest watering hole offering banging drinks alongside asian street food. A real match made in heaven.
Yoga Kula
114 Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4NY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Looking to feel zen? Then look no further than Yoga Kula, Chapel Allerton's newest Yoga studio helping you to feel your absolute best.
The space is absolutely. beautiful and they offer classes for all abilities with lovely staff by your side every step of the way.
The Woods might be in the running for our favourite beer garden in Leeds, and since coming under new ownership by the legends at Roland's last year it's only gotten better and better.
It's the perfect spot for a sunny pint with mates whilst tucking into a couple of pizzas, a great oasis outside of the city centre that still has a lively feel about it.
Bloc Studios
31 Well Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 4PQ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you haven't heard, Reformer Pilates is all the rage at the moment. And luckily for us, there's a fantastic little studio in Chapel Allerton where you can do it.
Bloc Studios is a gorgeous boutique space offering the very best reformer pilates classes. Whether you're a complete newbie or a seasoned pro, there's a class for you at Bloc to get your workout in.
Clementine Hall -
28th December 2022 
