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A vintage kilo sale shop with ‘live window models’ is opening in Leeds
After a long Covid-related hiatus, the company is now seeing a massive influx of new customers who want to shop for affordable, sustainable vintage clothing.
Fourteen years after deciding that vintage clothes should be sold dependent on their weight, Shop Kilo, allegedly the first kilo sale operator, is opening a store in Leeds.
The Merrion Centre in the heart of the Arena Quarter will host a pop-up store for the vintage clothes store for the foreseeable and will be the first long-term shop for the brand.
Image: Shop Kilo
The original kilo store broke the boundaries of normal retail when it launched its 'buy by weight' events 14 years ago.
After a long Covid-related hiatus, the company is now seeing a massive influx of new customers who want to shop for affordable, sustainable vintage clothing.
As a size and age inclusive brand, the 'weigh by kilo' clothing store is looking for ‘live window models’ for their opening. Auditions will take place on the main mall at the Merrion Centre on Friday 4March between 11am-3pm and the chosen winners becoming ‘live-in models’ that will represent their potential customer demographic.
Founded in 2008 by fashion stylist and former Selfridges personal shopper Judy Berger, the main ethos of Shop Kilo is to help others to live sustainably and believing in using the clothes of the past to protect the future.
Judy Berger, Director of Shop Kilo, promises exciting things to come for the first pop-up:
"We are super excited to announce the launch of Shop Kilo in The Merrion Centre. Our company has always been events based and we can see crowds of up to 1500 people per day all over the country. We are Leeds born and bred and we knew that to set down roots, we need to set our flagship up in our home town.
"The Merrion Centre staff share our vision of sustainable retail and we are both working together to create a shopping environment that doesn’t damage the planet. Circular retail is the future of shopping and [the new kilo store] is perfect for guilt-free shopping.”
Image: Shop Kilo
Esme Briggs, Graduate Asset Manager for Town Centre Securities (TCS), owners of the Merrion Centre commented:
“We are delighted to announce Shop Kilo is coming to the Merrion Centre as it mirrors our own sustainable ethos which is high on our agenda. More and more consumers have become ‘greener’ in their shopping choices"
"The brand will benefit hugely from the massive influx of student accommodation around the centre; a demographic that continuously looks for more environmentally friendly shops that offer affordable products."
We hope you're hungry Leeds, because a big festival dedicated to all things food is coming to Temple Newsam.
The Temple Newsam Food Festival is now in its second year after a resounding first edition, aiming to celebrate cultural diversity, independent businesses, and global cuisine.
It will take place this weekend on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026, with the beautiful and historic Temple Newsam providing the perfectly picturesque location.
The festival will celebrate local talent, independent businesses, world cultures and international flavours.
The Street Food Arena will feature an array of global cuisines, cultural delicacies, and irresistible desserts whilst the event's bustling Artisan Markets will showcase a plethora of small businesses and local entrepreneurs offering freshly-baked goods, quality produce. hand-made crafts, unique experiences, vibrant art, and much more.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it doesn't stop there as festival-goers can enjoy a selection of independent bars serving cocktails, specialty spirits, fresh cider, wine and beer.
This year there will be a huge focus on live cookery demos, with ten demonstrations from a whole range of talented chefs including Leeds' own Josh Whitehead of Finer Pleasures, Bobby Geetha of Kerala Canteen and stars from Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off.
And it's not just about food and drink, as new for this year there will be a dog show, plenty of live music and lots of fun activities such as inflatable jousting and target paintball.
Tickets are on sale now, and you can grab yours here.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Sophie Smith -
25th February 2022 
