There’s so many new openings in Leeds, it can be easy to lose track of where to try out next.

This month, we caught up with both halves of the Leeds-based PR and events company and all-round powerhouse of what’s on, Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon (PGHL). Jordan Odu and Deborah Devittoris both gave their two pence on the best new openings in town and gave their team an opportunity to give us the scoop on what to order from the menu of some of Leeds’ biggest foodie openings.

Keep reading to find out the top five openings from Pink Gorilla Hairy Lemon…

Honest Burgers

Opening Saturday 23 July 2022 | Cloth Hall Street, outside Leeds Corn Exchange

Joining the likes of Manchester and Liverpool, Leeds is the latest city to get the green light to open an Honest Burgers restaurant- but that doesn’t mean we need to wait until summer to get our Honest Burgers foodie fix.

The Leeds X Northern Monk burger has recently been a popular option for Loiners looking to test out Honest Burgers ahead of their launch as part of their Northern Monk preview residency. We’re talking Honest beef patties sandwiched between bacon, Heathen IPA beer cheese, curry sauce, shoestring fries, Faith pale ale pickled onions and rocket with homemade rosemary chips and washed down with a pint of original Northern Monk Brew Co.’s Faith- a true Northern burger if we’ve ever seen one.

As part of the opening, the first 500 customers will bag themselves a free burger and fries, all you need to do is turn up at their new Leeds location from 11.30am on Saturday 23 July 2022.

Jordan Odu from PGHL says “We can’t wait for Leeds’ newest burger joint to open this month, bringing us mouth-watering British burgers for everyone, whether you want a beef, chicken, or vegan burger they have got you covered! Our burger of the month goes to their new Morocco Merguez-rubbed Honest beef, cheddar, Moroccan guacamole, crispy onions, harissa mayo and lettuce – you’ll be hooked trust me!”

Find out more here.

Rudy’s Chapel Allerton

Just Opened | Stainbeck Road, Chapel Allerton

Rudy’s has been taking the North by storm and now the pizzeria has opened its doors at the former Casa Mia site at 10 – 12 Stainbeck Lane in Chapel Allerton. This will be the second site for Rudy’s pizza here in Leeds.

On the mouth-watering menu, diners can look forward to Napoli pizzas like traditional marinara, margherita and calabrese, as well as a range of regularly changing specials, including the likes of White Pizza and vegan speciality dishes too.

Having opened their debut Leeds restaurant on New Station Street restaurant in 2020, the Manchester-born joint has only grown in popularity over the pandemic and beyond so if you’re looking for an pizza with a difference- this is going to be an extremely popular option for Loiners this summer.

Jordan Odu from PGHL says “I am super excited for to my fave pizzeria coming to Chapel Allerton and turning into my new local, It’s a much needed and great addition to the area! Serving classic recipes such as Marinara, Margherita and Calabrese, Rudy’s is not one to miss. My go to has to be the Chinghiale with extra buffalo mozzarella, give it a try and thank me later.”

Find out more here.

RYDE

Just opened | Protection House, East Parade

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Taking the fitness industry by storm, Leeds is now home to a brand new boutique fitness studio called RYDE.

The idea with RYDE is that it offers a personalised experience, bespoke to each individual need. With this in mind, the boutique company doesn’t subscribe to long-term memberships (unless that’s what you’re after) and instead opts for blocks of session bookings so guests can trial a range of activities without the stress of everlasting membership.

A huge £400,000 investment has brought two high-tech studios to Leeds where RYDE hopes to attract clients “from all walks of life” and facilitate an immersive workout for the entire body. Designed to leave those working out energised and hungry for more, there’s a wealth of high-impact and high-energy classes on offer, all to the beat of uplifting music to get gym-goers pumped each session.

Deborah Devittoris from PGHL says: “We are loving the classes at Ryde, and they are definitely getting us beach ready! We loved the classes at L1 Performance, but we have to say Flow and Barre are our new favourites, strengthening our bodies and regenerating our minds. The high-tech interior boasts two amazing studios which fully immerse attendees, luxurious changing rooms and our highlight has to be the health café, offering much needed nutritional shakes for pre and post class.”

Find out more here.

Roxy Ballroom Sheffield

Opening this summer | Telephone House, Arundel Gate

What was formerly the Roxy Disco venue from the 80s and 90s, the O2 Academy concert venue is going to return to its original namesake, albeit under a new Roxy name and guise, this summer- and we can’t wait.

At Sheffield’s first Roxy Ballroom venue, you can expect to competitively take on the likes of American pool and shuffleboard tables with friends before grabbing a puck and playing a round of the newly-developed ice-free curling lanes.

But of course, this is Roxy’s, so the activities don’t stop there. You’ll be able to sing your heart out in a private karaoke room, shoot some hoops on the basketball games and even duckpin bowling will be available to book in and whilst a strike isn’t guaranteed, you’ll be having a laugh either way.

Hannah Clarke from PGHL says “We’ve had an amazing response from the people of Sheffield who can’t wait to get their game on. Roxy’s Sheffield will boast a variety of their iconic games including American pool, beer pong, shuffleboard, ice-free curling, and duckpin bowling. Our favourite game has to be the ice-free curling, we are practically professionals at this point!”

Find out more here.

Coach & Horses Harrogate

Opening Friday 22 July 2022 | West Park, Harrogate

A historic Harrogate pub with a history dating back as far as 1830 is set to return after a two-year hiatus, and it’s set to be well worth a trip day or night from Leeds.

The Coach & Horses has long been considered a local institution, famed for its warm traditional charm, Sunday roasts and real ales. The reopening will see a newly refurbished interior with careful details and the upmost pays tribute to the pub’s stunning original features and character with a gastro-style food menu after the pub was acquired by by the multi-award-winning Provenance Collection.

Highlights of the traditional pub food menu include Beer Battered Fish & Triple Cooked Beef DrippingChips, Chicken Tikka Masala Curry, Fish Pie and the Coach and Horses burger of which £1 from each sale goes to the Martin House Hospice Charity, a link that the new owners are keen to continue.

Emily Uddin from PGHL said “Coach and Horses will return to Harrogate after a two-year hiatus and we couldn’t be more excited. Delicious drinks will be debuted alongside a new gastro-style menu, not forgetting the return of their famous homemade pies and Sunday roast. You will be able to enjoy all of this whilst taking in the views of the Stray, what’s not to love?”

Find out more here.

Feature Image- PGHL