All the new openings coming to Leeds this month | May 2024
25 new openings to check out in Leeds.
From hotels and food markets to plant shops, restaurants and comedy clubs, there’s a whole host of new openings coming to Leeds this summer.
To keep you up to date with all the times, locations and when you can get yourself through the front door, we’ve listed all the best new openings below.
Just announced…
Nice Things
Opening date unknown | Lower Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Founded in 2019 and now one of the largest independent plant shops in the country, Nice Things has made a name for itself across the Pennines for providing the best plant shopping experience imaginable.
A haven of glorious tropical foliage overseen by delightful staff who really know their stuff, it’s become the go-to spot to get your sacred space kitted out with as much greenery as you desire.
Find out more here.
Giggling Squid
Opening later this year | Park Row, Leeds City Centre
Giggling Squid has taken over the empty Royal Bank of Scotland site in the city centre with plans to transform it into a huge restaurant.
Founded in 2002 in Brighton, Giggling Squid has expanded rapidly in recent years now with more than 50 restaurants operating across the country.
Find out more here.
Honi Poke
Opening summer 2024 | Trinity Leeds
The popular Hawaii-inspired poke bowl eatery is opening inside Trinity Leeds this summer.
When the sun is shining and you’re out and about in the city, there’s nothing better than a refreshing and healthy lunch to keep you fuelled up for the day and Leeds’ newest opening, Honi Poke, can provide just the thing. Just in time for summer too.
Find out more here.
The Hot Yoga Chapel
Opening April 2024 | The Engine House, Ilkley
The brain-child of Zana Hunter; long time teacher and practitioner of classic Hot Yoga and lover of beautiful spaces, The Hot Yoga Chapel pride themselves on teaching great classes in unique spaces.
And their new location is no exception, as they’ll be opening their studio in one of Leeds’ most fabulous Grade II listed buildings – The Engine House. Formally used as a power source for the Tower Works, it’s got all the exposed brick and vaulted ceilings you could ever hope for.
Find out more here.
The Glee Club
Opening date unknown | Albion Street, Leeds City Centre
The Glee Club has seen top UK comics such as Joe Lycett and Michael McIntyre perform on their stages. With venues in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester – they’ve made a name for themselves at providing punters with a proper good laugh.
Opening its first venue in Birmingham back in 1994, and at the time it was the first purpose-built comedy club outside London – and now planning permission has been approved for a site in Leeds.
Find out more here.
New cafe / bar
Opening date unknown | Call Lane outside Royal Amusements
Leeds City Council has approved the plans to transform the vacant office space above the Royal Amusements arcade submitted by Faum Architecture.
The cafe and bar will be located on the first floor above the Royal Amusements arcade, with access to pedestrians from New Market Street.
Find out more here.
Opening in the next month or so…
Mr Su’s Noodles
Opening Wednesday 1 May 2024 | Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds City Centre
Mr Su’s Noodles has opened its second restaurant here in Leeds, and all you city centre commuters will be delighted to hear it’s right in the city centre.
Takeaway or grab a spot inside the immaculate new building and build your own hotpot, noodles or ramen bowls. And if you’re one of the first 100 customers in store, you can get your hands on £5 noodle bowls as well.
Find out more here.
Popeyes
Opening Wednesday 8 May 2024 | Available via Uber Eats
Promising a taste of the deep south, Louisiana’s famous chicken chain Popeyes has revealed it is opening in Leeds – and we don’t have long to wait.
The restaurant chain – known for serving fried chicken dishes with sides like red beans and rice, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun-style gravy, Cajun rice, macaroni and cheese, southern-style biscuits, and coleslaw – has proved a huge hit in nearby cities such as Manchester and Sheffield.
If you fancy getting your hands on a free chicken burger, then sign up here to be one of the lucky 100 that Popeyes are treating to celebrate their opening.
Find out more here.
Knoops
Opening June 2024 | Trinity Leeds, opposide Superdry
A new artisan hot chocolate cafe with over 20 different flavours of chocolate is set to open in Leeds this June.
Offering twenty different styles of hot chocolate and six styles of rich and creamy chocolate milkshakes, on the menu sweet tooths will find a huge range of different percentage chocolates to choose from.
Find out more here.
Latitude
Opening April/May 2024 | The Calls, Leeds City Centre
Based just 200 metres from where it all began, Latitude will be moving into 46 The Calls, becoming neighbours with KAPOW! Coffee, Screen Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Design Group the new Latitude Tasting Room and shop will allow locals from near and far to pop in for a tipple of their choice, seven days a week.
Expect wine by the glass, and ever-evolving specials served as the sun goes down, with a choice of 900 different bottles for a small corkage fee. Meanwhile, the spirits list aims to give customers a change to try flavours and brands that they wouldn’t usually be able to – and of course there will by plenty of opportunities to buy the bottles you taste test too.
Find out more here.
Recent new openings to check out…
Birria Bandits
Opened April 2024 | Town Street, Horsforth
Birria Bandits has only been open a week inside the former Arriba Arriba site in Horsforth, but word is travelling fast about the food options here.
There’s five different taco options to choose from wrapped up in soft corn tortillas, plus the biggest birria loaded fries and nacho bowls we’ve ever seen!
Friday night dinners don’t get much better than this: pretty much everything on the menu is under a tenner, and available gluten free, with vegan alternatives for each item too.
Find out more here.
Goods In
Opened April 2024 | Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange has a brand-new store, and it combines the best one-off vintage finds with practical homeware items.
Since beginning their journey in 2021, Goods In has travelled a fair few miles: gaining a reputation through fairs and markets in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire area, and whilst the company has a permanent home to trade from Thursday – Sunday each week, it’s not going to stop the team spreading the word further afield.
Find out more here.
Kirkstall Brewery at The Tetley
Opened April 2024 | Hunslet Road, Leeds City Centre
Kirkstall Brewery announced last month that it is taking on the lease of The Tetley building and plans to make it a hub for great beer from Leeds and renew its status as a “landmark of Yorkshire beer culture”.
Kirkstall Brewery opened the doors at the end of April, showcasing local beers, including, but not exclusively, the brand’s own beers, including Leeds Brewery and owner Steve Holt’s most recent acquisition, North.
Find out more here.
Kofi & Co
Opened April 2024 | Street Lane, Roundhay
Find out more here.
Opposite Cafe
Opened April 2024 | Stainbeck Road, Meanwood
Opposite, locally known as ‘the pioneering force behind Leeds’ speciality coffee scene’, opened a brand-new spot in Meanwood next Tuesday 9 April 2024.
Find out more here.
The Med
Opened April 2024 | Hyde Park Corner
Having just opened a couple of weeks ago, these guys have already made a name for themselves for serving up the most banging authentic Greek cuisine that you can get your hands on.
Using fresh ingredients imported from Greece, owner Mari along with her husband opened the business with help from her mum in the kitchen and their passion for the food really shows.
Find out more here.
Carousel / Home
Opened April 2024 | The Light, Leeds City Centre
Inside the former home of Tiger Tiger (and more recently, Cargo), a new opening will split the site in two for a bar and club with a proper ‘party atmosphere’. The ground floor will welcome Carousel, an upmarket bar that will offer a chilled experience during the day with quality food and drink on offer combined with arcade games.
Upstairs will welcome Home nightclub, a multi-room club offering aiming to be Leeds’ number one late night attraction. Home will feature great DJs, high levels of production and special VIP experiences for those special occasions.
Find out more here.
RAW Coffee
Opened March 2024 | Mill Hill, Leeds City Centre
Husband and wife duo, James and Anya, along with their trusty French bulldog Roo, have fully refurbed the site themselves on Mill Hill to create a coffee shop with a (raw) edge.
Find out more here.
TESTBED
Opened March 2024 | Holbeck
Hosting 2,500 people, TESTBED is the biggest warehouse venue the city has ever seen and you can join the great opening over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Find out more here.
Boojum
Opened April 2024 | Outside Merrion Centre
Boojum is opening in Leeds on Wednesday 10 April and the first 300 customers will get a free burrito from 12pm.
We flew all the way to Dublin this month to check out the top-rated Mexican eatery ahead of its opening – and if you watch you’ll see why.
Find out more here.
Opening later this year…
STACK at Kirkgate Market
Opening date unknown | Outside Kirkgate Market, Leeds City Centre
Plans for a new food village at Leeds Kirkgate Market have taken a ‘significant step forwards’ after Leeds City Council confirms that the preferred operator will be STACK.
The development is hoped to boost footfall across the market as a whole and attract new customers to the area. This in turn would create new jobs and opportunities for independent traders across the city.
Find out more here.
Queen’s House
Opening date unknown | 34 Wellington Street
A new bar concept is coming to the city centre from the masterminds behind Green Room, and we absolutely cannot wait. Expect a laid-back rustic feel, set in an incredible historic building with live music, fantastic drinks and a basement space to dance til the early hours.
The Victoria
Opening date unknown | Great George Street, Leeds City Centre
Kirkstall Brewery and the owners of Whitelock’s Ale House and The Five Points Brewing Company are set to breathe new life into The Victoria & Commercial Pub on Great George Street, located behind Leeds Town Hall.
The beautiful Grade II-listed will be restored to it’s former glory, and we absolutely cannot wait. Opening all the way back in 1865, The Victoria is one of the city’s most coveted historical buildings that has been left empty since 2020.
Find out more here.
Flannels Flagship Store
Opening date unknown | Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Work is now underway for the former Debenhams site on Briggate to become a new flagship Flannels store. The news was announced back in August following the whopping 120,000sq ft, seven storey store opening in Liverpool.
Find out more here.
White Cloth Hall
Opening early 2024 | Cloth Hall Street, Leeds City Centre
The owners behind one of Leeds’ most-loved pubs is bringing a brand new opening to the city centre: our very own food and drink hall.
This exciting new opening is set to bring together a whole host of independents, including Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology Brewery and Whitewood Distilling, amongst other food traders. Expect all the charm from the oldest pub in Leeds, but the idea is that this new opening won’t be a replica of Whitelock’s Ale House, it’s going to be far from it.
Find out more here.
Kirkgate Market Hotel
Opening date unknown | George Street, Leeds City Centre
Plans for a new hotel and gym to be built around Leeds Kirkgate Market has been given the green light by the council. It comes after Leeds City Council submitted a planning application in the summer for the hotel scheme on the George Street side of the Grade I listed market building.
The hotel will fill the top five floors of the new building, with 143 rooms as well as a bar and restaurant for guests. It is believed that the hotel will create approximately 50 new full and part-time jobs, with around 80 jobs being supported during construction.
Find out more here.
Feature Image – The Manc Group / Hot Yoga Chapel