We may be coming to the end of the year, but there's still plenty of new arriving in the city before 2025 is over.
It's safe to say we've have some fabulous new openings touch down in the city this year.
From new pubs by the canal to Scandinavian-inspired cafes, we really have been very lucky.
But we're not done just yet, as there's more to come before the year is out and we're here to tell you about five that we're most excited about.
So, let's see what's making its way to Leeds shall we...
Pop Mart
78 Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
LeedsLabubu lovers (try saying that three times), your beloved Pop Mart is on its way.
Pop Mart has officially been granted permission for alterations and the fitting of a new sign for the building at 78 Briggate. So get ready, as the viral toy and collectables shop is just around the corner.
‘Vinyl Grounds’ will be serving up three of our favourite things rolled into one – coffee, wine and vinyl.
The brain child of Saroop and Jay, two Leeds locals with a passion for starting a business, the new spot is currently undergoing major renovation with an aim to open at the end of November.
So, what can we expect from Vinyl Grounds? During the day Vinyl Grounds will be a place to work or sit back and relax with friends whilst enjoying a fabulous coffee or matcha, all to the soundtrack of some smooth jazz played via vinyl of course.
Once Upon A Vine is a gorgeous independent wine shop and bar nestled in Horsforth, known for its fabulous tasting room and cheese boards to match.
And after applying for a license to open in Headingley that has just been approved, they’re about to open their second site on Otley Road.
The Victoria
Great George Street
Image: Supplied
You may remember back in January 2024, two of Leeds beer powerhouses announced they’d be collaborating and bringing an iconic pub back to life. Well after a few set backs, it is finally happening.
Kirkstall Brewery and the owners of Whitelock’s Ale House are set to breathe new life into The Victoria & Commercial Pub on Great George Street, located behind Leeds Town Hall.
It is set to open this Christmas, and we absolutely cannot wait.
The Savvy Baker is opening its first ever city centre cafe, and we couldn’t be prouder.
The cafe will be located on Bond Street next to Boots, a stone’s throw away from the train station and Trinity Shopping Centre.
Of course you’ll be able to grab all your favourite brownies, blondies, cookies and other bakes, but there’s some other exciting stuff in the works too.
For the first time ever the shop will feature a dedicated cookie bakery where customers will be able to watch (and smell) all the magic happening through the window. How class is that?
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
Kirkstall Brewery and Little Bao Boy unveil new Leeds taproom
Daisy Jackson
You know the venue, and you know the operators behind it, but things are looking a little different over on Sovereign Street.
Leeds' very own Kirkstall Brewery has teamed up with street food legends Little Bao Boy to totally reinvent the city centre taproom formerly known as North Taproom.
At the all-new The City Taproom, you'll find a way cosier space alongside their sun-soaked terrace, as they aim to reimagine a traditional city centre pub.
Across 16 tap lines there are loads of Kirkstall Brewery classics, like Kirkstall Pilsner, Virtuous and Judicious, plus a rotating selection of guest beers from top British breweries - and Guinness, of course.
The City Taproom will also feature two new cask lines: one serving Three Swords as a staple, and the other on rotation starting this month with Golden Hour.
There's a bigger kitchen for Little Bao Boy too, which means an even larger menu of bao and Asian street food, like loaded fries, noodles, and rice bowls.
Little Bao Boy was founded 10 years ago by James Ooi, specialising in home-made bao buns and traditional Asian street food with a contemporary western twist.
Kirkstall have injected the huge space with the traditional essence of a proper Kirkstall establishment, with that kind of cosy atmosphere you know them for at the brewery's other sites.
Little Bao Boy at City TaproomKirkstall Brewery pints and cocktails
This is yet another of the local brewery's openings in the city centre, joining their recent renovation of The Victoria & Commercial in partnership with Whitelocks, plus their stewardship of the historic Tetley brewery building.
James Ooi, founder of Little Bao Boy said: "We have been part of this venue since day one, through COVID, outside seating, and new owners, and we are so excited for this refurb.
"On the food side, expect more collaborations, faster service, and a better overall customer experience. We are extremely grateful Kirkstall saw the value in this refurb and can't wait to get back open."
Steve Holt, founder of Kirkstall Brewery, said: "We're delighted to unveil a new presentation for the Taproom on Sovereign Street.
"It has been named The City Taproom after a famous but long-gone Leeds pub known as ‘The City’, which was situated where the statue of the Dortmund Brewer now stands. Images of the original City pub are a feature in the new look City Taproom, which can best be described as a 're-imagination' of a traditional city-centre pub.
"The City Taproom celebrates Leeds and its rich pub and brewing heritage. We hope that it will become a popular addition to the amazing and diverse venues that make Leeds such a vibrant City for hospitality and entertainment."
It's all the bits you loved before, just a little bigger and a whole lot better.
The City Taproom opens at 3 Sovereign Street on Thursday 23 April.
Clementine Hall -
18th November 2025 
