A new rental neighbourhood has popped up in the heart of the city centre - and it's so much more than just a place to rest your head.
When you move into The Junction, you get far more than just a stunning new place to live. Make the most of co-working spaces, private dining rooms, seemingly unlimited events and classes, and perhaps best of all, you'll get your very own The Junction card.
The idea is that you'll be able to eat, drink, shop, even ride and swim your way through the city for less - and champion family-run businesses and local independents that keep the city going at the same time.
From rooftop dinners overlooking the city to your lunchtime pit stop and local hairdressers, the 'Neighbourhood Heroes' as they're known just need to see your The Junction card when you visit to take advantage of exclusive offers, discounts and loyalty points.
The Junction Card is included in all resident's welcome packs so from the moment you move in, you can take advantage of your card.
Keep reading to find out more about all the exciting spots around the city to use your The Junction card and find your favourite of the Neighbourhood Heroes.
Food and Drink
You really can grab everything from dawn to dusk with The Junction card. Get your morning caffeine supply from the likes of 200 Degrees and Sociable Folkto start your day and finish off your day on the rooftop sipping cocktails at Angelicas and watch the sunset over Trinity Leeds with views stretching across the city and beyond.
Heading over to the train station? You can even take advantage of Neighbourhood Hero The Brewery Tap, home of Big Buns burgers and footy fans aplenty, for a crisp cold pint and burger loved by YouTube sensation Danny Malin from Rate My Takeaway and locals alike.
Big Buns at The Brewery Tap. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Sociable Folk. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
When the sun's shining and the beer taps are flowing and the beer garden at SALT Calls Landing is the perfect pit stop for a drink. Grab a pint and a pie for a tenner or head over to Editor's Draught for a craft beer and take advantage of the huge selection of food - including a full vegan menu.
Food wise, you're truly spoilt for choice: Ibérica, a Spanish small plates restaurant inside a gorgeous old auction house will serve up tapas aplenty (and a seriously good paella) whilst Issho, meaning 'together' in Japanese, is a must-visit for those looking for a fancy sushi dinner with a city skyline in the backdrop.
Ibérica. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Fléur. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Fléur, Leeds' 'most Instagrammable' restaurant, is an ideal spot for around-the-world dishes, whilst recently renovated Mad Frans hosts bottomless brunch, Sunday roasts, a wide-spanning menu of cocktails and its own 'scran menu' full of burgers, wings and fries.
Wellington Place's sophisticated bar and grill Good Luck Club is moments from The Junction and ideal for a late night dinner and drink. Nearby La Bodega on Cross Park Street is just a stroll away for some sangria, artisan cheeses and cured meats.
Shopping
Now The Junction's Neighbourhood Heroes aren't just for those wanting to eat out - there's plenty of partnering local foodie spots that allow you to shop for local produce to take back to your apartment.
Fine-dining event at The Cheesy Living Co. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Sunday Roast fondue and wine at The Cheesy Living Co. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Both Leeds Veg Box and DLR Produce, for instance, support local farmers to bring fruit and veggies to your doorstep and The Cheesy Living Co. inside the Corn Exchange is the perfect pit stop for those looking to grab a cheese board filled with cured meats, charcuterie and a whole host of pastries, chutneys and just about anything else you could possibly want to stock your cupboards with.
Owners Jake and Sophie have just restocked the 'modern kind of deli' with craft beers, a carefully curated menu of wines and spirits, as well as negronis in a tin - and if you're looking to dine in, there's always a selection of events like Sunday roast fondue and fine dining nights collaborating with esteemed Leeds foodies to make the most of too.
Plant Point inside Leeds Corn Exchange
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Looking to spruce up your home with some of the coolest plants about? Plant Point, also located inside the Corn Exchange, is a haven for any plant parents - and Plant Point plotted the plants you'll see throughout The Junction's social spaces, so no need to worry about your greenery fitting in at home - it'll certainly look the part!
In the Suburbs
Those looking to escape the city centre in search of new foodie favourites or shopping hotspots will be delighted to hear that The Junction's Neighbourhood Heroes span to Burley, Headingley, Adel and beyond.
Tråd Collective is ideal for stocking up on vintage, preloved and altered clothing. The sustainable fashion store hosts a coffee shop, tailors and clothes store all inside a single unit on Otley Road in Headingley, and is filled with jackets, jewellery and even prints from local artists to cover your new apartment walls with.
Tråd Collective. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Pizza Freak. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Dastaan is headed up by award-winning chefs Nand Kishor and Sanjay Gour, who have taken both London and Surrey in their stride throughout their career. They promise a taste of “Mayfair cooking at a fraction of the price”, and their fine-dining Indian cuisine certainly doesn't disappoint.
Just a short drive or bus journey from The Junction you'll find Pizza Freak, home of Detroit and NYC-style pizzas that are big on flavour and the perfect excuse for a takeaway or eat-in weekend treat.
Fitness, Wellness and Beauty
Now we all need a bit of R&R in our lives, and The Junction is ensuring that all residents are able to get their hair done, head to spin classes and even take advantage of a luxury spa and indoor swimming pool all in the heart of the city centre with exclusive offers and discounts.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Ryde Studios and Trib3 both specialise in fitness and wellness classes that get your endorphins flowing with full body workouts to the beat of catchy basses and motivating music. Meanwhile, those looking for a place to swim or hang out in the sauna can show their The Junction card at the Crowne Plaza, just a few steps away from the neighbourhood on Wellington Street.
Haircare is also taken very seriously here and Neighbourhood Heroes, The Salon, The Barbers and No. 3 Gentleman's Hairdressing have you covered - no matter whether you're looking for your usual blowdry or a fancy new 'do' for a special occasion, there's plenty of different hairdressers and barbers to choose from with The Junction card.
About The Junction
The Junction is home to 665 rental apartments, one, two and three bedroom apartments available to rent now, and seemingly endless green spaces just moments from the city centre. This luxury neighbourhood is home to its own multi-use sports pitch, co-working spaces, resident lounge, bookable private dining rooms and activities aplenty to bring together its residents with yoga, cooking classes and more.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
9th May 2023 
