Leeds in Bloom: New Openings Part 11

As our vibrant city continues to bloom in 2025, we’re bringing you the best new Leeds openings from national chains to new kids on the block. From the virtual shooting range Point Blank to the very quirky interiors of Giggling Squid, we promise you’ll find new and different ways to spend your leisure time. 

Food and drink in the city…

NoNo – Granary Wharf

We’re leading with this one because there’s nothing much nicer than a pre-meal glass of wine, is there? Located in Arch U of the Dark Arches, Granary Wharf, NoNo is a laid-back space for wine lovers and newcomers alike. The experience makes wine-tasting fun with an interactive menu, knowledgeable staff, and – thanks to advanced wine storage techniques –  the opportunity to try eye-wateringly expensive wines by the glass. 

If the lure of another glass or two beckons, snacks and bao are available from award-winning street food sensation BaoBros23. NoNo is a table service bar that gets full, so you’ll need to book to avoid disappointment.

Uyare

Uyare, a new South Indian rooftop bar and restaurant by the team behind Theravadu (the only one of its kind in Europe), has arrived at Victoria Gate in Leeds in the space previously occupied by Issho. The Uyare concept delivers two distinct yet harmonious spaces: Bhoomi – The Earth, a refined restaurant offering an authentic South Indian feast, and AGNI – The Fire, a vibrant bar featuring signature cocktails inspired by Kerala. 

Uyare describes itself as more than just a restaurant—it’s an immersive journey through the essence of Kerala. And if it’s anywhere near as good as Theravadu, they’re clearly onto something!

Azotea – Hyatt Place, Sovereign Square

Head up to the twelfth floor of the new Hyatt Place hotel on Sovereign Street and you’ll find (another!) luxurious rooftop restaurant, Azotea. The ‘rooftop hacienda’ says it’s been ‘kissed by the rhythms of South America’ and TripAdvisor reviews agree, praising the authentic Latin American inspired plates, handcrafted Colombian cocktails and laid-back, luxurious surroundings. Expect Azotea to stir your soul and move your feet; it’s alive with Latin beats from the sultry sway of Salsa to the pulsing energy of reggaeton.

And if you don’t want the night to end, the luxurious new Hyatt Place hotel has over 300 chic rooms and suites to choose from…

Giggling Squid – Park Row

In its own words, ‘Giggling Squid’s tentacles reach across the UK’. It’s not hard to see why. Diners can’t get enough of its personality-packed Thai food and vibrant, quirky interiors. Giggling Squid Park Row is a feast for the senses. Order modern dishes like Seabass Gra Pao or classics like green Thai curry at the restaurant daily between 12 pm and 10:30 pm, or opt for takeaway, the choice is yours. But honestly, it’s worth the trip to get the full experience.

Kerala Canteen – St Paul’s StreetKerala Canteen, a bold new concept by award-winning chef Bobby Geetha capturing the essence of Kerala’s toddy shops, opened in January 2025. Connect over a feast of flavours as you share Indian tapas-style small plates, bowls, and sides from Trivandrum Fried Chicken to the vegetarian Green Goddess Cutlet. Located beside the BBC building, it’s ideal for a pre-theatre dinner. It also offers excellent value for money, with £9 special offers before 7 pm and £9 mains.

Hoiana – Saw Mill Yard, Holbeck

Just steps away from the River Aire, Hoiana serves up big Vietnamese flavours in the heart of Leeds. Inspired by the lantern-lit beauty of Hoi An, Hoinana offers everything from summer rolls to Saigon rice. The lunchtime special menu (served between 12 pm and 3 pm Tues-Fri) includes noodle soups and stirfrys from just £10.95. It’s five-star TripAdvisor-rated – get in before it gets busy! 

Clapping Seoul – Trinity Kitchen

Known for their Korean Corn Dogs (and already a popular fixture in Doncaster and Sheffield), Korean street food legends Clapping Seoul have switched pop-up residencies for a permanent spot in Trinity Kitchen in Leeds in April 2025. If you’re a big fan of bold flavours, get yourself down there…

BAKE – Mustard Wharf

BAKE, Leeds’ newest bakery from the team behind Doh’hut and Things in Bread, opened in January at Mustard Wharf, completing Tom Stafford’s ‘All Things Dough’ trilogy. The canal-side bakery reimagines nostalgic British bakes, blending faves like cheese twists, vanilla slices and sticky school cake with French precision. It’s open from 8 am (9 am weekends) with a substantial canal-side outdoor seating area – but get in early, bakes often sell out fast! 

Bean Coffee – Wellington Place

Award-winning coffee roaster (and Liverpool’s longest-established independent) Bean opened at Wellington Place in February. Bean serves amazing coffee (obviously), pastries, cakes, and sandwiches. Take out or linger for longer; indoor and outdoor seating is available. A great place for a coffee break, if you ask us.

Sesame – Wellington Place

Also new to Wellington Place is Sesame, the go-to spot for top-tier made-to-order salads and sarnies. It’s a third location for the Sesame team, and with its mouthwatering salad bar, it’s no wonder fans are already queuing out the door.

Melting Point – The Corn Exchange

Serving up ice-cream to get excited about (and arguably the winner of the coolest logo in Leeds) is Melting Point on the ground floor of the Corn Exchange. Expect flavour profiles like Vanilla Custard, Malted Milk, 80% Colombian Chocolate and Peanut Butter and Coconut (VE). Keep your eyes peeled for future collaborations, too…

Le Criossant – Leeds Bus Station

Use public transport to commute? You might just be in for a treat. Le Croissant, a bakery already popular in Sheffield, Chesterfield, and Nottingham, has just opened in Leeds Bus Station. Expect savoury and sweet-filled croissants, coffees, shakes and more…

Popeyes – Commercial Street

If it’s fast food you’re after,  you can’t go wrong with Popeyes. The Leeds Commercial Street branch is the Louisiana-style chicken shop’s seventh Yorkshire venue. Expect bold seasonings, Cajun spices and Popeye’s famous ‘shatter’ crunch across a range of chicken sandwiches, wraps and pieces.

Green Room 2.0 – Wellington Street

The Green Room team completed its refurbishment earlier this year, including an extended bar area, an all-new tequila basement bar, and significant improvements to its famous terrace. Checked it out yet? It’s a must.

Coffee Boy – The Light

For a fresh, urban coffee experience, try new kid on the block, Coffee Boy, newly opened at The Light. Leeds is its first city location outside Glasgow (local outlets are Castleford, Huddersfield and Barnsley). Welcome to Leeds. Coffee Boy! 

Food and drink further afield…

Swine Bistro – Otley Road, Headingley

Modern British restaurant Swine Bistromoved to a bigger location on Otley Road in Headingley earlier this year, thanks to a crowdfunding initiative that helped the team behind the original ‘The Greedy Pig’ grow. Expect the same unconventional nose-to-tail dishes like beef fat burger buns and lamb neck ragu, a ‘nose to tail’ ethos, an increased menu, a wine list, and private dining. 

Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen – Commercial Road, Kirstall

There are plenty of openings outside the city centre, too. In Kirkstall, street kitchen Hoi Polloi has found a permanent home at Melodie 71. Known for its bold, Asian-inspired flavours, Hoi Polloi has built a cult following at festivals and events. The permanent menu offers a small selection of small plates and bar snacks alongside the award-winning bar’s popular cocktails.

Brew+ Bao – Stainbeck Lane, Chapel Allerton

Another new venue serving up tasty Asian-fusion dishes alongside 16 rotating independent craft and premium beers and lagers, spirits and cocktails is Brew+Bao in Chapel Allerton. Eat fluffy bao, crispy noodle fries, salt and pepper hash browns and more – alfresco if you like, there’s a heated terrace. It’s a collaboration between Brew York and YUZU Street Food, so you know it’s going to be good.

The Cheesy Living Co – Church Lane, Pudsey

The ever-popular The Cheesy Living Co has opened its third branch in Pudsey. Seriously, what’s not to like? Ooey gooey cheese, bread and wine – our kind of deli. It’s also stocked with delicious cheese accompaniments: olives, spreads and pickles. Yum, yum. 

Entertainment…

Glee Club – Albion Street

The hotly anticipated comedy and entertainment venue, Glee Club, opened in Leeds on 28 March. The brand’s sixth venue in the UK, The Glee Leeds, will offer a weekly programme of comedy, entertainment, food and drinks, with a stellar line-up of big-name comedians. Peter Kay, Michael McIntyre, Jo Brand, Lee Evans, and many, many more have graced The Glee’s stages over the last 30 years. Long may the laughs continue.

Point Blank  –  Leeds

The UK’s first simulated shooting bar, Point Blank, has arrived in Leeds with a bang.  Just by the Corn Exchange in the old Honest Burger spot, Point Blank has massive 132-inch screens and over 100 shooting scenarios – it’s a sure-fire way to guarantee a unique night out. Between rounds, you’ll also find American-style food and themed cocktails on tap.

Funstation – The Light

Funstation, the ultimate family entertainment destination, opened its doors in The Light in April 2025. There’s something for all the family – interactive arcade games, carnival classics, immersive VR experiences and a cashless fun card (load it with credit and forget coins or tokens). Are you ready to tap, play and win your way to some top prizes? Good, because there’s no need to go all the way to the coast anymore…

Shopping…

Aesop – Victoria Gate

The Australian luxury skincare brand Aesop has opened its first store in the North of England in Leeds’ Victoria Quarter. The Grade II listed store will feature Aesop’s entire collection and personalised service, with everything sympathetically designed to enhance balance and wellbeing.

Søstrene Grene – Trinity Leeds

The hit Danish homewares store Søstrene Grene (Green Sisters) has made its way to Leeds, bringing everything from household essentials to kitchen staples. Ready to lose an hour in its curated interior?  

Take it Easy Film Lab – Little Neville Street

Take It Easy, a family-run indie film lab, moved from Aire Street to Little Neville Street. Take It Easy offers mail-order and drop-in services, but more than that, it runs workshops, including Photo Social, where aspiring photographers can share – and get feedback on –  their work.

Next Chapter Books – Corn Exchange

Next Chapter Books is a women-led independent book, coffee and wine shop in the Corn Exchange. Around 80% of the titles in the store are written by women exploring fantasy, romance, non-fiction and more. There’s also a small children’s section.

Mayonail – Albion Street

Leeds artist Ruyi started selling beautiful alternatives to acrylic nails from a small stand in the middle of the St John Centre. She’s now opened a Mayonail store on Albion Street – you can’t miss it! Bright pink walls and hundreds of nail designs (reusable multiple times). It’s a clever idea.

Other movements on the high street include the opening of a HUGE new Superdrug on the old Zara Briggate site, a Boots Opticians in Trinity and New Balance on Briggate.

Coming Soon

Rinse Natural Wine opens on Call Lane sometime soon! It’s a brand new wine bar, bottle shop and micro deli from the people behind Bottle Chop and Fika North. Serving 10 am til 9 pm, Rinse Natural Wine will offer the same deli deliciousness, coffee and pastries, and chilled Mediterranean vibes as Bottle Chop. It’s also totally dog friendly.

Cinnamon Kitchen, executive chef Vivek Singh’s first Northern venue, will bring a first-class dining experience inspired by the grand first-class waiting rooms of 19th-century Indian railway stations. Singh’s signature dishes will showcase the best regional Indian cuisine while celebrating seasonal British produce. All aboard? Opening May.

Hotel Indigo on Lower Briggate will be a stylish urban retreat featuring Banksia, a restaurant serving modern Mediterranean cuisine. There’ll be two versatile meeting rooms, ideal for meetings or events. Hotel Indigo is taking reservations for 23 July 2025 onwards.

La Fiesta, all you can eat tapas, will arrive at The Merion Centre in summer 2025. La Fiesta will blend flavours from Spain, Greece, Italy, and other global culinary destinations, from pinchos to churros stations, and it promises a vibrant eating experience at an affordable price.

The Cheesy Living Co is set to bring another drool-inducing venue to Leeds with Fold, a focacceria-inspired bakery. Fold will provide the bakes for The CLC’s numerous sites, and eventually welcome the public in for Foccacia bakes and coffee.

Popular Headingley burger joint, Fat Hippo, has applied to open a second, Leeds city centre site on Boar Lane. Think juicy succulent burgers, crispy fried chicken and thick loaded fries – you may have got a taste of Fat Hippo’s self-proclaimed ‘best burgers in Leeds’ at a Trinity Kitchen residency. If not, don’t worry, it’s on the way.

Residence has announced plans to open another site in Moortown, North Leeds. The popular Leeds café bar will serve ethically sourced coffees, baked goods, breakfasts and brunches, pizzas and cocktails from the former Barclays Bank building on Harrogate Road.