Leeds in Bloom: New Openings Part 13

Leeds just keeps blooming. From first-in-the-country launches to local legends levelling up, the city’s food, drink, and lifestyle scene is bursting with fresh energy. Whether you’re chasing a new dining obsession, your next caffeine fix, or a late-night adventure, there’s plenty to discover. Let’s explore what’s new across the city…

Food and drink…

Chick-fil-A – Commercial Street

US favourite Chick-fil-A has landed on Commercial Street, giving Popeyes a run for its money. And it’s not just a first for Leeds; it’s the first in the country. Expect hand-breaded, freshly prepared chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries and authentic lemonade. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm (closed Sundays).

House of Koko – Central Road

Chapel Allerton’s favourite brunch spot is coming to the city centre. House of Koko is bringing its Middle Eastern-inspired brunches (think Muhammara Eggs, Hot Honey Habibti and Lebanese Hash) to Central Road, blending Mediterranean freshness with Leeds flair.

Fat Hippo – Boar Lane

Your favourite Headingley burger joint just went city centre. Fat Hippo brings stacked chicken, beef, vegan and gluten-free burgers in-house or to your door, as well as super indulgent sides from simple slaw to loaded Trash Browns. As far as fast food goes, this one’s as inclusive as it gets. It’s messy, delicious, and made for sharing.

Straight Outta Nashville – Dewsberry Road

More burgers? Always. Straight Outta Nashville is bringing serious smash-burger energy from Salford to Leeds. Pre-order juicy stacks, loaded fries, and fried chicken now. Plus, check out their Instagram content; it’s so worth it.

La Fiesta – Merrion Centre

Say hola to La Fiesta, bringing all-you-can-eat Mediterranean tapas to The Merrion Centre. La Fiesta serves a flavour-packed mix of Spanish, Greek, and Italian small plates—from pinchos to churros—at wallet-friendly prices. Bring an appetite (and stretchy trousers).

Crowded House – Trinity 

Leeds’ skyline just got a glow-up. Crowded House has taken over the old Angelica and Craft House rooftop, creating a multi-level playground for cocktails, skyline views, and late-night vibes. Stay late: the rooftop bar stays open until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and features a regular roster of dazzling events.

Banksia – Lower Briggate

Michelin-star lineage meets Mediterranean flair at Banksi . Craig Rogan (yep, Simon Rogan’s son) is at the helm of this authentic Mediterranean restaurant at the newly opened Hotel Indigo. Think shareable dishes, bold flavours, and serious date-night potential…or just a working lunch.

Estabulo – Merrion Centre

Calling all meat lovers! Estabulo, is back with another rodizio grill at the Merrion Centre. Go for endless prime cuts of meat carved at your table, an unlimited gourmet salad bar, plus an à la carte menu featuring expertly cooked steaks and handcrafted burgers. From sunrise to sunset: it’s a true taste of Brazil. Open 6:30 am to 10 am for breakfast, 12 pm to 5 pm for lunch and 5 pm to 10 pm for dinner Monday to Saturday (until 9 pm on Sundays).

German Doner Kebab – Boar Lane

German Doner Kebab has opened its 150th UK store right here in Leeds, next door to Wingstop. Expect premium lean meat, toasted waffle bread, locally sourced salad and handmade signature sauce. Ultimately, “Doners worthy of daylight”, not just late nights. Open now for dine-in and delivery from 11 am every day.

Hygge Café – Merrion Centre

Take a breather at Hygge Café (pronounced Hoo-ga), the Danish-inspired spot made for comfort, coffee, and calm. Their first branch outside Sheffield, Hygge, is all about good food and good vibes. It’s perfect for study breaks or cosy catch-ups. Hygge is open every day, between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am til 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Nesso Coffee – Merrion Street

Italian flair meets Leeds brunch culture at Nesso – where every cup is a story (how lovely is that!). Created by award-winning chef Bobby Geetha, Nesso features all-day brunch favourites, including Breakfast Hash, Pulled Duck Hash, Panettone Mini Pancakes and Focaccia Marinara, as well as delicious sweet treats like baked Biscoff cookie dough ice cream, tiramisu, matitozzi, and, of course, cannoli and pastel de nata. Open daily; trust us, you’ll leave smiling.

Sing Sing Bakery– Merrion Centre

Sweet-toothed friends, assemble. Sing Sing Bakery, the largest Chinese bakery in Leeds, has landed inside the Sing Kee Chinese Supermarket. Freshly baked goods inspired by Hong Kong recipes sit alongside speciality teas, bubble tea and coffee. Look for the adorable heart logo and follow the scent of fresh buns; you can’t miss it.

Entertainment

Gameshow Allstars – Central Arcade

Ever wondered what it’s like to star in your favourite TV gameshow? Gameshow Allstars makes it happen. Step into a fully immersive gameshow arena packed with challenges, flashing lights and fast-paced fun. Whether it’s a mate night, date night or team night, expect endless laughs, competitive chaos, and a well-stocked bar serving cocktails, beers and pizzas.

King Pins – White Rose Centre

Bowling, but next level. King Pins, at the White Rose Centre, brings ten-pin, duckpin, tech darts, karaoke, shuffleboard, pool, arcade games and even “crazy pool” (yes, it’s a thing). Grab snacks and drinks from Marvin’s, their in-house restaurant, and make a day (or night) of it.

Art and culture

Mr Bragshaws – Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton

Art doesn’t have to come with a sky-high price tag. Mr Bragshaw’s on Harrogate Road offers original and limited-edition pieces by Banksy, Damien Hirst, Hockney, and Mr Brainwash, starting from just £75. Whether you’re a collector or just looking for a conversation starter, this is a must-visit for art lovers.

Shopping & lifestyle

Byredo – Victoria Quarter

Luxury meets minimalism at  Byredo, which has opened its first standalone store outside London in Victoria Quarter. Expect their cult fragrances, sleek makeup, and elegant accessories,  all in signature Scandi style. 

Hello Japan – Albion Street

Hello Japan is a brand-new Japanese supermarket packed with everything from Asahi beer to Pocari Sweat and matcha treats galore. With new stock arriving every two weeks, it’s a treasure trove for lovers of Japanese snacks, drinks and homeware.

Leeds Kirkgate Market

The beating heart of the city never stops evolving. New arrivals include Hereni Time Service (for all your watch repairs), Bagel & Bun (for fresh bagels, smoothies and milkshakes), and Hellenic Delicacies (for Greek olives and nibbles). Also, don’t miss Matcha & Mascarpone’s pop-up for the best matcha treats in town. The Market’s Community Hub and Library has also reopened after a fresh new makeover.

SKIMS – Flannels

Kim K’s famous  SKIMS line has landed in Flannels. Does SKIMS need an introduction? Probably not. You’ll have seen figure-hugging shapewear everywhere, from celebs to the school run. Now, you can see the full range up close before you purchase as part of a Flannels pop-up.

Knottinger – New Side Road, Horsforth

Textile jewellery designer, Knottinger, invites you to its flagship store in Horsforth. Alongside Knottinger’s signature jewellery range, you’ll find homewares, gifts and lifestyle and design-led objects made by local Leeds artisans.

Coming soon: What’s next for Leeds

Shopping

UNIQLO – Briggate

It’s finally on its way. Uniqlo Leeds is set to land on the ground floor of The Store House (previously House of Fraser), Leeds’ new destination for student accommodation on Briggate. Known for its comfortable, functional clothing, the arrival of the Japanese fast-fashion giant is sure to delight residents of The Store House – and also any fashionista coveting a half-moon-shaped shoulder bag.

Victoria’s Secret – Briggate

The lingerie giant is back, set to return to Leeds city centre in its signature glamorous style. Victoria’s Secret will move in next door to Uniqlo, under The Store House, student accommodation.

Pop Mart – Briggate

Want to get your hands on a viral Labubu plushie? You might not have to wait too long. Pop Mart is on its way to Leeds. Of course, Labubus are not all you’ll find in Pop Mart, famed for its collection of designer toys and collectables. Ready to shop till you drop? It’s coming.

Food and drink

Dishoom – Vicar Lane

More big news for Dishoom. The incredibly popular Bombay-style Indian restaurant Dishoom has been granted planning approval to open its new Leeds location in the former Flannels store on Vicar Lane. Dishoom will bring Bombay’s Irani café culture to the city, complete with its cult classics — Bacon Naan Rolls, House Black Dahl and a new dish made just for Leeds. Expect rich flavours, cinematic décor and queues out the door.

Uyare/Theravadu street food concept

So exclusive there’s no name or location yet – you heard it here first! The Uyare/Theravadu team are working on a new street food concept that expands their culinary universe to include Keralan small bites.

Madre and Salon Madre – Wellington Place

From Manchester with love, Madre, and its sister concept Salon Madre are gearing up to open at Wellington Place. Expect incredible tacos, tequila and a proper party atmosphere. Think DJs, Lucha Libre wrestling on screen, and bold Mexican flavours all night long. With no confirmed opening date, you might want to sign up for updates.

Tori Nori 

Chef Fern (of Fern Modern Sushi fame) is opening Tori Nori, a robata-style Japanese grill. Expect smoky skewers, dramatic flame-grilling and bold flavours that pack a punch. Follow along on Instagram for sneak peeks; the food looks unreal.

Federal – Boar Lane

Manchester’s brunch royalty is crossing the Pennines. Federal is bringing its Antipodean-style brunch and top-tier coffee to Boar Lane. Expect relaxed vibes, exceptional food and seriously good coffee. It won’t be long before you can try it out for yourself. In the meantime, learn more about Federal in this article.

Dough Club – Burley Road

The Manchester-based pizza brand, Dough Club, is planning to open a Detroit-style pizza restaurant on Burley Road. Whether you intend to stop by for a quick slice or a pan that feeds everyone, you’ll be able to count on Dough Club soon.

The Savvy Baker – Trinity Leeds

Brownie lovers, rejoice. Renowned brownie baker, The Savvy Baker, is set to open in Leeds Trinity soon. As well as a huge range of mouthwatering brownies, there’ll also be a dedicated matcha bar, serving matcha to order. Did you know the Savvy Baker also delivers? Hmmm, now there’s a thought.

Blank Street Coffee – Albion Street

Fear not, Blank fans. The Leeds Blank Street Coffee store is imminent and will take over the former Starbucks site near Trinity. There’s no opening date set yet, so we’ll keep you posted. But we’re sure it won’t be long until the brand’s stunning pastel-coloured iced lattes are on the Leeds menu.

Blend – Burley Road

Blend is set to take over the former Owt site on Burley Road soon. The team hasn’t shared many details, but we can tell you it’s going to be a super-stylish, quietly luxurious experience based on the sneak preview they posted on Instagram in early November.

Art and Soul – Queens Arcade

Art and Soul will bring its award-winning object d’art and handcrafted creations to Leeds, following the success of its Hull and Beverley stores. As well as selling wares from local artists, Art and Soul will run workshops and events for amateur artists looking to brush up on their skills and explore their creative side.