Leeds in Bloom: New Openings Part 9

A fun-packed summer has gone by in a flash. So, now what? Well, don’t get ready to relax just yet. There are plenty of new Leeds openings–from retail to really good food–and even more to come. Here’s a rundown of the best established brands and independents to set up shop in the city.

Shopping…

Zara –Trinity Leeds 

It’s here! The hotly anticipated Zara Trinity Leeds flagship store opened in August. Zara’s spacious new venue, set over three huge floors, has more browsing space than its perenially-packed predecessor further up Briggate. If you’re a fan of the brand, a slower, more considered shopping experience awaits, with over 46,000 sq ft to explore. The store in the former TopShop unit is accessible from Briggate or inside Trinity Leeds.

Glass Onion –Trinity Leeds 

Zara fans will be aware of Zara Pre-Owned, a resale platform available through its physical and online stores, which helps prevent preloved clothes from going to landfills. Another new addition to Trinity Leeds, the independent vintage store Glass Onion, has also made phenomenal gains in this arena. From its origins in a Barnsley coal shed, the brand now processes up to 20,000 kgs of clothing every single week that would otherwise go to landfill. Now, that’s a backstory worth a read. Or pay Glass Onion a visit, where you’ll find hand-picked, laundered and re-made preloved clothing at affordable prices.

Also open in Trinity Leeds since our last edition: Nike concept store, Nike:Rise, fast-food burger joint Five Guys, experts in hot chocolate, Knoops and menswear retailer Jack and Jones.

Food & drink…

White Cloth Hall – behind the Corn Exchange

White Cloth Hall, the new all-day food and drink hall behind the Corn Exchange, opened just in time for the bank holiday on Saturday, 24th August. These guys (of Whitelocks Alehouse) really know their beer. At White Cloth Hall, they’ll focus on Yorkshire brands, with a choice of cask, keg and guest ales. There’ll also be a dreamy kitchen lineup, including Mexican pop-up, Salma, Sicilian-style sandwich and slice bar Morty’s Focacceria, Malaysian-cuisine specialist Kula Lumpar Café, and Victorian-inspired grill and oyster bar Lupton’s Chop House. 

Wine from York-based Field and Fawcett and coffee from Meanwood roastery Echelon Coffee ensure something for everyone at this exciting new family and dog-friendly venue serving from Tuesday through Sunday, with coffee available seven days a week. It’s going to be a good one. 

Neighbourhood – Sheaf Street

Once home to Duke Studios and Sheaf Street Cafeteria, the Sheaf Street site reopened in time for the August bank holiday under the new name and brand, Neighbourhood. The South Banks’s new coworking hub, bar and event space will also be home to the latest North Bar, which, alongside world beers, will serve coffee and pastries from Laynes, natural wines from Wayward and Mexican street food from Taco y Màs. 

Leeds flexible event space The Attic will move across from Kirkstall Road to complete the trio of new businesses. For those who loved the ethos of the former community, it’s still there–just with a new take that represents the Sheaf Street collective today.

Neighbourhood will be offering Leeds-based creatives a free co-working space for a month as part of its launch.

ThatZiki – Trinity Kitchen

Greek diner ThatZiki has taken up residence in the former Absurd Bird unit in Trinity Kitchen. Launched initially from a food truck by Jack and Luke Newton in 2022, ThatZiki serves mouthwatering Greek morsels like gyros with chicken, pork, halloumi and vegan option, homemade house sauces and sides. Fresh ingredients of the highest quality are a hallmark of ThatZiki street food–ready to get your Greek on?

Etci Mehmet – Eastgate

From the flavours of Greece to the flame grill of Turkey, renowned steakhouse Etci Mehmet opened its first restaurant in Leeds this summer. With everything from delicious dry-aged steaks to succulent slow-cooked specials and a 24-karat-gold menu, it’s impossible to scroll socials featuring Etci Mehmet without drooling. They don’t stop at incredible food, either. Expect a unique dining experience with fire shows that bring the drama.

Pho37 – Merrion Centre

Fans of Headingly Vietnamese restaurant Pho37 will be glad to see the arrival of a second 50-seater restaurant in the Merrion Centre. Owned by Mrs Chi Dang, a third-generation expert in Vietnamese cuisine, Pho37 mixes tradition with innovation to set your tastebuds alight. Wash your bahn mi, pho and fried noodles down with Vietnamese beer or bubble tea and a spot of karaoke for an authentic dining experience.

Tao – Great George Street

Tao Cantonese restaurant, specialising in hotpot and dim sum, is an alternative Leeds eatery where you can sample authentic cuisine. Think tables that turn into steaming broth pits, where you cook your food for an immersive touch of theatre as you dine. Only open since May, it gets incredible Trip Advisor reviews.

Fern Modern Sushi – Central Arcade

A new addition to the Central Arcade serving seasonal omakase (chef’s choice) is Japanese restaurant, Fern Modern Sushi. Headed up by Asian-fusion expert Fern Lattawan, the restaurant, which seats only ten people at 12 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm every day except Monday, offers sushi, ramen and rice dishes alongside beer, wine and saki. The omakase menu of ten or 14 courses will be changed monthly–and it looks delicious. 

Alfonso’s Cuban Shack – The Junction Leeds Nr Whitehall Road

Alfonso’s Cuban Shack by Koben Smokehouse is the first resident of The Junc Shed, a new concept at the Kiosk on Monk Bridge viaduct that will feature rotating street food vendors. Head on over during the week for breakfast, coffee, and stacked Cuban sandwiches between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm or on Saturdays for ‘Street Food Saturdays’ from noon to 8 pm with a bar and resident DJs.

Homeboy Pizza Co – Burley Road

Homeboy Pizza Co. takes the baton from Leeds institution Harpo’s Pizza in Burley. It’s the first permanent ‘New York-style pizza shop’ for the three-year-old pop-up, which you may have already sampled in Rolands on Call Lane. Expect big-on-flavour Detroit-style pizzas with toppings you won’t see anywhere else in the city from Harry and the team. The whole menu is also available on Deliveroo.

Chunk Cookies – Kirkstall Hill

Also in Burley, Chunk Cookies, founded by Amy Bennett and Diego Espinoza, left its original Burley Road site in July for Kirkstall Hill. The couple hopes to restart online orders and host workshops and wine nights from the bigger space, which is less than a minute’s walk from the old shop. NY-style gooey cookies, croissants and cruffins are on the counter now…

The Underground Bakery – Call Lane 

The team behind independent sweet treat extraordinaire The Underground Bakery is so passionate about their craft you can taste it. To name a few of the delights on offer fresh from the on-site ovens: raspberry cheesecake cruffins; ginger, mango, lime jam and vanilla mascarpone cookie dough sandwiches; amaretto and blackberry brownies. And they’re now on Call Lane as well as in Otley. Need we say more?

Pubs, Clubs and Bars…

Behind Closed Doors – Call Lane

Leeds first erotica-themed cocktail bar, Behind Closed Doors, opened its decadent doors for the bank holiday on Saturday, August 23rd. Already popular in Manchester, the ‘naughty’ speakeasy is strictly adults only and has a sex, rugs, funk ‘n’ soul ethos with a fun twist on vintage erotica. Ring the bell to enter, and you’ll find 60s/70s-inspired decor, erotic pictures and adult TV–to be enjoyed alongside an innuendo-heavy cocktail menu. Phones on every table offer a more intimate alternative to swiping for daters. Open seven days a week, with happy hour from 5-7 pm, the new Leeds venue marks its launch with a huge £10,000 Instagram giveaway. 

NQ64 – Merrion Street

Retro games lover? It’s time to get next-level about the opening of NQ64 (August 29), a neon-splattered arcade bar on Merrion Street. Welcoming everyone–mates, dates and big parties–you can expect game-themed cocktails, retro arcade machines, consoles, and loads of beers and wines. NQ64 is open every weekday from 4 pm til 2 am, noon til 3 am Saturday and noon till 2 am Sunday, so it’s worth checking out when you’re just not ready for your night to end.

Coming soon…

Black Cat Club – Park Row

The team behind the Black Cat Club in Manchester will open a new interactive gaming and live sports venue on September 13th that combines immersive experiences with luxury. On the site of the former El Gato Negro, the Black Cat Club aims to be the go-to spot in Leeds for sports and gaming enthusiasts. The electrifying environment will feature shuffleboard, darts and nine screens for live sports (including a 98-inch mega screen). 

Ice-cold beers, cocktails and bar food will be available at the touch of a button to enhance the sports viewing experience. There’ll also be DJs and weekly events like quizzes in between major sporting events. Live-action viewing just got more luxurious.

92 Degrees Coffee – Call Lane

Cool kids’ coffee shop 92 Degrees Coffee will soon arrive on Call Lane. On the former Blue Rinse site, the independent’s fourth shop in Leeds adds to its Claypit Lane, Mustard Wharf, and Boar Lane locations. Combos to look out for include oat lattes and raspberry croissants, strawberry lemonades and cherry bakewells, chai lattes, and lemon loaf cakes–and do follow the barista team on Instagram; it’ll brighten your day.

The Swine That Dines

Modern British restaurant The Swine That Dines will move to a bigger location later in 2024 thanks to a crowdfunding initiative to help the team behind the original ‘The Greedy Pig’ grow. Unconventional dishes like Beef Fat Burger Buns and Lamb Neck Ragu and a ‘nose to tail’ ethos have done nothing to put diners off over the years. On the contrary, the team plans to increase its menu and wine list and even host private dining. We can’t wait.

The Old Engine Works

The former Hunslet steam locomotive factory (just past Crown Point Retail Park and Costco), The Old Engine Works, looks set to become a versatile event space with a café and hot food takeaway. The Grade II listed former canteen and dining room (and more recently office space) will welcome live music events, weddings, conferencing, and local group meets, including exercise classes, opening as late as 06:00 am Thursday to Saturday. It’s one to watch…