CITY GUIDE LEEDS
Amity Brew Co stands proudly for ‘community, friendship and good beer’. It’s brewpub is found at Sunny Bank Mills - Farsley’s historic former textile mill, now a beautifully restored creative, cultural and leisure destination within the local community. Here you will find a carefully considered blend of core selections alongside experimental interpretations of classic beers.
Amity’s space is a welcoming environment where you can sip on a fresh pint whilst taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the brewery. Adding to the brewpub experience, there is an outdoor terrace for the summer months and Nonna’s Neapolitan Pizza served to go hand-in-hand with the wonderful beer selection.
Amity has worked with the best craft breweries in the UK and brings its skill, passion and expertise to every beer it makes.
Sunny Bank Mills, Unit 15-16, Festoon Rooms, 83-85 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ @amitybrewco // 0113 234
Banh and Mee serves up authentic Vietnamese street food out of Kirkgate Market - one of the largest indoor markets in Europe. Located in the heart of the city, the market is a famous spot in Leeds where you’ll find an eclectic mix of cuisines from all round the world.
Owners Mylinh and Sengy offer a taste of Vietnam’s vibrant culture, bringing flavours straight out of Hanoi to Leeds.
You can expect to find fresh dishes like the Vietnamese baguette sandwich Bánh mì, as well as the family’s very own Pho broth and classics like bao buns and noodle/ rice boxes - curing your lunch time needs and more.
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen was founded in 2013 to bring under-represented art and culture to Leeds. A decade on and the venue has become a cornerstone of the city’s creative scene - a place where laid-back drinking, independent food vendors and diverse music and art all connect under one roof. Belgrave’s good vibes are spread across three floors which includes one of Leeds’ most spectacular roof terraces - one of the coolest spots to sample summer vibes.
Belgrave is vibrant, youthful and has a festival-like feel. Inside you will find artsy decor and gig posters plastered around the walls - relics of the musical heritage it has carved out since opening. The venue has acted as a launch-pad for up-and-coming artists, hosting the likes of Loyle Carner and Jorja Smith over the years - two musicians that have gone out to embody the thriving UK scene that Belgrave has immersed itself in.
Belgrave’s entertainment does not end at music. It hosts art exhibitions, film screenings, clothes pop-ups and much more if you keep an eye out on its calendar. Whilst the Belgrave Feast hosted each year is an acclaimed food festival bringing together the best indie street food traders in the North.
Day-to-day, the two independent vendors inside Belgrave are Dough Boys - who serve hand-stretched pizza by the slice - and the delicious Patty’s Burgers.
The beauty of Belgrave is its variety - during weekdays you will see people casually working, on a night it’s a relaxed hang-out for groups of friends, come the weekend the venue is bustling with atmosphere.
Bottle Chop is a concept by duo Elis and Gemma Williams - the pair behind Headingley’s Stockholminspired contemporary coffee shop Fika North. After the astounding success and support received after their first project, the couple launched Bottle Chop - a natural wine/ craft beer shop, micro deli and bar, also located in the leafy Headingley suburb.
The idea behind Bottle Chop is to make natural wine accessible for all. Taking away the stigma attached to wine, Bottle Chop has created an inviting atmosphere in which its audience can try a variety of vegan, organic and often biodynamic wine.
Customers have been known to note its Mediterranean feel - a small outside seating area makes for an idyllic spot in summer to taste quality wine alongside a greattasting deli menu from cheese to charcuterie.
Bottle Chop even has a refill wine and beer counter where you can pay once for your bottle and refill it time and time again.
14 Weetwood Ln, Headingley, Leeds, LS16 5LX
BRUDENELL
Brudenell Social Club is one of Leeds’ most-loved and legendary small music venues. Located in innercity area Hyde Park, Brudenell has been known in the past for hosting secret gigs for famous bands and has an open-door sound policy that embraces music and art under an umbrella that holds no boundaries.
Covering a wide spectrum of genres, Brudenell’s audience trusts its eye for uncovering hip, emerging and soon-to-be influential bands.
The venue has a varied and fascinating history. It was formed in 1913, buying its first premises and land shortly afterwards at the same spot it resides in today.
After being rescued from financial ruin, Brudenell became a pop venue in the ‘90s and has kept the friendly community atmosphere from its origins as a working men’s club. Brudenell is a relic from the past and a jewel in Leeds, contrasting more modern venues that lack its charm and authenticity. Away from gigs, Brudenell is a top-class pub, showing live sport with a games room for pool and snooker.
33 Queen’s Rd, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1NY
BUNDOBUST
Independent Indian street food specialists Bundobust are known across the U.K. for modernising Gujarati street food and for championing craft beers.
Their thriving restaurants in Leeds and other Northern cities are widely regarded as industry game changers. With critically acclaimed menus, they have become a beacon of successful casual dining across the North of England.
Bundobust actually turned into a restaurant by accident - first focusing on serving tasty snacks alongside its curated craft beer menu before later evolving into a fully-fledged dining spot. Bundobust is a unique proposition; an original concept with the aim for its amazing beer selection to sit in harmony with its Indian cuisine - a marriage made in heaven.
This idea means the restaurant caters to different groups - giving its customers a taste of Gujurat - a state on the Western coat of India - alongside amazing beers brewed by Bundobust and sourced from local breweries and beyond. Bundobust’s food is filled with colour, texture and flavour.
Being served up in the restaurant’s laid-back casual atmosphere, it is easy to see why Bundobust is one of the most loved spots in the city.
6 Mill Hill, Leeds,
Colours May Vary sells delightful items that will brighten up and add taste to your living space. After opening at Munro House in 2012, the store is now set in the Leeds Corn Exchange - a beautiful Victorian-era grade I listed building that opened in 1861 and is now a hub of independent boutique stores and one of Leeds’ most iconic landmarks.
Colours May Vary sells everything from books, journals, prints, cards, gifts, wrap, homeware and stationery. All these products are guided by a core interest in graphic art and design, typography and illustration.
The store sources items locally and internationally from both rising and established artists. This leads to a varied and highly curated offering. Colours May Vary is the perfect place to stroll in and find something unfamiliar that you will not see elsewhere. Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Ln, Leeds,
Situated at one of Leeds’ historic yards in a former 1900’s textile mill, Headrow House is a multi-use venue spanning four floors covering food, drink and events.
Working up from the bottom floor, Headrow starts off as a cosy beer hall with ambient lighting and a rustic interior, even showcasing four tanks of unpasteurised Pilsner. The mix of long sofas and benches are perfect for enjoying conversations with friends and sampling some high-quality beers.
The hall offers 60 beers from around the world, housing permanent lines alongside rotating seasonal choices. For food, be sure to check out the £5 steak and chips available 12-8 everyday, and if you and your friends want to win gig tickets, shots, cinema tickets, cash prizes and more - book in at the Pub Quiz every Tuesday from 6:30PM.
Above the hall is a 150-capacity live events space. Hosted by Leeds’ very own Super Friendz, who present and promote live music across cultural venues in the city, each year Headrow House features music from an exciting mix of underground and established artists. Check the calendar and you will see music from most genres and even a weekly stand-up comedy event.
Head to the top floor and you will find Redondo Beach - a terrace bar serving everything from craft beer to classic cocktails and wine. The terraces offer a getaway from busy city life, with the top one having stunning views over Leeds’ skyline, newly-built Victoria Quarter rooftops and the iconic neon signs that have become a hallmark of Headrow.
The Headrow terraces have long-been held as the place to be in Leeds in the summer. They have dj’s playing until late and are a must-visit for anyone in the city during the warmer months.
Finally, Headrow is also home to Ox Club - an awardwinning contemporary British solid-fuel grill restaurant. Ox Club highlights the best local Yorkshire produce and was featured in the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide for 2017-2022, showing the culinary talents of its team. The menu features small plates and woodgrilled mains, focusing on simple but imaginative dishes that change depending on what seasonal produce is available.
19a The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU
The House of Fu story began in 1996 when future head chef Ben Iley, who at the time was working at top restaurants within Leeds, decided to visit Tokyo for direction after becoming disillusioned at the quality of ramen he was producing.
Ben fell in love with Japanese culture and one month turned into nine years. During this time he plied his trade at renowned dining spots in Tokyo, meeting acclaimed chefs along the way and gaining a renewed understanding of the attention to detail that characterises Japanese food.
Upon returning to Leeds in 2014, the House of Fu concept was born.
Starting as a pop-up at Belgrave, House of Fu went on to win ‘Best of the Best’ at that year’s British Street Food Awards. The idea slowly developed as the team took inspirational trips to America and Japan and the pop-up appeared at various festivals. Fast-forward a few years and House of Fu took over a space on the Headrow.
Alongside authentic ramen and Japanese-inspired dishes, the House of Fu aesthetic is something to marvel at: weaving modern inspirations from Tokyo and Los Angeles with bespoke decor produced by the local community. Not to mention Hello Music Lounge - an upstairs bar with karaoke rooms that feels like stepping into an alternate universe from the ‘70s - neon lights, psychedelic artwork, a fabulous vinyl collection and unique cocktails.
Hyde Park Book Club is a hip hangout and creative milieu at the forefront of Leeds’ arts scene. The venue is a platform for artists, musicians and writers, showcasing the emerging talent coming out of Leeds.
The space has a quirky feel and tonnes of character; housed in a dis-used petrol station, it started life as a small cafe in 2015 before transforming into a live music and arts space whilst still selling food, drink, books and records.
Events include jazz clubs, photography and art exhibitions, theatre, debates, book launches and book clubs. Food-wise, the Hyde Park Book Club serves up vegetarian dishes using local produce and plant-based protein from The Vegetarian Butcherthe world’s first plant butcher based in Holland. Whilst for drinks you can expect to find locally-sourced beers and coffee from Leeds-based suppliers.
Hyde Park Picture House first opened its doors in 1914 and is still standing proud to this day. Boosting morale during World War 1 by distracting from the realities of war with film, the vintage cinema has survived multiple advents of technology and represents one of the oldest picture houses in the UK - an institution fixed within the cultural architecture of Leeds.
The Grade II listed cinema has recently been the subject of a major redevelopment project supported by staff, volunteers, members, partners and friends - preserving its important heritage and introducing new facilities.
Hyde Park Picture House is nationally connected but locally focused - a community cinema that provides its audience with an inclusive space to explore and discover the world of film. The cinema screens independent, documentary and classic films from around the world, as well as lending its support to local filmmakers.
73 Brudenell Rd, Leeds,
Jumbo Records is ingrained in the heritage of Leeds. First opened in 1971 in a small space in the Merrion Centre, the store has been a mainstay in the city - a melting-pot to find new records, cd’s, magazines and gig tickets. Jumbo has introduced its audience to an eclectic mix of genres down the years as new sounds have defined eras.
As both new and older generations enter its doors, Jumbo has created strong personal connections - a musical universe where customers can come and grab a coffee, explore and chat to staff, tapping into their vast knowledge and deep-rooted passion.
The record store was first opened by Hunter Smith and his wife, taking its name from his disco and DJ business called Jumbo Mobile Discotheque. The pair ran the shop for years before selling to long-time customers Nick Fraser and Justinia Lewis in 2014. A proudly independent store that is still standing strong, Jumbo Records is well-regarded as one of the North’s key music stores and the beating heart of musical culture in Leeds.
Merrion Street, 1-3 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG
After opening in 2011, Laynes Espresso has ascended into the go-to coffee shop in Leeds. The independent espresso bar was formed to give coffee drinkers in the city a welcoming environment that cherished the quality of its coffee. Found just a stone’s throw away from Leeds Train Station, Laynes is ideally situated for commuters and is a cosy setting filled with charm.
Laynes has expanded in recent years to include a well-regarded brunch menu and pastry selection baked at its very-own bakery in Armley; the queues to get a table each weekend is a true testament to the reputation it has built as a brunch hotspot. Ran by coffee enthusiast Dave Olejnik who is also behind pasta restaurant Sarto, Laynes is shaped by his experiences of coffee cultures in cities like New York, Chicago and Melbourne - presenting a fine palette bound to strike a chord with coffee lovers.
360 Kirkstall Rd, Burley, Leeds, LS4 2HQ. 24 Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2AD.
POCO is the first Sicilian street food vendor to grace Leeds and offers a slice of the region’s beautiful cuisine and rich culture. The now beloved Italian eatery has two sites in the city in Burley and Headingley after first opening its doors in 2017.
It recently announced the opening of a third joint in Leeds City Centre - something its loyal customer base were very excited about. Ran by the team behind Meanwood’s Italian restaurant CULTO, POCO serves up delightful food made using only the freshest ingredients by Sicilian chefs. Catering to vegetarians and meat eaters alike, firm favourites include the tray-baked Pizza al Taglio, Focaccine sandwiches, arancini and a host of sweet treats - just to name a few of POCO’s mouth-watering offering.
360 Kirkstall Rd, Burley, Leeds, LS4 2HQ. 24 Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2AD.
Having launched in the summer of 2023, Project House is an expansive concept bringing together the key names that have contributed to Leeds’ burgeoning creative scene in recent times: Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall, Welcome Skate Store and Super Friendz.
Project House’s vision is to introduce something entirely different to Leeds - a large, multi-faceted venue that can operate through day and night, covering all bases from concerts, markets and exhibitions to meetings, conferences and parties.
Found just out of the city centre in Armley, the venue has an industrial feel, only enhancing its authenticity to create a special atmosphere for the range of contemporary musicians that will feature in its first launch season. For residents of the city and anyone visiting, Project House is something to be massively excited about - keep an eye on their social channels and website to stay up-to-date with new events.
SARTO is a bar and restaurant at the Munro House building at the corner of the city centre, focusing on fresh, home-made pasta. The restaurant is a collaborative venture between well-known Leeds spots Laynes Espresso and The Brunswick, born over a shared passion for pasta. SARTO presents modern interpretations of pasta dishes; whilst the impetus is Italian, SARTO is attempting something different.
Using the best quality local produce, the restaurant experiments and puts its own spin on things. The menu is inclusive but refined - a selection of small plates that change seasonally and focus on attention to detail, introducing new flavours to Leeds’ dining scene.
Munro House, Duke St, Leeds, LS9
Take It Easy has built a community of like-minded photography lovers, creating an inclusive space where people can come together to share experiences and learn through workshops, resources and events.
The Lab offers a range of top-tier professional services to cover both amateur and experienced photographers’ every need, celebrating “all things film and the people who shoot it”.
The lab started in 2020 but its story has been over a decade in the making. After finishing a photography degree in 2008, Liam Henry worked at another photography store in Leeds where he met Nick Baines.
Sharing a mutual love of film photography, the pair eventually started Take It Easy after an earlier venture ended, this time with the help of Liam’s cousin, Joe.
Situated at the edge of the city centre on North Street - an exciting street in Leeds with a growing offering of tasteful independent food and drinks spots - the Brunswick is an artsy neighbourhood pub with a laidback atmosphere and cool interior.
The pub houses a wide beer selection that changes daily, alongside a much-loved burger menu and roasts served everyday Sunday - seen as a contender for some of the best in Leeds and including a tasty vegetarian option.
Often housing food pop-ups from local street food traders, the Brunswick is a relaxed space for top quality food & drinks with friends and has outdoor seating to enjoy the sun in the summer months.
Based in Thornton’s Arcade, Village is a bookshop and gallery that offers a curated selection of contemporary art, design, fashion and photography publications, with a strong focus on self-published & small press zines from artists around the world.
Established by Joe Torr and Ben Holmes in 2012, two friends that had met at university, Village slowly built its loyal audience from the groundup - first selling zines and artworks at local art fairs. The name Village is a symbol of its community-driven ethos, with the bookshop & gallery representing an inclusive place for its diverse audience to discover art. Whilst Village introduces the city to publications from artists far and wide, it maintains a strong local presence.
In the way of regular exhibitions, book launches, and artist talks, Village promotes work from talented emerging artists and photographers within Leeds.
10-12 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6LQ @villagebooks.co
Wayward Wines is widely considered to be one of the pioneers behind the natural wine movement in the North of England. Having opened in 2017, Wayward is located in the hip Leeds suburb of Chapel-Allerton and operates as both a bar and store, allowing you to get your hands on a curated menu of low-intervention, organic wines from all around the world.
Founder Steve Nuttall started Wayward after spending time discovering and avidly learning about natural wine, even placing obscure selections on the wine list at Leeds restaurant The Reliance whilst working there.
Nuttall travelled to the wine bars of London, Paris, Barcelona, Palermo and beyond, learning his trade. With an ever-growing wine list and laid-back ambient atmosphere in the shop, Wayward Wines is a must-visit for all wine lovers in the city
1C Regent St, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7
49-51 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6DS
63 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1LQ
