A plant shop, a distillery and a retro Italian sports bar – that’s just a taste of the new arrivals coming to Leeds in the near future.
The new openings never seem to stop in Leeds and we’ve got the inside track on another tantalising batch of 10 that offer a little something for everyone. You can look forward to picking up amazing plants, sipping Leeds-made spiced rum and stepping back in time at a 90s Italian football-themed bar. But that’s just the start, so take a look at what’s coming our way and make plans to check them out.
Poppy’s Potting Shed
Just a year after launching in Armley during lockdown, Poppy needs a bigger Potting Shed. The houseplant shop is moving to a brand new 1,000 square-foot premises on Kirkstall Road. Alongside the oodles of plants you can buy to add some leafy goodness to your home – it even has a menu board to help customers select their perfect one – you can also look forward to a series of events and workshops, form terrarium-making to plant and Prosecco evenings.
Poppy’s Potting Shed is opening at Burley Court on Kirkstall Road on Saturday 13th November 2021.
Golaccio
If you love Italian football, Golaccio is a game-changer, bringing calcio fever to the old George pub on Great George Street. The 90s were the golden age of Italian football and the era still has a cult following – you can sup craft beers as you check out the images of Batistuta, Baggio and Baresi adorning the walls next to vintage football shirts. HD screens will show old games when they’re not screening live games. Pool, darts and 90s video games round it off nicely.
Golaccio is opening on Great George Street in early 2022.
The Pink Room
You can shop and pamper to your heart’s content at the Corn Exchange’s newest arrival, The Pink Room. It’s designed as a safe space for all women, staffed and selling products by women. In the shop, you can take your pick from gorgeous homewares, beauty products, prints and books all created by independent female makers. It’s complemented by their treatment offering – book in for everything from facials to yoga, cupping and holistic massages.
The Pink Room is opening in Leeds Corn Exchange on Saturday 13th November 2021.
Libations Rum Distillery
Award-winning rum company Libations are taking their next big step in 2022 – they’re opening their own distillery and blending house in Leeds. Founded in December 2019 by Chloe Potter and Rory Armstrong, Libations has made a name for itself across the UK with its single origin spiced and pineapple-infused rums, but now they’re planning to bring production in-house and offer an unrivalled rum experience which will include a bar and visitor centre.
Libations Rum Distillery plans to open in Leeds city centre in 2022.
Tapas and Tunes
If love small plates and great music, Otley will soon have a bar and restaurant you can get excited about. Tapas & Tunes will serve up delicious, traditional Spanish fare – enjoy tasty pintxos like boquerones and tapenade before sharing bravas, calamares and tortilla Española. They’ll also do special brunch and lunch menus, but the food is just one element. Upstairs is a live events space – get ready for everything from open mics to film nights and salsa classes.
Tapas and Tunes is opening on 50 Kirkgate, Otley in late 2021.
Home
Since opening in 2017, Home has become one of the best restaurants in Leeds – but now it’s on the move to bigger and better premises. After outgrowing its current Kirkgate location, the former MasterChef semi-finalist Liz Cottam is taking over the former Oracle bar site to create a flagship restaurant with a greater visibility and presence in the city. It will also allow Liz to help grow their food offering, expanding on their ever-changing menus of 8 to 10 courses.
Home is moving to Brewery Wharf in early 2022.
9 East Parade
Major plans to transform the historic, grade II-listed 9 East Parade have got the green light. Leeds-based developer Mayfair Group Investment are redeveloping the building originally constructed as the Mayor’s residence. At the heart of the plans are a ground-floor restaurant and separate basement night club with a roof terrace that will double as an alfresco dining space. The upper floors will become high-end office space accessed from Park Cross Street.
9 East Parade is set to reopen in 2023.
Meat:Stack
Real American cheeseburgers is what Newcastle favourite Meat:Stack promises and they’re bringing them to Boar Lane early next year. This will be just their second-ever restaurant, but these smash-style single, double or triple bundles of juicy joy have got a big reputation. Take the jalapeño, soft cheese, bacon and Stack Sauce covered New Mexico as a mouthwatering example. It ain’t just burgers, though – they open for breakfast with pancakes and stacked sarnies.
Meat:Stack is opening at 34 Boar Lane in early 2022.
Dragonfly Skin
A new day spa with a sustainable focus is coming to central Leeds in December. The opening of Dragonfly Skin is a dream realised for beauty therapist Kristine Kosareva. She’s hand-picked the cruelty-free, sustainably sourced and 100% natural products of Eve Taylor to use in the treatments she’ll offer. You can treat yourself to a luxury facial, indulge in a Swedish massage or go all out with their 10-hour body sculpting packages.
Dragonfly Skin is opening in central Leeds on Tuesday 7th December 2021.
The Underground
The Underground started in a basement but is now a soon-to-open bakery in the heart of Otley. You might have tried their tasty wares before – they’ve been sold in cafes and bars across the region for years, but now they’re going out on their own. You’ll be able to pick up all kinds of homemade treats, from indulgent pastries and artisan chocolates to freshly-baked loaves and savoury croissant sandwiches. Tea, locally-sourced coffee and fresh juices round it off nicely.
The Underground is opening Boroughgate, Otley in late 2021.
