Much-loved pizzeria Pizza Loco has announced it will be closing at the end of the month after four and a half years in Oakwood.
The independent has said it's been 'excruciating to come to terms' with the news, but hopes to make 2024 the year with lots of new ventures, and losing the Oakwood store is just part of the process of moving onto bigger and better things.
Pizza Loco will still be slinging out dishes seven days a week over inside the Meanwood Tavern in Meanwood, and hints that there will be 'two large and exciting new projects and a new food concept to launch this year' to look forward to in 2024 - so it's not all bad news.
The local pizzeria opened back its Oakwood 2019 and became a hit for its standout pizzas, sarnies (panuozzi) and has been spotted at pop-ups across the city ever since.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Pizza Loco really has become a staple of the local independent community during this time, and even had a collaboration with Rabbit Hole coffee last year.
But of course, we've all about all aboard the 'pizza train' for over a decade now. The pizzeria has gone from strength-to-strength in this time: starting off as a pop-up with a train structure before opening a permanent venture in 2019.
The Jamie Thiccc-erton became not just a local but national sensation, when the real Jamie Theakston got to hear about his namesake sando on Heart radio. The combination of mortadella, finocchiona, whole burrata, pepper slice, lemon basil aioli, gherkin and escarole has had locals cramming through the door - and will still be available for the next few weeks at the Oakwood venue.
Old favourites like the Marinargherita and Alla Norma will also make a limited return to the menu for the final weeks of trading in Oakwood.
Owner Oli Reynolds announced the news on Instagram:
"Dear Oakwood. Ollie here… I’ve been putting this off for a while, but I have to let you all know that at the end of the month, I will be permanently closing the pizzeria in Oakwood.
"It’s been excruciating to come to terms with closing here as I owe so much to all my Oakwood customers and staff old/new, but I have face facts that to keep the Oakwood site running, I’d need to work there full time. And with two large and exciting new projects and a new food concept to launch this year, this is the only way to have a fighting chance of making them successful.
"4 and a half years in this amazing little neighbourhood. It’s been an absolute whirlwind! From barely open pizzeria, to lockdown takeaway factory, to @rabbithole.coffee collabs, to crazy busy, to cozzie livs, to 9 months as solo chef ?.
"Whilst I feel sad to write this, I know there’s big things to look forward to (for you too hopefully ??). We’ll still be firing out the goodness @meanwoodtavern too so please come say hello!
"For these last few weeks, I will be mostly bringing back old menu favourites (Marinargherita, Alla Norma to name a couple), staff specials, old Pat Butchers, and bits that never made the menu. Plus a burns night special little haggis number ?.
Famed for its pizza sarnies, the news has been met with heartfelt comments from local indies like "Best pizza in the UK hands down !!! Can’t wait to keep on eating your food wherever you will be!" from OWT and "One of the main reasons for moving to Oakwood was to be closer to your sweet pies x will miss you, excited for the future good luck" from neighbours The Melbourne.
The news has been met by over 100 different comments from locals mourning the loss of the pizzeria, with people even making plans to travel across the country for one last slice in Oakwood:
"This is a big loss for Oakwood but glad to hear you have new projects on the go. Your pizzas got us through that 1st lockdown"
"Are you shitting me?! So sad and yet utterly delighted for you. We will take a trip up from Warwick before the end of the month for one last pizza loco hurrah."
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant
Clementine Hall
Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.
Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
Image: Supplied
And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.
The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.
The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.
Image: Supplied
The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.
Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.
“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”
Sophie Smith -
8th January 2024 
