As LS6 takes a new direction for 2016, we join them to celebrate a new era for the much-loved restaurant.
LS6 café has always been a student staple. You only need to venture to Hyde Park Corner on a weekend morning to see the place packed with bleary eyed students nursing a hangover. The restaurant-come-bar has experienced a number of changes over the past few years, as it adapts to the ever-evolving food and drink scene that makes Leeds the distinctive city that it is. With the ownership changing hands in March of last year, the new owner has a clear vision for 2016: to create a social space for students and societies alike, as an evening venue as well as somewhere to enjoy great food.
From the outside, it’s clear to see LS6 is moving in a new direction. The bar has moved, becoming a focal point of the room upon entrance, and openly displaying the vast selection of beers, spirits and cocktails available – cocktails are 2-4-1 between the prime library leaving hours of 5-7pm. Priding themselves on sustainability, environmental awareness and ethical farming, the new bar is made of reclaimed wood, and LS6 remain a partner of the Real Junk Food Project. They’re aiming to continue this ethos by growing and managing a herb garden on the roof terrace, and placing an emphasis on the importance of sourcing local produce and recycling, as new lunch special menus will be dependent on using the ingredients already in the kitchen. Those already familiar with LS6’s breakfast menu should become more acquainted with their brunch and dinner options; the sandwiches and wraps offer delicious fillings until 4pm, and from 5pm burgers served in a Yorkshire muffin take centre stage.
LS6 is not just for breakfast, or even muffin burgers. The venue holds the title for the longest running Jazz night in Leeds, held every Wednesday, with the house-band performing from 9pm and a jam session boogying on from 10pm until midnight. LS6 has proudly created a hub of creativity in the community, orchestrating everything from exhibitions to open mic nights. The versatile use of the space has been made easier by their newly refurbished event space, which features three ‘movable walls’ which makes it an all-round function room for any event.
On re-launch night they had black and white films playing in this
space, with candles in bottles dripping in wax and bowls of toffee popcorn on tables around the room. It’s the perfect place to screen films, with stacks of pillows and throws to prop yourself up on – film society we’re looking at you – but would be convenient for any small socials. If you’re fed up of watching films on your small laptop screen, there’s a documentary film night every Sunday evening between 7-10pm. LS6 has been given a new lease of life and downstairs has been lifted with shining new light fittings and features.
LS6 undeniably does a damn good slap-up breakfast but there is definitely more to this café than eggs benedict and hash browns.
Emma Bowden & Hannah Holmes