Independent Leeds coffee company North Star opened its fourth coffee shop on Monday 27 July, taking over the former El’s Gourmet site on Great George Street as the newly transformed street continues to attract independent businesses.
The takeaway-focused café arrives after significant public realm improvements to the street, including widened pavements and new outdoor seating designed to encourage people to linger. North Star’s opening adds to a growing cluster of independent coffee businesses helping shape the area’s daytime economy.
Designed around convenience without compromising on quality, the kiosk-style café serves the coffee and food North Star is known for across Leeds — ethically sourced specialty coffee, seasonal drink specials and a menu of freshly prepared food. The café is supported by North Star’s dedicated kitchen, which prepares food for all four of its sites: freshly baked breads and sandwiches, daily bakes and breakfast items, made with quality ingredients and delivered to each location by e-cargo bike. At the heart of the offering are North Star’s house-made sandwiches, built on schiacciata, a traditional Tuscan flatbread baked fresh in-house every morning. NHS staff get a 15% discount at the new site, in recognition of the thousands of healthcare workers nearby.
Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters, said: “Great George Street is changing quickly, and it’s exciting to be part of that transformation. The investment that’s gone into the street has created a much more welcoming environment for people to spend time in, and we believe that independent hospitality businesses have an important role to play in bringing these spaces to life. We’ve always believed great coffee belongs at the heart of a thriving city. As a Leeds business, we’re proud to continue investing here and to contribute to an area that’s becoming an increasingly exciting destination for food, drink and independent businesses.”
Founded in Leeds in 2013, North Star was one of the north of England’s first specialty coffee roasters and is B Corp-certified and female founded. Over the past decade, it has built a reputation for transparent sourcing, exceptional coffee and thoughtful hospitality, supplying cafés and restaurants across the UK alongside its own retail sites. The Great George Street opening is North Star’s fourth coffee shop, and the company says it strengthens its long-term commitment to Leeds at a time when many hospitality businesses continue to face economic challenges.
