April 4, 2024

Opposite ventures into Meanwood, bringing Specialty Coffee and Sustainable Dining

Words by: Simon Fogal

Opposite, the pioneering force behind Leeds’ speciality coffee scene, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest location in Meanwood on April 9th, 2024. Situated at Stonegate Road next to Boot & Rally, this marks a significant expansion for the business, continuing its legacy of delivering exceptional coffee and culinary experiences to the community.

Founded in 2005 at Leeds University, Opposite quickly became synonymous with top-quality coffee and warm, welcoming atmospheres. After selling the leases for the Victoria Leeds Kiosk and the original Leeds University outlets in 2015 and 2023 respectively, Opposite remains steadfast in its commitment to providing unmatched coffee experiences to its customers with a thriving Chapel Allerton shop and Meanwood now joining the family.

Owner Lou Henry is eager to introduce Opposite’s newest venture to the residents of Meanwood. “We’re incredibly excited to bring Opposite to Meanwood,” says Lou. “It’s a vibrant community, and we can’t wait to become a part of it.”

The Meanwood location will not only offer Opposite’s signature speciality coffee, roasted in collaboration with North Star Coffee Roasters; it will also feature a full brunch menu curated in partnership with MorMor, renowned for its innovative Levantine cuisine, this will be a take on classic brunch dishes. MorMor recently received high praise from esteemed food critic Jay Rayner during its residency at Kino, promising an unforgettable brunch experience for Meanwood locals and visitors alike.

The initial intimate brunch menu from MorMor will feature dishes such as Shakshuka, Merquez & fried egg sandwiches, Mezze platters (think Za’atar, garlic mushrooms, Tabbouleh Salads) and Pancake stacks and will be served Thursday to Sunday from 18th April.

The talented kitchen team at Opposite is also set to broaden its array of cakes and baked goods, all crafted on-site. With the addition of a larger kitchen space exclusively dedicated to baking and off-site catering. They aim to build on existing customer faves like their infamous chocolate brownies, biscoff blondies and hefty slabs of vegan banana & walnut loaf cake. Expect special baked treats on weekends, seasonal and themed cakes, and options for catering to vegan and gluten-free diets. As one the largest external catering suppliers to Leeds University (amongst others), they are now set to increase capacity for delivering their healthy lunches, cakes and coffee to business events, and conferences.

Back to the coffee and the espresso continues to be their signature blend, designed in collaboration with North Star Coffee Roasters. Lou chose the coffees specifically to highlight women in the industry and directly support female coffee farmers.

Lou said, “We approached Hols & Krag at North Star with an idea to champion women in coffee. We are a female-owned and managed team at Opposite, and we wanted to promote women’s empowerment in a predominantly male industry by choosing female coffee producers for our espresso blend.”

Opposite’s commitment to sustainability remains at the core of the business. The new Meanwood store boasts repurposed materials, furniture and equipment sourced from previous projects and other local businesses, aligning with Lou Henry’s vision of creating eco-conscious spaces. From replacing cleaning chemicals with more natural alternatives, reducing plastics, energy consumption and water use in the business, to continuing its closed-loop food waste and packaging composting initiatives.

“We believe that sustainability should be at the heart of everything we do,” explains Lou. “By succeeding in giving environmental and social sustainability as much importance as financial sustainability, we hope to inspire other people and businesses to make these small but important changes.”

Opposite aims to open its doors to the public on April 9th, offering customers a sneak peek into its inviting space. With a commitment to quality, sustainability, and community, Opposite looks forward to becoming a beloved fixture in the vibrant tapestry of Meanwood.