White Cloth Hall: Grade-II listed site in Leeds to become major food and drink destination

Construction is now taking place on turning the site, which is located behind the Corn Exchange, into a food and drink hall which will include three kitchens, two bars and a deli/coffee shop.

It is intended that each of the three kitchens will be run by an individual head chef and kitchen team.

Ed Mason, owner of White Cloth Hall and Whitelock’s managing owner, said he couldn’t wait for visitors to be able to experience what is being created.

“This is a special project,” he said.

"There’s so much cultural history to celebrate, but also so much potential too. For someone like me, who’s so rooted in this city, the chance to re-establish White Cloth Hall as a go-to destination once more was unmissable, and one that I’m so excited about.

“Not only have we got a great team driving the project, we’re also busy assembling a serious array of food and drink talent - all of whom feel as strongly about doing it the right way as we do. There'll be no airs and graces, no stuffiness, just beautifully prepared food and drink, served the Yorkshire way.

“We can’t wait to open our doors and show everyone what we’ve been working on. We’re going to make it somewhere to savour.”

A spokesperson added: “The time-honoured history of hospitality found across the copper bar of Whitelock’s Ale House, Leeds’ oldest pub, will run through every arch and cobble of White Cloth Hall. Just like the building itself, the White Cloth Hall team is Leeds born and bred.

“Owner Ed Mason is a Leeds-made man, and major investor, Jonathan Morgan, has been at the vanguard of the redevelopment and revitalisation of the city centre over the last 25 years. Together with the Whitelock’s team, they share a vision to restore White Cloth Hall to the Northern institution it was always built to be.”