Moods: 'I dined inside one of Leeds’ oldest buildings - and discovered a surprisingly modern experience'

Leeds has long been a city of reinvention - it is woven into its story.

From its industrial roots through to a thriving modern economy, our city has repeatedly reshaped itself.

Time and time again, new life has been breathed into former industrial land, disused buildings and forgotten spaces to help them find new purpose.

And reinvention goes far beyond bricks and mortar - it has also become the hallmark of the city’s thriving dining scene.

Fresh concepts and independent operators are looking at how they can innovate and continue to serve up a fresh new life and taste into the city centre and beyond.

And brand new all-day cafe bar, events venue and restaurant Moods is the latest innovator looking to leave its mark on diner’s taste buds.

It has opened up in one of the city centre’s most significant historic buildings - the First White Cloth Hall.

Occupying the ground floor of the Grade II-listed building on Kirkgate, Moods aims to bring all day dining and drinks together under one roof.

The First White Cloth Hall, which was built in 1711 for the sale of white, undyed cloth and has roof timbers dating back as far as the mid-1470s, spent more than 20 years on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register before being brought back to life.

And it’s fair to say husband and wife duo Will and Hayley Moody have definitely given it the chance to hum once again.

The décor is smooth, sleek and sophisticated with a stylish edge - and it is split into different sections as you walk through the airy glass doors.

There is a lounge area for lazy bar drinks, a café for your coffees and snacks as well as bright dining area for those wishing to sample the kitchen.

The kitchen is led by head chef Craig Rogan, who trained at Michelin-starred restaurants before launching his own venture, Craig Rogan at The Collective.

He was crowned Chef of the Year in 2023 and won Best Fine Dining Restaurant in 2024 at the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Oliver Awards.

So we had high hopes for our visit - and it didn’t disappoint.

The menu is split into three simple sections: morning moods for breakfast, pre-noon and onwards for brunch and then post noon.

My dining partner opted for the mead glazed smoked pancetta with potato rosti and mushroom ketchup at £16.

And I had serious food envy when her perfectly presented plate arrived.

The pancetta was smoky but not overbearing and there were hearty layers of fat among the meat which meant it was packed with flavour without it being too salty.

My dining partner compared it to an elegant, elevated take on a good old English Breakfast with posh hash browns and bacon.

She polished off the plate.

I opted for the fried duck eggs with courgettes, peas and Yorkshire chorizo priced at £15.

Again, the presentation was superb and the eggs were cooked to perfection. The chorizo wasn’t too spicy and the courgettes and peas bought a beautiful balance to the dish.

We were very impressed the menu offered a boozy section for mimosas, a Bloody Mary and Bellini if you wanted to make your brunch date boozy.

We opted for soft drinks - while gazing at the superb presentation of the coffees - bringing our bill in at just under £40.

The future of one of Leeds’ most historical buildings looks to be starting a new chapter.

And with such beautifully crafted dishes and a stylish setting, Moods is proving that reinvention can also taste pretty exceptional too.

Factfile

Address: Moods, 98 Kirkgate, Leeds City Centre.

Telephone: 98 Kirkgate

Opening hours: Sun to Thurs 8am to 11pm, Fri to Sat 8am to 12.30am.

Website: https://moodsleeds.co.uk/

Scores

Food: 9/10

Value: 9/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Service: 7/10