'A safe place for everyone': How Victoria Social became a Hyde Park community hub

The Hyde Park area has no shortage of student haunts, but few places have built the kind of loyal following that Victoria Social enjoys.

Situated in one of Leeds’ most multicultural neighbourhoods, the bar and eatery has become a second home for generations of students. Now, its owners are setting their sights on welcoming more local families through the door.

Co-founder Kyriakos “K” Nakos says the clue to the venue’s identity is in the name.

“It’s a bar and bistro in the Hyde Park area of Leeds, in a very multicultural area,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “The name behind Victoria Social is obviously Victoria because of the road, and Social is because we want everyone to be included in this place.

“We literally have people from all around the world… everyone here is the same and everyone is here to socialise.”

Since opening on Victoria Road in early 2022, Victoria Social has become a word-of-mouth hit with students at the nearby universities. It’s known as a relaxed, safe spot where people can come alone and leave with new friends.

“It’s a place where you’re not going to be harassed,” explained K. “As soon as you get in, you can feel that it’s not going to be like any other student bar or pub in the area. It’s just so chilled. It’s a safe, chill place that everyone enjoys, and they can’t wait to come back.”

Much of the buzz has been built around one unlikely hero: the pizza sandwich. Inspired by trips to Italy, the team wanted to bring something different to the Leeds bar scene.

“We wanted to bring something new instead of just pizza,” K said. “We’d been to a few places in Italy and, after we saw it there, we thought, ‘Why don’t we do it?’ For me, the pizza sandwich is the best - you have a pizza and a sandwich at the same time, so why not?”

Everything is made from scratch, with dough prepared a day in advance and produced only in limited batches to keep standards high. The result is a menu that has developed a cult following - and, crucially, it’s affordable.

A headline offer sees pizza dishes priced at £6.95, alongside drinks deals designed to work for student budgets and family outings alike. As K points out, a family of four can eat and drink for under £50, with free parking nearby and quick links to several areas of Leeds.

“A place where you can have a beer and a pizza for around £12 - I don’t think it’s something you’ll find anywhere else,” he said.

Inside and on the terrace, long tables are deliberately laid out to encourage conversation between strangers - something the team say they see play out night after night.

“We’ve got the big tables, so when it’s too busy, you see two couples sit at the same table,” K said. “They start chatting to each other and become friends. We’ve seen that happen so many times.

“Socialising now is not that easy for everyone. If they find a place where they can chat with others and even make a friend for 10 minutes, that’s a big bonus.”

Alongside the food and drink, Victoria Social runs quiz nights on Mondays and bingo on Wednesdays, with many of the staff and hosts starting as students and staying on long after they graduate.

“Most of our customers, when they graduate, if they choose to stay in Leeds, they carry on coming here because they’re so attached to the place,” said K. “So many memories for them.”

Now, the team are eyeing a second venue, potentially in an area with more young professionals and families, while keeping students at the heart of what they do.

Wherever they end up next, the formula is unlikely to change: good value, fresh food, and a space where anyone - from freshers to families - can walk in and feel they belong.