Oakwood delights both visitors and locals alike with its welcoming community and thriving businesses.
Oakwood has made a name for itself as a vibrant community with a bustling high street. There’s a lot going on in this exciting part of Leeds, just a few minutes down the road from LS17.
A picturesque area, Oakwood’s most notable feature is its clock tower, fittingly known as the Oakwood Clock which was built in 1904. The clock was designed by architectural firm Leeming & Leeming, which was established in Halifax in 1872, and the design was brought to life by Potts of Leeds. The striking timepiece sits at the bottom end of Roundhay Park. However, this wasn’t the location it was originally intended for. The original plan was for it to be the centrepiece of Kirkgate Market. However, after the design of the market was revised, the clock no longer fit the style of the architecture, and the idea to place it in Oakwood came about. Eight years after it was first built the clock was placed in Oakwood, where it has remained ever since.
Turning back the clock even further, as most might guess, Oakwood likely got its name from the oak trees found in the area, which were once part of an ancient forest, though the area took up this name fairly recently in its history. What is now Oakwood was originally rural land owned by George Goodman. The land was sold by Goodman in 1825 to a local textile merchant family, who soon began construction of a manor house called Wood End. This name was changed to Oakwood House sometime between 1847 and 1865, and it was this house which would lend the area its name. In 1891 much of the land was put up for sale as the Oakwood Building Estate which would form the basis for the boundaries that exist now. The area is an attractive neighbourhood for young families to settle and visitors alike with its array of services, buzzing food and drink offering and easy access location. The high street is home to cafés, restaurants, and a wealth of independent businesses, all of which are worth a look. Worth a special mention is the farmers market which takes place every third Saturday of the month 9am to 12:30pm, drawing in plenty of visitors from both Oakwood and further afield. There’s also a family fun day taking place in Oakwood on 18th May which will feature stalls, live music, and street food.
With such a thriving leisure scene, it’s no surprise that new faces are always popping up. One such new face is The Acapella, a brand-new restaurant and bar serving exceptional tapas and drinks alongside live music on a weekend.
Great news for those who like a good cheese plate, The Cheesy Living Co has expanded to Oakwood, taking over from The Pantry and bringing it’s 100% British cheese and charcuterie café to delight the area’s denizens. Owners Jake and Soph started the business as a lockdown project, and it expanded from there. For an extra special treat, make sure to book in for the fondue, available in a range of flavours.
Long term friends Paul Bolster and Nick Julian have recently opened a new pizza restaurant, called Ottimo. Paul already owns Tasty Kitchen & Coffee, the pizza concept is focused on quality ingredients, balanced flavours, and a tried and tested dough process, focusing on the small details to create a really special product. Owner Nick Julian comments: “Paul and I have always shared the same values around creating products that really exceed expectations and now this opportunity has given us the chance to work together. When Paul’s next-door neighbour announced their re-location it felt like this was the moment!”
These new restaurants aren’t the only changes happening! With lunch time favourite Pitta Fan opening a new seating area, Simon Falk Eyewear expanding into the shop next door (which used to house Gron), Punjabi Heaven set to open an Indian sweet shop, and Roundhay Aesthetics is setting up a new aestheics clinic inside Oakwood Dental, providing a range of treatments including LED therapy, peels, and injectable treatments. It’s no wonder why the area is proving so popular. And with one of Europe’s most visited parks just next door, oakwood is definitely the place to go.