Manjit’s Kitchen to close Leeds restaurant on Kirkstall Road

Manjit’s Kitchen has announced it will close its Leeds restaurant on Kirkstall Road in a heartbreaking statement published on social media. 

The female-run vegetarian Punjabi street food favourite, which has two Leeds sites – a Kirkstall Road restaurant and a street food stall in Kirkgate Market – put a statement out on Thursday telling customers it was “the end of our Kirkstall Road journey”.

Apologising to “all this will affect”, Manjit’s Kitchen hit out at the UK government’s 20% VAT rate and cited rising costs across the board as the reason for the restaurant’s closure.

Explaining that “the rising costs of everything has caught up with us”, they revealed that their restaurant lease is up for renewal and it was “time to look for a new home and new partnerships.”

Adding that they intend to “bow out gracefully”, the team confirmed that they will continue to trade at the restaurant until the end of April.

They also confirmed that their Kirkgate Market stall will remain open as usual.

Manjit’s Kitchen first opened their Kirkstall Road Leeds restaurant in 2019, but the business has been going since 2010 –  first starting life as a weekends-only home deliveries service, armed with little more than a stove and a Twitter account.

Manjit, a self-confessed rebel, decided to go all-out on cooking after being made redundant from her Leeds-based office job following the 2008 recession.

With the help of her husband, Michael, she quickly built a following with her authentic Punjabi vegetarian food and branched out to cover markets, festivals and food events, before eventually opening her popular Kirkgate Market stall in 2016.

During this time, Leeds-born chef Manjit has also used her business to empower other women. Her kitchen, with the exception of Michael, is run by an all-female team and it is something she is very proud of.

As a survivor of domestic violence she has spoken publicly about wanting to give a voice to other women, saying she has seen first hand the difference in confidence in her staff.

For now, they will continue to trade as usual whilst they look for another home for the Kirkstall Road restaurant.

The full statement from Manjit’s Kitchen reads: “The End of our Kirkstall Road Journey

“We have made the difficult decision to close our restaurant on Kirkstall Road. I am very sorry to all this will affect.

“The rising costs of everything has caught up with us. Our lease is up for renewal and it is time for us to look for a new home and new partnerships.

“We hoped the government had listened to hospitality. 20% VAT alongside all the other rising costs makes running our small independent restaurant impossible. We are busier than ever but we cannot keep up with the rising costs.

“We will trade until the end of April, we will bow out gracefully. We will host some farewell parties, we thank everyone who has visited and supported over the years.
Do come and say your goodbyes.

“We hope we leave our little corner of Burley better than we found it.

“Manjit’s Kitchen at Leeds Kirkgate market will remain open as usual. Thankyou and Goodbye for now.”

Featured image – Manjit’s Kitchen via Instagram

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