A. J Afro Caribbean (Foods and Veg) in the market is an absolutely delightful place. It epitimises…read moreexactly what is so fantastic about markets such as these. Selling a full array of Caribbean foodstuffs, including seasoning, scotch bonnet peppers, plantain for cheaper than you'd find it anywhere else, and dried fish for £6. As somebody who absolutely loves the firey sweet and sour flavours of the Caribbean, this place is a jewel not to be missed.

A lot of stalls inside and out. If you need something I can guarantee you would find it here!read more

A humongous indoor market that holds hundreds and hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of food and…read moremerchandise. A wide variety of items can be found, although I can't speak for the quality. The website lists the available traders along with a map. The area was bustling with people on a Friday afternoon, but not as crowded compared to some of the other markets that I have visited. We simply did a brief walkthrough that took about half-an-hour. There is a food court too for those looking for a quick bite.

Sometimes even I get bored of being such a materialistic and basis human being. It's times like…read morethese that I feel the need for action. Let's make the world a better place and spread some love people. That's exactly what the Green Action Food Co-Op tries to do. This is a top little find. How refreshing to find a place dedicated to making the world a better place to be in. Run by volunteers, it aims to provide cost price ethical food. Hoorah I say, take a bow. It's a truly fresh vibe kitted in hand written posters and bright funky colours. What you'll get is good quality food and services without the guilt. Without a doubt, try the vegetable boxes and you'll not regret it. Beautifully fresh and pure as the day is young. Sourced locally and organic as well. I think you're onto something. It's not just about the produce either. Pop along and engage in the green action movement through the library, action groups or purely meeting like minded people. It's a total experience and we should be supporting such groups to make sure their existence continues. Viva Le Revolution, Le Green ActionFood Co-Op Revolution.

One of the last bastions of free thinking being put into action (not many Universities seem to…read moreencourage this anymore, tis all about the money L ) the Students Union allows shops like the free-shop and the Green Action Co-op to exist by not charging rent. The Co-op (opening times are variable as it is run by volunteers) allows for reasonably priced health food products to be sold in a not for profit way which keeps the cost of speciality foods like coffee from the Zapatista's, coconut oil, millet and eco detergent at an affordable price. They also offer and organic veg box service which, by buying in bulk to a central area also keeps costs down. If this isn't an excellent thought and service I don't know what is. It allows access to goods that are normally charged at a premium down to an affordable level.

On entering the shop, my eyes were met with a beautiful array of fresh, organic fruit and…read morevegetables. (Or venchtables as I used to call them, until I was embarrassingly old enough to know better.) Large wicker baskets full of apples greet the customer, many having the all important bonus leaf. It truly made me want to pick them up and start skipping through a nearby meadow, wearing a flowing dress and possibly conversing with tamed animals. Too far? Forget it. A former vegetarian myself, I understand the convenience of having somewhere like Out Of This World to rely on in a city centre. It means being able to purchase items which are sometimes not even stocked in the larger supermarkets, to maintain a balanced diet without being forced to use unwanted substitutions. Too well stocked to be a health food shop, Out Of This World falls into the category of health food supermarket. There is a huge range of the usual nuts, seeds and pulses; but also a surprising number of Traidcraft toiletries, recycled stationary, hair dye and household cleaning products. Alongside fairly traded tea and coffee, vitamins, supplements and natural remedies, the store also caters for sufferers of restrictive diets. There is a varied selection of groceries for people who have to omit gluten, wheat and diary from their nutritional intake, and a large number of vegetarian and vegan ready meals. One reason why I particularly like Out Of This World, is because they stock Samuel Smith ale and lager. A real favourite with my Other Half and I, they provide us with a constant hoard. Bondgate Bakery in Otley supply the store with freshly baked loaves and buns, with gluten and wheat free alternatives available. A deli counter offers freshly made quiches, samosas and wraps - a handy lunch or a lazy supper. The staff are very approachable and were more than happy to assist me in finding a difficult item for a family member. What I mean by that, is my Gran was looking for bee pollen, because the lothario that she listens to on her local radio station had been praising its medical benefits. Any shop that can help me in my quest for bee pollen, has earned respect in my eyes.

This shop is the city centre's answer to Chapel A's Love Organic. It has been here ever since I…read moremoved to Leeds and as such is certainly one of the more longstanding stores in town. A lot of places have changed in what feels like a very small space of time, but not Out Of This World. I used to come here on Saturdays to purchase their organic milk and elderflower cordial for the bar that I worked at on Call Lane. It was always handy to stock up in case anyone wanted a White Russian, but really it was mostly to supply my need for coffee. Also, there is nothing quite as refreshing as elderflower cordial and lemonade. Seriously, it used to be my favourite drink. I love the smell when you walk in to this shop. It's not exclusive, it's that same smell most organic shops have, but it is lovely. The smell of good. Only goodness. Nothing in here can really be bad for you. At least, that's what we can believe until we learn otherwise! Within you will find, as well as hoards of organic foods, all sorts of enviro-friendly cosmetics, cleaning products (for you and your clothes) and much more. It errs on the expensive side if you wanted to do your weekly shop here, but it is sure worth buying that elderflower cordial. Yum!

This branch of Sainsbury's is a fairly decent size store, although it isn't the size of a large…read moresupermarket you can do a weekly shop, it is okay while you are in the Leeds city center, being on The Headrow next to the St John's centre. Inside it is a typical Sainsbury's, albeit a little old fashioned and in a way their is so much empty space, especially at the self-service and manned checkouts, where there is so much space wasted, so the range could be much improved. There was a decent yet small selection of most things, so if you are looking for some essentials odds are you probably are going to have to settle, for example you might not be able to get your favorite flavor or brand of crisps, drinks or chocolate bar for example. The staff didn't seem too helpful, they did come to the checkout when I needed them to approve my transaction, the checkouts could have been kept tidier, to keep rubbish such as receipts away, rather than cluttering the space. Overall, this is a decent place to call in while in Leeds center looking for essentials, but could be much improved and without a huge amount of similar competition nearby, it doesn't seem to be eager to compete, with the nearest alternative supermarket being a large Morrisons store which is a place to do your weekly shop, rather than call in to get essentials, which works out a hassle in a way, while comparing this store and considering its' location I feel two stars is fair.

I was actually really giddy when Sainsbury's appeared smack bang in the centre. I'm not really a…read moresupermarket snob, but sometimes, Sainsbury's just produces stuff that really hits the spot and tastes just lovely. It's a rarity when you prefer the home brand stuff to the actual branded products. And for me the Sainsbury's brand seems to do this rather nicely, especially the Taste the Difference range...can anyone say quad chocolate cookies? yum!! The central location makes it nice and easy for those folk out there who don't and can't drive to access all their groceries and get on to public transport route home, without too much hassle. Technically it's a supermarket, but to me it's more the size of a large Sainsbury's Local. That's not to say there isn't plenty of good ole Sainsbury's merch going on in there. There's even a coffee baked pastries section, along with the cigarette and newspaper kiosk, fresh meats and breads/bakery, crisps, chocolate, food in jars aisles too. But my new favourite novelty has to be the self serving tills. They still excite me. But aside from being super fun, they're incredibly practical, as the queues often get quite large in here, but they don't last too long due to the many self checkouts. The only thing I can find fault with this Sainsbury's is that the staff always seem harrassed, and maybe they are, but suck it up dudes, put a smile on your face, they always look shocked or put out when you ask them where something is, and there's a look of 'how am I supposed to know' about their chops. Aside from that little blip, it's grand.

Spice Corner is a visual delight, a cacophony of spices, pulses, herbs and fresh vegetables. After…read moregetting the urge to create his own curry from scratch, my Other Half embarked on a mission to do just that. Spice Corner was his savour when selecting the mixture of mainstream and more obscure ingredients required. I don't think there is any herb or spice that the stall does not stock. The aromas that waft from the stall are fantastic, it makes me feel immediately hungry. The lady that served us was fabulous. Extremely helpful and knowledgeable about all things spicy, she guided us into finding what we needed, whilst also interjecting her own hints and tips. The prices are significantly less than the brands that rip you off in the supermarkets. So much better value, and the quality is incomparable. The stall resembles somewhere that I would like to shop, grocery shopping with personality.

Spice Corner is on a corner and sells spices! It has a pretty vast range of spices and…read morespice-related ingredients in packets, pots, boxes, jars and tins. There are also lot of packets of mysterious looking dried bits and bobs, bread, dates, some fruit and vegetables and dried and fresh herbs. The signage is much neater and clearer than many of the poorly signed stalls in the market and it packs a huge variety of products into a tiny shop. Prices are pretty cheap here and the staff are friendly and informative. At Spice Corner you're sure to find all the constituent parts of a good home-made curry and several new and unusual ingredients to try!

Wow...this place drew me in with the sheer mass of foods and brightly coloured packages available…read more I visited here the other week when I went to the theatre and was seriously impressed by the amount of foods available to buy. You have to go look around to see what i mean but there are masses upon masses of great things in here. The staff are that lovely that they speak to you about recipes you could try and offer helpful hints and tips. I'll definitely be going back to investigate further when I'm not rushing to the theatre!

This place is a magic wonderland of exciting cuisine. I challenge you to find a more interesting…read moreand inspiring shopping trip - you simply won't find it. As you enter the store the decor is a fascination, with beautiful lanterns hanging overhead and a beautiful silver water globe feature in the entrance. Immediately as you go in on the left there is the fruit and veg section which offers up more exotic fruit and veg than I have ever actually seen. They had enoki mushrooms, star fruit, dragon fruit, bamboo and so much more. They had fruit that I don't even know what it is. The only description I can offer is that they reminded me of Stinky from the Moomins, only more pinkish brown than black! I'm totally going back to try them some day. As well as that they had EVERYTHING to do with traditional chinese, korean and other asian cuisines. With more noodles than you can imagine, cakes, fish, 'mochi' and so much more it is probably the most exciting place to shop for food in Leeds. I can only hope that at some point I will get to live near enough to make it my regular supermarket! My boyfriend and I have made a pact that we will go in there and put together a meal sometime and I'm going to hold him to it! A delight to shop in, but pop in just to see.

What an absolute treat, what an utter delight, what a fantastic edition to the greatness that is…read moreHeadingley town. One thing I have longed to see in Headingley was a decent butcher. We've so many fantastic independent little shops and cafés, it seems only right that such essentials as cheap quality meats grace our presence. I understand the convenience of such stolid forces, the likes of Sainsbury's, but I for one have been crying out for a cheaper, more local option for some time. Together, with R. K. Harris and Artisan Baker, the triumvirate of local produce has arrived. And what a force for good these three powerhouses are. I can now purchase my three main food groups (meat, veg and bread) independently, cheaply and within a few minutes of each other - how's that for convenience? And you can't top the banter neither. The last time I visited Headingley Farm Butchers I was delighted to purchase enough casserole beef to feed four, for a mere £3.50. Their chicken breasts are large enough to satisfy the mighty Thor, albeit non-free-range, though when I discussed this the friendly banterous butcher informed me that they are well kept. (Of course, he would be able to say anything but I'm inclined to trust an independent over a supermarket, right?) And once again, I believe I purchased two gargantuan breasticles for about £3 ish. Boom! Go here for meat. That is all.

Ordered a large number of ham hocks about a month ago, for a dinner party I was hosting. I ordered…read morethem way in advance to make sure they had them, I also left them my phone number in case there were any problems. They didn't order them, and they also didn't call me to tell me that there would be a problem. The most I got from them was an apathetic apology, apparently the rewards you get for attempting to support local business instead of going to a supermarket.