Handpicked Hall

A perfect way to spend a winters afternoon.
We had a fabulous time looking round the craft stalls. So many original and well made delights are on offer — I felt like a kid in a sweet shop. The vintage clothes were also stunning and it was lovely to browse through the gorgeous frocks on offer.
We were very excited to find out that customised shoes will be on offer within the next few weeks — this got my imagination running wild! The tea room was divine — we sat in the window and did some people watching from on-​high whilst devouring scrumptious tea and cakes.
This is a wonderfully original shopping experience — so much variety under one roof, perfect for a rainy afternoon. Plus all the staff were so friendly and keen to give us information on all the products they were interested in.
I have a few friends birthdays on the horizon and I think it will be a one stop shop for all my present and card buying needs.

Have been promising myself a trip here, so had a free Friday so popped in with my daughter.
Handpicked hall is the setting for a range of Independent hand made goods. A huge variety of creative treats and crafts are housed in the massive building within the grand arcade. I really wanted to like this set-​up because finding something original whether for yourself or as a present is a real joy.
Unfortunately for me I really don’t think the space works. It might be because it still seems unfinished and is very muddled., which is a real shame because the goods on show were high quality and well priced.
I was expecting a bustling market hall but in reality got a huge building lacking in any sort of character or heart.
The best thing here is the beautiful Victorian tea room at the front entrance which serves tea and cakes on lovely china tea-​sets.

What an absolute treat!
I live right by this place and walk past a lot but never had chance to actually take a look inside. Finally getting round to it I had a day free (you need it as this place is huge) so went to check it out
There are so many little stalls inside a huge building all beautifully laid out. I am a bit of a magpie so anything shiny and I am there. This place was a haven of handmade jewellery and I did not know where to start!
There are three floors here and the first floor has a vintage tea room that serves cakes and scones and of course tea! Then there is a hair salon… yep random I know, and a few jewellery stalls.
Upstairs they have a café area and lots of food stalls where they have everything to do with food including things for the home and elaborately decorated cakes!
Upstairs again and there are even more stalls of amazingness to get lost in with the added beauty of a glass roof! They have a spa treatment room and also a photography shoot area where they do mini photo shoots (looked very cool).
Whether you need a haircut a cuppa or some earrings you can get it all under one roof.
My only criticism is that some of the stalls are rather pricey.

Stumbled upon Handpicked Hall whilst looking for the Grand Tea Room. Not exactly bursting with knowledge of Leeds, we didn’t really know where we going — but it felt a bit out of the way. However, once we did manage to get there, we were pleasantly surprised as this place is a treasure trove of ‘things’ (of which I am a massive fan.)
We started our visit at the tea room, towards the back of the hall and down some steps. We sat down quickly enough but it did take a while for anyone to serve us; with a completely open kitchen and slightly frazzled looking staff, I did have some sympathy! We both decided on a cream tea, though they do a variety of other treats — I just don’t think they could’ve coped with us ordering anything more!
The scones were nice, not too dense, and the jam (served up in a butterfly shaped glass dish — talk about kitsch…) & cream were both perfect portion sizes for the two of us.
Wandering around the rest of the hall, it’s actually a very interesting concept — in one area you can rent shelf space to sell your items, rather than needing to invest vast amounts in having an actual stall or permanent space. There’s a lot to take in; découpage shoes, chocolate stilettos, doggy bandanas, gourmet chutneys, industrial jewellery… anything and everything. Some spaces were a bit sparse, especially in the food area, but it still seems to be quite new.
A bit more footfall and they’ll be a hit in no time.

Handpicked Hall is just what The Grand Arcade needed!
It’s the perfect place to get lost on an otherwise lazy Sunday. When you’ve finished discovering the many treasures there are in each spot, there’s the chance to relax with a nice slice of cake and a coffee or tea of your choice.
The empty spaces dotted around give it a bit of a ‘not quite there yet’ vibe but I think given that it’s just over a year since opening there is plenty of promise in this place.
The thing that surprised me most was the cost. You can get some genuine bargains here giving you the perfect excuse to return again soon.
I’ll be doing that for sure.

I’ve wandered past this place over and over but only recently started venturing in.
What I found inside was a cornucopia of revolving characters serving and selling various foods and crafty creations.
There’s a soup counter from Thistlewood Farms which had a dynamite ouzo sauce that I’m totally going to try recreating at home.
There was an italian food counter offering some delectable asparagus and salmon lasagna – definitely not a flavour combo I’d have expected but one I liked.
A specialty food ingredient shop offering all sorts of spices, oils, chillis, etc. came complete with an owner that said, «If you can’t find something you want, let me know I’ll start stocking it for you.»
And, finally, a colombian husband and wife duo that roasts their own coffee beans and serves it filtered, from their stand. He was a really interesting guy who was born on a coffee plantation and, halfway around the world from where he grew up, his wife was born on another coffee plantation! The coffee wasn’t anything to write home about but was as good or a bit better than what you’d find at Starbucks/​Nero/​Costa. I’d be interested in trying some of their beans brewed through a v60, french press, or an aeropress as they went with an old school filter maker which isn’t always the best at bringing out the flavours in a coffee.
Bottom line is, this place is ham packed with all sorts of small business people looking to do more than just make a buck; they’re passionate and invested in what they’re creating and that really makes a huge difference when it comes to the quality of the products on offer. It’s well worth your time to wander in and have a look around!

I heard of Handpicked Hall through friends on Twitter, and took a wander down for the first time a couple of months ago. I was delighted with the goodies that the independant retailers had on offer, and just wished there was more of them.
It seems to be filling up a bit more now, which is great. There’s loads of things on offer that would make amazing gifts: handmade home decorations, bags and purses, soaps and other smellies, fantastic looking cupcakes and loads more.
There’s a few stalls in there that are great for lunches and food to take home too. Thistlemist Farm are there with their AMAZING soups and quiches, The Greedy Pig are there every other Sunday doing fantastic food, there’s the Just Grand vintage tea room which just looks delightful, and I spotted a new stall today (apologies — can’t remember the name on my brief walk past!) that’s doing Italian food and gelato, and some really yummy looking desserts!
I hope it gets busier, it does seem quiet in there at the moment customer-​wise, which is a shame with all the great things on offer. I think with a bit more advertising and getting the word out, it could be a nice bustling shopping area with even more stalls.

How about an adventure, Leeds? Well, if you’re in any way, shape, or form interested by locally crafted and lovingly made goodies, take a wander around the new venture that is Handpicked Hall. Sat at the bottom of the Grand Arcade, and filled with all manner of fantstic treats and crafts, this hot spot of creativity is a fantastic place to browse.
Firstly, if birthdays or occasions are coming up, this has to be a premier spot to take a wander and go gift hunting. With locally made jewellery, décor, creams, smellies, badges, art work, curios, and more, you could easily spend hours looking over the fantastically made items. On my virgin visit I picked up a seriously cute dog badge and flattened glass wine bottle-​turned cheese board, complete with cheese knife. There’s all manner of awesome crafts to peruse. Vintage and millinery downstairs, to boot.
As well as gifts and treats, there’s a café, where the chap was grinding the coffee as we wandered around. I didn’t partake of a cup, but am looking forward to the opportunity to revisit sometime soon. They also have local faves, such as Thisltemist Farm, whose soups are to die for — they’re truly divine and you can get two huge bags for a fiver! Well worth it.
Additionally, there’s a lady doing massage upstairs (with a private booth area) and other bits up and coming in the remaining space. All in all, it seems like a passionate and quality spot for the creatives in Leeds, and provides a delightful shopping experience. I strongly urge you to take a peek!

Still a new space really but got a good starting point going.
Perfect for getting presents for guys and girls.
The building is a lovely space and to think it used to be a skanky club when I was 16!
Worth a trip but I’m sure it will get better and is it gets more stall owners in.

A collection of individual, independent and interesting stalls feature in what can only be described as one of the most gorgeous buildings in Leeds.
I popped in here Sunday when in Leeds for the Farmers market to see what exactly was on offer.
Crafts, jewellery, handmade gift baskets and soft furnishings, stationary and cards, handmade soups/​hummus/​sauces and some other stalls i sadly didn’t get much of a browse in.
All the stallholders were warm and friendly and discussed their offerings advising where things can be made to order & personalised.
This is a wonderful setting for this style of goods and I sincerely hope people take time to go & have a browse to see whats on offer, grab a coffee or merely take in the splendour of the building.
I cringe when I think of the times (only 2 i can count) that i stepped foot in this building when it shamed itself in being a nightclub!
Here’s hoping Handpicked Hall is a success!

This place has literally just opened the day I written this review. It seems like a really promising place and once this place gets out of the 1^st opening teething problems that you always get on the first day and once they manage to get more shops in here it will be great! It would be excellent to bring life back into this quiet part of the city centre.
On coming in the place was pretty spacey. There were two floors and the stands that were there were selling allsorts of nice stuff made locally. I didn’t get chance to take a proper look, but I shall be back!
I’ve rated this 3 stars, but it’ll probably change once i take another visit as it would be unfair to judge on day 1. There was literally still works going on, during I was looking around!