British Restaurants - a name chosen by the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill - were communal kitchens created in 1940 during the Second World War to help people who had been bombed out of their homes, had run out of ration coupons or otherwise needed help. Leeds boasted restaurants in Burley, Holbeck, Sheepscar and in the Crypt of the Town Hall. Enjoy these photos, published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service, showcasing how Leeds helped feed a city. READ MORE: The Second World War bombing raids which brought death and terror to Leeds
7. 1942
The British Restaurant opened in 1942 in the Crypt of the Town Hall. It was also known as Civic Restaurant and the Central Restaurant providing up to 1,000 meals a day. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
8. November 1942
Construction of a British Restaurant on Whitehall Road at Holbeck. Wooden posts, concrete slabs and a ladder are visible. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
9. November 1942
Wooden posts, concrete slabs and a pile of stones are visible. Wm. Blackburn and Co. Ltd. clothiers can be seen in the background on Springwell Road, Holbeck. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
10. February 1943
Nearing completion of the British Restaurant on Whitehall Road. The building is made from pre-fabricated sections, with a corrugated iron roof. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
11. February 1946
Inside the British Restaurant at Sheepscar. A stand of plate stackers is on the right. Wooden shelves, the oven, a tea pot, a bucket and the door to the men's toilets are visible. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
12. February 1946
The dining area of the British Restaurant at Sheepscar. A self-service counter is to the left, with plain wooden tables and foldaway chairs on the right. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net