Empire Cafe Leeds: Fish Street business 'proud' to be named one of the happiest places to work in the UK

Empire Cafe in Fish Street, Leeds city centre, was one of 22 businesses to be named on CODE Hospitality’s list of Happiest Places to Work 2024. 

CODE Hospitality, founded in 2012, is a network for the hospitality industry in the UK. 

And this inaugural list is designed to spotlight businesses that represent the UK hospitality sector at its most people-focused and progressive. 

CODE Hospitality says these businesses are setting new standards in employee welfare and well-being and making their values and practices as integral to their identity as their food and drink. They are making the industry a better and happier place to be, now and for the next generation. 

Empire Cafe opened in the former La Strega venue in April 2023 by couple and business partners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton. 

Still in its infancy, the cafe has made a name for itself among the Leeds community of independents, been praised by food critic Jay Rayner and won big at the Oliver Awards 2024.

The team behind Empire Cafe shared the recent news on their social media channels, saying: “We are so proud to announce we made it to the @codehospitality UK Happiest Places to Work list for 2024. 

“Thank you for all our staff who made this happen. 

“Remember, if you don’t work on your business from the inside out and fail to recruit people who are better than you, you're always going to struggle more than others.” 

This year’s list, sponsored by Planday, had more than 2,500 responses across 300 nominated companies. 

Respondents anonymously answered 10 questions (for example: “I can be myself at work” and “I have sufficient opportunities for team socialising and bonding”) to generate an overall Happiness Score and Advocacy Score for each company.  

The judging panel, which is made up of industry professionals, convened to decide on the final 22 and overall winner, considering company scores alongside total team size and survey uptake, as well as supporting evidence provided by the shortlisted companies. 

CODE founder Adam Hyman comments, ‘Evolving our Happiness in Hospitality into Happiest Places to Work is part of our continued commitment at CODE to making hospitality a better place to work.

“We can all learn something from the 22 businesses in this year’s list and it’s a pertinent reminder that people will always be at the heart of hospitality.’ 

Here is the full list of CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work 2024 

Forza Restaurants, London (Overall winner) 

All The Best (Formerly Tiny Dancer Group), London 

Apricity, London 

Atomeca, Schofield’s Bar and Sterling, Manchester 

Bubala, London 

Carousel, London 

Chefs in Schools, London 

COR, Bristol 

Crystal Palace Wine Club, London 

The Empire Café, Leeds 

Furna, Brighton 

Grace & Savour, Birmingham 

Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza, Manchester, Altrincham, Macclesfield 

Inver, Scotland 

JÖRO, Sheffield 

Mr Bao Group, London 

Mriya Neo Bistro, London 

Noble Rot, London 

The Longs Arms, Wiltshire 

TOAD Bakery, London 

Urban Leisure Group, London 

Where The Light Gets In, Stockport 

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