Emba Leeds Closure: Liz Cottam Blames Costs

Key Points

• Emba, a trendy Leeds restaurant run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, is closing permanently just months after opening.
• The closure is attributed to rising costs and intense pressure on the hospitality sector by owner Liz Cottam.
• Emba replaced The Owl, another top Leeds restaurant by Cottam, which closed in April 2025.
• Cottam launched a Crowdfunder campaign to open Emba, offering supporters prizes like VIP dinners and merchandise based on donation amounts.
• Cottam shared a heartfelt statement with customers over the weekend, describing herself as “completely heartbroken.”
• In her statement, Cottam said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba. Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.”
• She added: “The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.”
• Cottam noted: “Being award-winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid.”
• She promised a return to the restaurant world, stating: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
• Emba will remain open until Saturday, 1 March 2026.​

Leeds (The Leeds Times) February 2, 2026 – Emba, the award-winning restaurant in Leeds led by celebrated Chef Liz Cottam, has announced its shock closure just months after opening, with the owner citing unsustainable rising costs and a lack of government support for the hospitality sector. The venue, which evolved from Cottam’s previous establishment The Owl, will cease operations on Saturday, 1 March 2026, leaving diners and supporters devastated. This development underscores broader challenges facing independent eateries in the city amid economic pressures post-Covid.

What Led to Emba’s Sudden Closure?

As first reported by The Hoot Leeds in their article

“Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening,”

Emba’s owner Liz Cottam confirmed the permanent closure over the weekend through a direct statement to customers. Cottam, known for her innovative culinary ventures, expressed profound disappointment, stating she was “completely heartbroken” by the decision.​

The restaurant, described as bridging

“the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room,”

opened following the closure of The Owl in April 2025. That earlier shutdown marked the end of one of Leeds’ top dining spots, also under Cottam’s leadership. To fund Emba’s launch, Cottam initiated a Crowdfunder campaign, where backers received incentives such as VIP dinners and branded merchandise scaled to their contributions.​

Cottam’s full statement, shared exclusively with patrons, laid bare the financial strains:

“This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,”

she explained.

“Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality”.​

Why Are Costs Crippling Independent Restaurants Like Emba?

The hospitality sector’s woes form the core of Cottam’s rationale, a sentiment echoed across local coverage. As detailed in The Hoot Leeds’ piece, Cottam highlighted a stark disconnect between acclaim and viability:

“The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up. Being award-winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable”.​

She further contextualised the struggle:

“as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid.”

This points to lingering effects from the pandemic, compounded by escalating operational expenses such as energy bills, staffing wages, and supply chain disruptions—issues plaguing UK hospitality venues nationwide.

No additional sources beyond The Hoot Leeds’ reporting have emerged on Emba’s specifics as of this dispatch, but Cottam’s words align with sector-wide narratives. Her reference to the “recent budget” likely alludes to the Autumn Budget of late 2025, which failed to deliver promised relief like reduced VAT for hospitality or energy subsidies, leaving independents like Emba exposed.​

How Did Emba Emerge from The Owl’s Legacy?

The Owl’s closure in April 2025 paved the way for Emba, reimagining its space into a more versatile eatery. Run by Chef Liz Cottam, a figure renowned in Leeds’ culinary scene for her award-winning establishments, The Owl had built a loyal following before succumbing to similar pressures.​

Emba’s concept aimed to blend casual bar vibes with dynamic dining, attracting buzz through its Crowdfunder success. Supporters pledged funds in exchange for perks, from exclusive meals to merchandise, signalling strong community backing at launch. Yet, as Cottam now laments, enthusiasm alone could not offset the economic headwinds.​

What Happens Next for Emba and Its Customers?

Emba will trade until Saturday, 1 March 2026, providing a final window for patrons to visit. As per Cottam’s announcement via The Hoot Leeds, this date marks the end of operations, with no immediate plans disclosed for the site’s future.​

Cottam signed off optimistically:

“What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”

This vow hints at future projects, potentially away from bricks-and-mortar constraints, though details remain forthcoming.​

Customers with bookings or Crowdfunder rewards are urged to contact the restaurant directly, though no specific guidance on refunds or alternatives has been outlined in available reports.

What Does This Mean for Leeds’ Hospitality Scene?

Leeds’ dining landscape faces turbulence, with Emba’s fate mirroring other closures. The Hoot Leeds links this story to related pieces, such as the shutdown of a historic family-run restaurant open for half a century, underscoring a pattern of independents folding under pressure.​

Elsewhere, positive notes include approvals for new ventures like Burgerism in a Leeds suburb and the arrival of Ireland’s spice bag phenomenon, yet these contrast sharply with losses like Emba. Chef Cottam’s trajectory—from The Owl to Emba and now closure—exemplifies the volatility independents navigate.

Broader context reveals a sector still reeling. Post-Covid recovery has been uneven, with inflation, labour shortages, and policy inertia hitting hardest in regional hubs like Leeds. Cottam’s candid assessment—that acclaim no longer equates to profit—resonates with proprietors nationwide.

Who Is Chef Liz Cottam and Why Does Her Voice Matter?

Liz Cottam stands as a pillar in Leeds gastronomy, her establishments consistently earning accolades. The Owl’s reputation preceded Emba, positioning her as a tastemaker bridging traditional and modern dining.​

Her Crowdfunder for Emba demonstrated entrepreneurial flair, rallying community investment amid cautious times. Now, her raw statement elevates the discourse, humanising the statistics behind hospitality’s decline.

As a neutral observer with a decade in news reporting, this closure spotlights systemic issues without assigning blame. Cottam’s resolve to persist offers hope amid the gloom.

When Will Emba Officially Shut Down?

The definitive timeline is Saturday, 1 March 2026, as confirmed in Cottam’s customer statement reported by The Hoot Leeds. This allows roughly four more weeks of service from the announcement weekend in late January 2026.​

No extensions or last-minute interventions have been reported, aligning with the swift timelines seen in recent hospitality failures.

Why No Other Media Coverage Yet?

At time of writing, The Hoot Leeds provides the sole primary source on Emba’s closure, with their detailed feature capturing Cottam’s unfiltered voice. Secondary outlets have not yet followed up, though local wires like Leeds Live or Yorkshire Evening Post may expand as the story gains traction.​