Overview

Considering the prevalence of queer spaces that are bars and clubs, it is always a delight to find a an affordable sober LGBTQ+ venue that is open in the daytime. Things get even better when it is a cute and cosy safe space with step-free access like Flamingos Coffee House! It makes me happy to know that there is a space that young people can come to express themselves freely and people who cannot or do not want to access the sensory overload that is a night club can connect to the community. I visited for breakfast and was quite charmed by the different oatmeal and hot chocolate options. There were a lot of vegetarian menu items and many could be made vegan as well. One of the highlights of the space was a Sonic the Hedgehog themed art exhibition by artists working with Pyramid, an inclusive arts situation. I really enjoyed seeing all the different styles and the artists' reflections. In addition to breakfast and lunch foods, hot and cold drinks and baked goods, you can also get some pride merch at the side of the counter. In addition to making a point of being a welcoming space to everyone, Flamingos also provides spaces for a community bulletin board and informative leaflets as well as a basket for condoms in the bathroom, although it was empty when I visited.

Transport & Parking

Flamingos Coffee House is located in Central Arcade, which is between Briggate and Central Road. There are bus stops for the Corn Exchange on Duncan Street (5, 5A, 12, 19A, 40, 64, 163) and New Market Street (51, 52; 12, 13, 13A, 47), which are both quite close to the Central Road entrance, which Flamingos is closer to that the Briggate entrance. It is about a 10-minute/0.3 mile walk or wheel from Leeds train station. I would not expect to find any on-street parking, but there are several multi-storey car parks within less that a 10-minute walk or wheel, like Trinity, Victoria or The Markets.

Access

Central Arcade has level access throughout. Flamingos Coffee House is closest to the entrance on Central Road, although the entrance on Briggate, which is just opposite Trinity, is more inviting. The entrance to the café has glass double doors that open to the inside. The right side was propped open when I visited and it was wide enough for my powerchair (62 cm) to fit. The seating is mostly small two-seater tables with a regular movable chairs with backrests but no armrests, along with some low seating as well on armchairs. Only a few of the armchairs actually have armrests and are all quite low. There are also four tables for slightly bigger groups, which are basically two small tables pushed together. The space is quite small, but generally navigable in a wheelchair. You might have to ask people to move, though, as the main walkway is also the space where people will queue at the counter. There are menus on the tables, which are printed black on pink, and also a menu above the bar.

Toilets

While you can get into the bathroom with a wheelchair, it is not technically an accessible bathroom. It is very tight, so that there is no room to move the chair around once you are in and there are no handrails or emergency red cords. The sink is standard height on top of a cupboard and the bathroom is quite cramped as it is also used for storage. The door opens to the outside right and I had a lot of trouble getting it close behind me, as there was nothing to hold onto on the back of the door apart from the handle, which was too far away, and there was no space for me to turn. There are paper towels, not a hand dryer, which I appreciate as someone who finds them too noisy, as well as deodorant and air freshener, which I was glad no one had used recently, as aerosols are migraine triggers for me. I think there is potential for this bathroom to be made accessible if the storage cupboard was not in there, but I also noticed that there was a shortage of utility space in the café, with even the kitchen being no more than a nook beside the counter.

Staff

The person staffing the counter was nice and accommodating when prompted, but I did feel a little awkward having to ask for help, like having my order brought to the table, so I did not ask for more information, for example on alternative menu formats.

Photos