Jerk Junction Leeds joins Trinity Kitchen this spring as Manchester-born brand continues northern expansion

Jerk Junction, the Caribbean street food brand co-owned by former Manchester United footballer Jesse Lingard and founded by Jake Shaffi, has confirmed it will open at Trinity Kitchen in Leeds this spring. The Jerk Junction Leeds site will be the brand’s first in the city and its latest expansion outside its Manchester heartland, where it started as a single restaurant in Chorlton before growing to six locations across the North West and Yorkshire.

Growing from Chorlton to a Six-Site Chain

The brand specialises in halal Caribbean food, with a menu built around 24-hour marinated flame-grilled jerk chicken, slow-cooked curried goat, dumplings, and rice and peas.

Jake Shaffi, the founder of Jerk Junction, said:

“Jerk Junction is all about real Caribbean food and culture. Everything we do is rooted in Jamaican tradition, from bold spices and authentic cooking to dishes that bring people together. For us, food is family. From our kitchen to every person who comes to our counter, we want people to feel the warmth, the energy and the spirit of the islands. We can’t wait to bring those authentic flavours and good vibes to Trinity Kitchen.”

Another Arrival in a Busy Period for Trinity Leeds

The Jerk Junction Leeds opening adds to what is already a packed calendar for Trinity Leeds. Landsec’s centre is also preparing to open Lane7 bowling in the former Wilko unit on Albion Street, relocate its LEGO store to a larger space, and welcome flagship Footasylum and schuh stores. Trinity Kitchen itself, which has supported nearly 300 independent street food traders since launching in 2013 and draws over 800,000 visitors a year, is also the subject of a £15m expansion that will see Freight Island take over as operator of a new 63,000 sq ft food and leisure destination from summer 2027.

Why this matters for Leeds

Jerk Junction’s move into Trinity Kitchen is a useful indicator of what’s working in Leeds city centre food and drink right now. A brand that has grown from a single Chorlton site to seven locations across the North is choosing Leeds as its next market, and it’s doing so via a format — the shopping centre food hall — that is rapidly becoming the preferred route for fast-growing street food operators. For Trinity Kitchen specifically, it’s another name that strengthens the offer ahead of the Freight Island expansion.