In this edition: Argentinian Grills, New Zealand Wineries, and er, Train Station 'Spoons
Crafthouse Auctions off Exec Chef for Cancer Charity
(27/09) Leeds restaurant Crafthouse is offering the chance to host a five-course dinner party for up to eight people, prepared and served in the winner’s Yorkshire home by award-winning Executive Chef Lee Murdoch.
Murdoch and his team will take care of everything – even the washing up – with the Executive Chef creating a completely unique menu, paired with fine wines, including D&D London’s very own Les Gamins and Les Trois Bises.
All funds raised in the auction will go to local Leeds charity Candlelighters, a charity committed to supporting children with cancer, and their families, throughout Yorkshire. It funds research as well as Play Leaders on the ward and outpatient clinic at Leeds General Infirmary.
Bids can be placed in person at Crafthouse, by email (crafthouse@danddleeds.com; subject: Candlelighters) or via Twitter until 10th October. Anyone wishing to bid via Twitter can register their interest by tweeting @CrafthouseLeeds #CrafthouseCandlelighters before sending a direct message. The highest bidder will host this unique fine dining Crafthouse experience in their own home.
Whiskey Business
(26/09) Tokyo Industries, who operate bars, restaurants, and nightclubs across the North of England, and have sought a "sexual entertainment license" for the venue that previously housed The Elbow Rooms.
If granted, they're expected to open a second incarnation of Black Orchid Gentlemen’s Club & Whiskey Lounge, York’s largest lap dancing & strip club, which boasts “upscale, lavish interior features a central stage, several champagne suites, a VIP lounge area” as well as “a spectacular bar serving premium cocktails, champagnes, wines and spirits.”
The application is the first of its type since 2013, when civic leaders and campaigners succeeded in introducing new policy on SEV’s in September, ambiguously stating that they should not be “near properties with sensitive uses or in sensitive locations”. As a result, by December half of all city centre strip clubs - resulting in countless Leeds residents losing their livelihood.
The application is currently pending decision.
Twice the Slice
(23/09) Plans have been announced for city centre pizza & cocktail bar Buca di Pizza's new restaurant, and they're thinking big.
An application to turnStainbeck Lances Grade II-listed Stratford House into the new restaurant was approved in April of this year, and now the owners have started drip-feeding information about its progress. The restaurant will have 80 covers, an al fresco dining area, and an enormous, imported pizza oven which will take centre stage in the restaurant, cooking "the same interesting menu we have in Leeds with the same classic pizza bases with our imaginative toppings"
Stratford House previously homed sports pub The Manor, which closed down due to lack of commercial success. The brothers behind Buca di Pizza have a history of successful ventures where others have been unable to prosper - their city centre restaurant, open since 2014, occupies the former La Grillade building, which closed down after 30 years due to rent costs. We wish them all the success in their new place.
New Craft Alehouse to Dock in Merrion Centre Location
(21/09) Specialist craft beer and ale bar The Dockhouse has announced it's opening a new venue, in the Merrion Centre. The Docktard first opened in Manchester's Media City in 2014 and quickly proved a hit; its new Arena Quarter pub will be the group's first outside of Manchester.
The 5,000sq ft pub is due to open in November, creating 20 jobs.
Belgrave Gives Away Another 3,000 Burgers & Pizza Slices
(20/09) Following the success of last year's giveaway, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen will be giving away another 3000 burgers & pizza-slices from Patty Smiths and Dough Boys this September. To celebrate their third birthday, they'll be dishing out 10 burgers and 10 pizza slices on the hour, every hour, between 11am and 9pm from Monday 26 September to Sunday 9 October.
To get yours, just be one of the first ten people in the queue each hour, and show them that you follow them on social media. As with last year, they're encouraging you to match their generosity by making a charitable donation to British Red Cross's refugee efforts in Calais. "The crisis certainly hasn't gone away, so we wanted to see if we could raise even more money this year!” says Simon Stevens, Belgrave Co-owner. So dig deep!
CAU & Gate
(19/09) Expect to see plenty of announcements over the next few weeks, revealing who will be going into the Victoria Gate development, leading up to its launch (that crept up, didn’t it?) - the latest of which is CAU.
Inspired by the grill restaurants of Buenos Aires, CAU offers smart-casual dining, with a menu that features classic and speciality-cut steaks, burgers and so on (basically if you take a vegetarian here on a first date, don’t expect a second one).
Seeing as it’s almost the season to be insulating yourself with Yorkshire puddings, it might be worth keeping an eye out for their Sunday roasts - rump of beef, spatchcock chicken or twice-cooked belly pork all come with Josper-grilled carrots, beef-dripping roasties, homemade Yorkshires and red wine gravy.
CAU opens in Victoria Gate on Thursday 20 October.
El Veeno Did Flow
(19/09) No official announcements yet, but wine cafe Veeno look to be expanding their empire with a second Leeds venue, turning the financial district into the wine-ancial district.
The company - who produce all of their own wines in their Italian vineyard - has locations in cities such as York, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol to name a few, and now they’ve applied for permission to open up on Wellington Place; looking to capitalise on the area's continuing expansion and development.
More on Veeno
Shears Yard Host Tasting Experience with New Zealand Winery
(19/09) Award-winning casual fine-dining restaurant Shears Yard are welcoming the new food and drink season with a special five-course tasting menu in collaboration with New Zealand boutique winery Esk Valley.
Shears’ executive chef Jamie Clinton sounds like he’s looking forward to it:
“Esk Valley is one of the world’s most renowned winemakers, so it’s an honour to bring them to Leeds and collaborate with them on this unique event. We’ve been working closely with the team to develop a menu that perfectly compliments the notes and flavours in each of their stunning wines”
Having seen the likes of Sea Bream Ceviche, Cataplana, American-fried Rabbit with Charred Corn, and Miso and Baked Apple Cheesecake on the menu, we've got to admit our excitement levels match his...
The dinner takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 28 September, with tickets priced at £65. Email info@shearsyard.com for bookings.
Birthday Drinks at Jake’s Emporium
(19/09) Ever the altruist, Jake’s Bar and Still is celebrating its birthday by giving a gift to avid cocktail lovers.
Seeing as it’s their twelfth birthday, they’re inviting twelve friends along to help them celebrate on Thursday 29 September, with the return of their much-acclaimed Drinks Emporium. And when we say friends, we mean premium booze brands, including Wild Turkey Bourbon, Belvedere Vodka, Bathtub Gin, and plenty more.
Each brand will be creating a special, one-off cocktail for the evening, served from their own den, complete with their very own booze-boffin on hand to provide some insight into the history of the drink.
The Drinks Emporium event takes place between 5pm and 9pm, with free entry all evening.
A Night on the Tiles - Roof Terrace Plans for Wetherspoons
(19/09) We see Wetherspoons are seeking permission to renovate their Leeds City Station location.
As well as a much-needed refurbishment of the interior, plans have been drawn up to add a roof terrace and possibly a basement bar - potentially tripling the capacity for people who need a stiff drink after remortgaging their house to buy a train ticket…
