The Queens Hotel in central Leeds has recently undergone a huge £16 million refurbishment, ushering in a grand new era for the 84-year-old property.
As part of the overhaul, the hotel has welcomed an opulent new Raffles-inspired restaurant, Grand Pacific.
Grand Pacific is part of the Living Venture's group, which also has brands like The Alchemist and The Botanist in Leeds. There is already a site in Manchester, but this is the first to open in West Yorkshire.
Grand Pacific Leeds serves a fusion menu bringing together flavours from around the world
The new luxurious all-day drinking and dining destination is styled on the old colonial hotels of south-east Asia and can seat up to 100 guests in the main restaurant.
Here, staff aim to recreate the golden age of high society "with a sumptuous yet relaxed charm accompanied by great service”.
In the dining area, quintessential British classics are fused with flavours from further afield. Dishes like Asian-spiced duck cottage pie and tempura Szechuan sea bass sit next to a teriyaki steak sandwich and classic club on the all-day menu.
Its indulgent afternoon or 'high' teas are also very popular, offering a selection of miniature sandwiches and sweet treats with a choice of loose leaf tea or bubbles.
The afternoon teas at Grand Pacific are some of the most indulgent in the city
On a Sunday, guests can also enjoy a roast with a difference - accompanied by a set of contemporary classical music from the Grand Pacific Palm Court Orchestra.
From the bar, there are plenty of indulgent cocktails to try ranging from Grand Pacific's yuzu negroni and pomegranate mojito to salted caramel espresso and grand pornstar martinis.
One of the most iconic drinks here, though, has to be their 'golden pineapple' which is both a cocktail in its own right and a symbol of hospitality in general. Made with several different types of rum, pineapple, guava and lime and then topped with crushed ice it's pretty to look at and wonderfully refreshing too.
The 'Golden Pineapple' cocktail at Grand Pacific is one of their signatures
As if this wasn't enough, the hotel is also now home to Café Pacific - an all-day social hub offering coffees, superfood smoothies and healthy snacks. A perfect spot to set up on your laptop for the day if you're working away from home.
Grand Pacific's restaurant and bar is open now inside The Queen's Hotel. As part of their soft launch, which runs until 27th June, diners can get 50% off their meal when they book a table using this link.
To find out more and keep up to date, follow them on Instagram.
Eats
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Georgina Pellant -
18th June 2021 
