Beloved chefs from Slap and Pickle will be leaving their residency at The Fleece in Horsforth at the end of the year.
The news came earlier this week after the chefs thanked the pub for their hospitality, before announcing that the ongoing success of their flavoursome burgers and exciting menu have brought the brand new opportunities for 2022.
Originally, Slap and Pickle took over The Fleece last summer during lockdown, and served thousands of burgers to regulars and newcomers to the pub. Their residence has been of benefit to both parties: with many making the trip up to Horsforth to visit just one of the brands, but finding a soft spot for the other in the process.
Although nothing has been clearly announced yet, Slap and Pickle have revealed that they won't be leaving the area and Horsforth residents should still be able to get their Big Mick Fries fix every week if they wish to.
Orders can still be processed by delivery until the end of the year, but in 2022, there will be a new location to order from.
This image shared this photo online earlier this week. / Image: Slap and Pickle
The end of their residency was announced on Instagram earlier this week:
"All good things must come to an end! It’s with great sadness that we announce that we’ll be leaving the kitchen at @thefleecehorsforth at the end of 2021.
"Since we took over the pub’s kitchen last summer during lockdown, we’ve served tens of 1000s of Yorkshire’s finest burgers to the punters in-house as well as via a vast volume of collections and deliveries. The Fleece has put us firmly on the local food map, and we will be forever grateful for that.
The Fleece in Horsforth have worked with Slap and Pickle since lockdown. / Image: The Fleece Horsforth
"Sadly though, we’ve outgrown the pub’s kitchen - so we’re moving on to pastures new and *VERY LOCAL* in early January 2022. More on where and when soon ((eyes emoji)'s on that feed!), but for now, make sure you all pop in for a farewell feed this month, and keep those delivery orders coming.
"And don’t forget, sales of our Christmas specials support our #KidsInBlankets fundraiser: so when you raise a festive burger to our departure, you’re also helping raise money for @zarachleeds. That’s a win, win, win situation in our book!"
Grab some of their festive fries, or other Christmas treats before their residency ends. / Image: Slap and Pickles
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
Sophie Smith -
10th December 2021 
