From humble beginnings in Newcastle Markets to Leeds high street.
The mighty cheeseburger: patties piled high between layers of gooey cheese cascading down either side; sauces oozing escaping between every bite; light, fluffy buns sandwiching one America's finest dishes together.
Perfect for all occasions, meat-eaters have raved about cheeseburgers since their creation across the Atlantic- and we've been obsessed ever since.
Few have managed to achieve the right balance of meat and carbs, but since MEAT:STACK launched back in 2016, they have quickly become a cult favourite for American-style burgers and shakes.
Image: Meat Stack
With a real focus on quality, the team have crafted a small yet perfectly formed menu of double or triple cheeseburgers, sides, shakes and desserts that will satisfy even the most discerning of fast-food junkies.
MEAT:STACK has built up a loyal following in the north of England since they first launched as a pop-up in six years ago and after operating within Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market, the company took the plunge in 2020 and opened their first high street store on the Bigg Market in Newcastle.
The success of their burgers followed them onto the main streets and now they're bringing their attention to detail, authentic preparation methods and moreish flavour combo to Leeds.
With ten different burger combos to choose from, including a pork and beef patty breakfast burger, vegan fried ‘chicken’ burger and a regularly changing monthly special, we have to say the menu really does look immense. It’s a cheat day treat if ever we saw one.
Each patty is lovingly crafted with the perfect blend of rare and traditional beef cuts, sourced from award-winning free-range butcher's Block and Bottle. To create the base of their menu, the meat is smashed into a raging hot grill, smothered with cheese and all the trimmings, before being steamed to melted gooey perfection.
Menu highlights include the bestselling French Canadian, which comes loaded with streaky bacon, blue cheese, garlic butter, chilli-maple syrup, hash brown, American cheese and signature Stack Sauce.
The sides menu is equally as desirable, particularly as it includes the Pompeii Fries: beef dripping fries smothered with Stack Sauce, fiery ‘nduja sugo, basil oil and parmesan cheese. The Filthy Fries encourage diners to get their hands dirty, with a killer combo of crumbled blue cheese, Signature Buffalo and crispy onions.
Those with a sweet tooth will naturally gravitate towards the Jersey Shakes, which come in a range of satisfying flavours, including Nutella, Peanut Butter and house made Raspberry Jam. MEAT: STACK also offers up their own brand of locally brewed pale ale, and a refillable soda fountain.
Image: Meat Stack
Opening in spring 2022, MEAT:STACK have taken over a vacant venue on Bishopgate Street, in the prestigious 34 Boar Lane building, right next to the train station.
MEAT:STACK has snapped up the last space in the recently renovated building, which is home to a plethora of creative offices, retail outlets and restaurants. The venue will seat up to 60 diners and create up to 25 new jobs in Leeds.
MEAT: STACK partner and director Allan Hyslop had this to say ahead of the release:
“Since we announced that we will be coming to Leeds, we cannot get over the incredible support we have had in the city."
"There is such a great food scene here and we cannot wait to be a part of that! Community is everything to us and we hope to be getting involved with as many businesses, creatives and foodie folk as we possibly can once we are open".
Whilst you can't quite visit the MEAT:STACK venue just yet but you can drool over the menu and plan your visit to 34 Boar Lane to get your cheeseburger fix in the coming weeks.
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
Kirkstall Brewery and Little Bao Boy unveil new Leeds taproom
Daisy Jackson
You know the venue, and you know the operators behind it, but things are looking a little different over on Sovereign Street.
Leeds' very own Kirkstall Brewery has teamed up with street food legends Little Bao Boy to totally reinvent the city centre taproom formerly known as North Taproom.
At the all-new The City Taproom, you'll find a way cosier space alongside their sun-soaked terrace, as they aim to reimagine a traditional city centre pub.
Across 16 tap lines there are loads of Kirkstall Brewery classics, like Kirkstall Pilsner, Virtuous and Judicious, plus a rotating selection of guest beers from top British breweries - and Guinness, of course.
The City Taproom will also feature two new cask lines: one serving Three Swords as a staple, and the other on rotation starting this month with Golden Hour.
There's a bigger kitchen for Little Bao Boy too, which means an even larger menu of bao and Asian street food, like loaded fries, noodles, and rice bowls.
Little Bao Boy was founded 10 years ago by James Ooi, specialising in home-made bao buns and traditional Asian street food with a contemporary western twist.
Kirkstall have injected the huge space with the traditional essence of a proper Kirkstall establishment, with that kind of cosy atmosphere you know them for at the brewery's other sites.
Little Bao Boy at City TaproomKirkstall Brewery pints and cocktails
This is yet another of the local brewery's openings in the city centre, joining their recent renovation of The Victoria & Commercial in partnership with Whitelocks, plus their stewardship of the historic Tetley brewery building.
James Ooi, founder of Little Bao Boy said: "We have been part of this venue since day one, through COVID, outside seating, and new owners, and we are so excited for this refurb.
"On the food side, expect more collaborations, faster service, and a better overall customer experience. We are extremely grateful Kirkstall saw the value in this refurb and can't wait to get back open."
Steve Holt, founder of Kirkstall Brewery, said: "We're delighted to unveil a new presentation for the Taproom on Sovereign Street.
"It has been named The City Taproom after a famous but long-gone Leeds pub known as ‘The City’, which was situated where the statue of the Dortmund Brewer now stands. Images of the original City pub are a feature in the new look City Taproom, which can best be described as a 're-imagination' of a traditional city-centre pub.
"The City Taproom celebrates Leeds and its rich pub and brewing heritage. We hope that it will become a popular addition to the amazing and diverse venues that make Leeds such a vibrant City for hospitality and entertainment."
It's all the bits you loved before, just a little bigger and a whole lot better.
The City Taproom opens at 3 Sovereign Street on Thursday 23 April.
Sophie Smith -
18th March 2022 
