Honest Burgers is finally set to open its restaurant in Leeds this weekend- and it will celebrate with free burgers and chips.
The restaurant chain already has 40 restaurants scattered across the UK, but has only been running as a pop-up in Leeds (at the Northern Monk brewery) until now.
It's now set to open its 41st site on Cloth Hall Street, just next to the newly-pedestrianised Corn Exchange area.
Credit: Honest Burgers
To celebrate the Leeds opening, Honest are giving the first 500 customers a burger and chips on the head. All you need to do to claim yours is head down to the new restaurant on Cloth Hall Street from 11.30am on Saturday 30 August and be the first to enjoy the great British burger, it really is that simple.
The launch also will mark the start of plenty of Leeds-exclusive specialities, including a soon-to-be-released local burger (those who have visited the Northern Monk pop-up will know exactly how highly anticipated this one is) as well as a collaborative sauce with Leeds-own Thiccc Sauce, and if that's not enough, for the first time ever, HONEST will be serving a cheesy version of their much-loved bacon gravy.
Image: Supplied
Speaking ahead of the launch, Tom Barton, Co-Founder Honest Burgers said: "Leeds has been a long time coming for Honest and we’re very happy to open on Saturday 30thJuly.
"All of our restaurants have close ties with local breweries and producers. In Leeds that means beers from Northern Monk and a local burger (launching in August) featuring beer pickled onions, smoked cheddar and a brand new black garlic chipotle chutney from lockdown star Thiccc Sauce.
"And for the first time ever, we’ll be serving a cheesy version of our cult favourite bacon gravy for all your burger and chip dunking needs."
A fully-vegan burger. Credit: Honest Burgers
The new Honest Burgers will create 20 new jobs for Leeds ahead of its opening on 25 July.
The burger brand is the only one in the UK to craft everything from scratch, including its beef patties (from its own butchery in London), its pickles, all sauces and relishes.
Honest Burgers was founded in Brighton in 2009, by friends Tom Barton and Philip Eeles.
Since then, it's championed local business and works closely with existing breweries and bars to collaborate in each city it opens in.
In Leeds, that meant its partnership with Northern Monk, where it made beer cheese using the brewery's Heathen IPA, and pickled onions with Faith pale ale.
In May this year, Honest Burgers announced Honest Farming, which will see it switch to regeneratively farmed British beef in partnership with farming collective Grassroots, cutting its carbon footprint and the environmental impact of eating beef.
Menu staples range from the classic Honest and Tribute burgers to the fiery Chilli burger which comes loaded with bacon, chilli cheese, Honest hot sauce, shoestring chips, and jalapenos.
The chicken wings are covered in sauce, and finger-licking food. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Vegetarians have a choice of three vegan burgers, including an Indian-spiced sweetcorn, cauliflower, and chickpea fritter, and the Plant burger, made with a BeyondMeat patty.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers said: "Leeds has been a long time coming for Honest and we’re very happy to open on Monday 25 July.
"All of our restaurants have close ties with local breweries and producers. In Leeds that means beers from Northern Monk and a local burger (launching in August) featuring beer pickled onions, smoked cheddar and a brand new black garlic chipotle chutney from lockdown star Thiccc Sauce.
The Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and one in Sheffield has made the list.
The latest edition of the Best 100 Local Restaurants list celebrates the very best venues that are loved by their communities.
A team of reviewers and inspectors scour the country to find the best of the best, and this year a beloved Sheffield restaurant has earned its rightful place back on the list.
The Orange Bird over in Hillsborough is an award-winning South African restaurant that may be small in size, but the flavours coming out of the kitchen are anything but.
Images: The Sheff
The Orange Bird has become one of the city’s biggest word-of-mouth food spots, with locals flocking there for its bold, modern South African-inspired cooking and seriously impressive braai dishes.
And if you’ve ever tried getting a reservation, you’ll already know just how in-demand this place has become.
Run by Anne Horner and Matthew Duggan-Jones, The Orange Bird has built a loyal following thanks to its vibrant menu packed with smoky, fire-cooked flavours, quality local ingredients, and dishes made for sharing around the table.
Images: The Sheff
But don't just take our word for it, here's what the Good Food Guide said: "The Hillsborough district of Sheffield is home to Matthew Duggan-Jones' homage to his South African heritage, in which the braai barbecue is a long-standing social tradition.
"Behind the Orange Bird’s dark-hued facade, there is always the infectious feeling of a party going on – 'it’s consistently delicious, exciting and inviting,' notes one local."
The Orange Bird was placed at number 54, which we think is pretty good going.
You can read the full list by the Good Food Guide here.
Read more: The Hillsborough restaurant redefining bold South African flavours in Sheffield
Featured image - The Sheff
Eats
Leeds restaurant crowned one of the best local restaurants in Britain just three months after opening
Clementine Hall
The Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and three Leeds spots have made the list.
The latest edition of the Best 100 Local Restaurants list celebrates the very best venues that are loved by their communities.
A team of reviewers and inspectors scour the country to find the best of the best, and this year three restaurants in Leeds have earned themselves a place on the numbered list.
One in particular has been included just three months after opening.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Smithfield opened in April taking over the old Reliance space on North Street, and it's safe to say they had very big shoes to fill.
But they have done with ease, celebrating Yorkshire produce to a crowd that are overjoyed to see the space being brought back to life.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Here's what the Good Food Guide had to say after awarding The Smithfield with 80th place: "Opening in one of the city’s most hallowed restaurant sites was always going to invite comparison. In its day, the Reliance was a much-loved neighbourhood haunt that became the gateway drug for a generation of Leeds foodies, and a return to its burgundy paint job was a statement of intent from its new owners.
"Head chef James Donovan's CV includes Clerkenwell's Rochelle Canteen, and you don't have to do much dusting to see the Fergus and Margot Henderson's nose-to-tail fingerprints: pig's head, ox heart, hogget, and a meritocratic approach to the menu with produce leading the way – occasionally nudged along by a well-timed dollop of gribiche or a slick of bisque."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Elsewhere on the list, it won't come as a surprise to see that the ever-so-brilliant Bavette has been crowned in 16th place. Described as a "convivial neighbourhood bistro in the northerly suburb of Horsforth" that perfectly exudes a "Franco-Yorkshire alliance".
And lastly for Leeds, the ultra-cool Empire Cafe takes spot 31 where "owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton have done a grand job here, rekindling the nostalgia while making the place feel emphatically of the moment, 'high-class yet down-to-earth'."
It's a trio of great wins for Leeds' foodie scene, and you can read the full list here.
The Hoot -
28th July 2022 
