A naughty erotica-themed cocktail bar, Behind Closed Doors, is opening in Leeds later this month.
The hotly-anticipated new speakeasy has just announced its official launch date - and a £10,000 giveaway to celebrate too.
Behind Closed Doors was first established in Manchester in 2015, with an intimate theme of 'sex, rugs, and funk 'n' soul'.
And now it's heading to Leeds, opening on Call Lane on Friday 23 August.
To celebrate the launch of its second bar, the erotic establishment is holding a sizeable Instagram giveaway of £10,000, with £250 bar tabs available for up to 40 winners.
Although we've not yet peaked behind the curtains at the Leeds branch of Behind Closed Doors, the Manchester bar has given us a good idea of what to expect.
We're talking pleasure-seeking vibes, vintage erotica, mannequins, and even adult TV on the walls, with content dating back as far as the 1960s.
The signature cocktails are similarly cheeky, like the Chocstar Martini (a chocolate espresso martini with a whipped cream top). Its best-selling cocktail is Love Bite, encaptivating pink gin lovers in a raspberry and cucumber slushie; the Penis Colada and Schlong island iced tea.
Behind Closed Doors has announce the opening date for its new Leeds bar. Credit: Supplied
The vintage theme continues. See someone attractive? Customers can pick up the phone located on their table and dial their crush across the bar. Not quite the modern day Tinder, Grinder, or hinge…
Live DJs play boogie, soul and up beat funk all night long.
Nick Parr, the director and creator of Behind Closed Doors, said: "We have a totally unique concept that has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.
"We have designed the space with plenty of seating, an easily accessible bar area, and a dancefloor for our livelier patrons.
"With late nights and DJs every night, excellent drink selection and an atmosphere second to none, a night at Behind Closed Doors is one you won’t forget in a hurry.
"We are very excited to open our doors in time for the summer bank holiday weekend and show the people of Leeds a great time."
Behind Closed Doors will open on Call Lane on Friday 23 August, and will be open seven days a week, including happy hour between 5-7pm.
To enter the £10,000 giveraway head over to @bcdlds on Instagram or click below.
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."
The Hoot -
19th August 2024 
