Eats

The UK’s biggest chicken wing festival returns this weekend – and it’s only an hour from Leeds

Guests can expect a seriously saucy line-up for 2023, with wings from returning champs Eat The Bird, and local favourites Yard & Coop.

The Hoot The Hoot - 4th August 2023

The ultimate chicken wing showdown returns this weekend.

Just one hour from Leeds city centre in Manchester, Love Factory is preparing to host Wing Fest, aka the biggest chicken wing festival in the UK.

Championing street food traders and restauranteurs from across the UK, over the course of the weekend there'll be more than 100,000 drums and flats churned out from kitchens as they compete for the titles of Best Buffalo Wing, Best Wild Wing, and the Best BBQ Wing, a brand-new category for 2023.

Taking place this year on 12 and 13 August, this year will see the introduction of a new format inspired by the classic beer festival, reports The Manc.

Organisers have taken on feedback from previous years about queue waits, and for 2023 Manchester Wing Fest will be divided into sessions with reduced capacity - starting with a Saturday afternoon, followed by an evening session, then finishing with a bang on Sunday afternoon.

This means less time waiting, more wings, and a more seamless festival experience. Expect profound poultry eating, music thumping, axe throwing, beer and bourbon drinking of epic proportion. 

Guests can expect a seriously saucy line-up for 2023, with wings from returning champs Eat The Bird, and local favourites Yard & Coop.

wing fest
Wings at this year's London event. / Image: Wing Fest
wing fest
Image: Wing Fest

For those wanting wings from further afield, Poor Boys will be showcasing flavours from the big smoke, alongside Birmingham wing slingers, Filthy Wings.

All traders will be competing to win your vote and guarantee their spot in the Hall of Flame, chicken wing fans will have the opportunity to cast their votes across each of the two categories.

Wing Fest’s legendary competitions will be held on both days, and it’s set to get seriously heated with the deadly Lava Wing Challenge.

Hosted by Clifton Chilli Club, it’s the UK’s hottest wing challenge, renowned for the carnage it causes and strictly for the brave. If you’re a true wing aficionado, then it’s time for the Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Eating competition hosted by Food Review Club.

Competitors who are hungry enough compete against each other to see who can eat the most chicken wings in the fastest time - easily the messiest spectacle across the two days.  

Not just a festival for Wing aficionados, expect plenty of beer from Tiny Rebel, some of the best bourbon around from Horse With No Name, and whiskey from Jameson Black Barrel. 

Entertainment includes axe throwing, beer puppeteers, chicken pinatas, and donut eating challenges, alongside live music – best enjoyed with a wing or two in hand.

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Tickets are on sale now from £21 (entry is free for under 12s) and can be purchased via the Wing Fest website here.

Featured image - Wing Fest

Eats

A new açai cafe promising to be Leeds’ ‘neighbourhood social club’ is opening soon

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

An independent açai bowl pop-up is opening a permanent cafe in Leeds city centre.

It seems the açai bowl trend isn't over just yet, and we're absolutely not mad about it.

The aesthetically purple frozen treat isn't just delicious, but is also known to have numerous health benefits making it guilt-free and the perfect post-workout pick me up.

You may remember Açai Social Club that opened as a pop-up in the Victoria Quarter last year, and now they're moving into a permanent spot in the city centre.

Run by a lovely husband and wife duo who have spent the last 15 months exploring cafes around the world, it's safe to say they know exactly what they're talking about.

Their açai is made with the very best ingredients, topped with the freshest fruit and sprinkled with their homemade granola - it doesn't get much better then that does it?

Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, they said: "Açai Social Club is getting a home. Our very first store is officially on the way! We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a space that’s more about than just açai.

"What started as an idea is finally becoming something you can walk into…There’s still a lot we’re keeping under wraps for now, but we’re so excited to finally share the beginning of what’s to come.

"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in. Your new neighbourhood social club, coming soon."

The exact location of the cafe and its opening date is still under wraps, but we'll of course keep you updated as and when we find out.

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

The Leeds Supper Club bringing people together over incredible food

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

What started as a simple idea around food has grown into something much bigger for Leeds Supper Club.

The idea was born from a love of food and the idea that eating together can be about much more than what’s on your plate.

Rather than simply going out to a restaurant, Leeds Supper Club puts connection at the heart of its events, bringing people together to share incredible food and enjoy an evening in good company.

We had the pleasure of attending their most recent event where we had the most wonderful evening with founders Lizzie, Phillip and the rest of the club.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

This instalment was a very special one, as it was in collaboration with Knotfield Vine over in Horsforth.

I mean, it really doesn't get more scenic than this - we really felt like we'd been whisked away to the South of France rather than a Leeds suburb. But we wouldn't want it either way.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

What makes it a cut above the rest is the details. Every little detail has been thought out, from the low-lit, sexy lighting, hand-made name plates, live music and four courses of wonderful seasonal goodness made fresh.

From enjoying a glass of wine within the vines alongside a couple of nibbles to tucking into a three course meal around a candle-lit table, there's really nowhere else like it.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The tagliatelle pasta with beef and whipped feta was a real highlight, and knowing Lizzie and Philip receive help on the menu and the cooking from all their friends made it taste that much sweeter.

By the end of it we'd had some delicious food, fabulous wine and shared even better conversation. And it's safe to say we left feeling a part of the club.

Keep an eye on their Instagram page here for all upcoming events.

Read more: Five of the best new restaurants and cafes to open in Leeds recently

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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