A intriguing looking street food van selling ‘low & slow’ smoked BBQ meats has appeared outside Trinity shopping center in Leeds.
For the next few weeks, it'll be home to Jimmy Mack's street food kitchen selling wraps filled with 12-hour hickory-smoked beef brisket, 6-hour Birria lamb leg, and 14-hour maple-smoked pork collar.
These come topped with a selection of homemade salsas, pickles and sauces, plus extras and sides like loaded fries and Southern-fried boneless chicken thighs.
Converted from an old Peugeot J7, the street food van is a new part of Trinity's food lineup, joining permanent offerings Archie’s, Pho, Rola Wala, Tortilla, Pizzaluxe, Absurd Bird and Doner Shack.
The van's food offering will change every six to eight weeks, with the likes of poutine heroes Spuds n Bros, Thai kitchen Sri Non and burger bad boys Wagyu Lookin’ At? also lined up fpr a stint there this summer.
Chef James with friend pictured outside the newly-installed food van / Image: Jimmy Mack's
For the month of June, though, it's all about BBQ here wit York-based chef James Mackenzie in situ for the next few weeks.
Wraps here are dipped in meat juices, crisped up and then topped with melted cheese and house sauces and sides. All come served with a pot of special 'pit gravy' for dipping, too.
There's also a pulled BBQ oyster mushroom for vegans, served with deep-fried crispy onion, charred corn salsa and chipotle mayo.
Jimmy Mack’s is a relatively new concept, devised by chef James based on his own experiences of travelling and cooking for clients around the world.
He's previously worked as a chef to the rich and famous, at chalets in the Alps and on luxury yachts in France, Italy, and Croatia.
Speaking on the new project, he said: “After years of working in kitchens, it was time to do my own thing! I want to create tasty food that I love and bring something a little different to the street food scene.
“The street food van is such a great opportunity for chefs like myself, one that is original and isn’t offered anywhere else. I am looking forward to joining Trinity Kitchen and serving up some great food.”
Find Jimmy Mack's at Trinity from 1st-20th June. Find out more and view the menu on their website.
Eats
One of Leeds’ most loved sushi restaurants has just opened a second location in the city
Because one Fern Modern Sushi wasn't enough, we've now got two.
And guess what? It's even better than the first.
Fern Modern Sushi located in the unassuming Central Arcade has become a firm foodie favourite after opening just a couple years ago.
Run by the wonderful Chef Fern, who you could say is somewhat of a local celebrity at this point, the restaurant is known for serving delicious sushi with the freshest fish possible and traditional Japanese dishes with modern flair.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Full with hungry punters no matter the time of day, it's no surprise that Chef Fern has just opened Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 on Park Row.
This beautiful new space is serving up all the classic Fern dishes, from stacked donburi bowls and perfectly rolled sushi to miso glazed cod and hearty bowls of ramen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Different for this location, though, is their exclusive cocktail menu - so you can wine and dine to your heart's content.
The interior has also levelled up, complete with a huge open kitchen so you can pull up a chair and eat whilst watching the magic happen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this isn't all that Chef Fern is up to, after opening Tori Nori on Vicar Lane a few months ago this will be her third restaurant in the city centre, and that is no easy feat.
She's even got another restaurant imminently opening in the Central Arcade which will be focused on traditional katsu dishes, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if she had something else lined up in the pipeline.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 officially opens on 19 November, but is open now for soft launch with limited bookings.
A pub in Leeds has been crowned the third best in Britain by The Good Food Guide
Clementine Hall
A Leeds pub has been crowned one of the very best in the country by The Good Food Guide.
The trusted guide has just released its 100 Best Pubs in Britain list, and we're very chuffed with the results indeed.
Taking the coveted number three spot is our very own The Highland Laddie, a 100-year-old city centre institution that reopened in April 2025 in the hands of new owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton.
These guys also run the Empire Cafe, so you just know it's going to be good.
Last year they soared straight to the top of the list and were crowned the best pub in the whole of Britain by the guide.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This time, the Queen's Arms over in Eccles came number one followed by The Cow in Notting Hill.
We still think bagging third place is quite the achievement, and if you've visited The Highland Laddie yourself you'll know just how much of a special place it is.
Don't just take our word for it, The Good Food Guide labelled the Laddie as 'a true pub with a genuine community vibe'.
They also said: "Reenergised by the team behind the Empire Cafe in 2025, this is everything that a proper English pub should be – 'oh, and they have a mustard menu!'
"Inside, the Laddie ticks all the boxes, preserving the essentials of a traditional old-school boozer and maintaining a genuine sense of community while letting the good times roll. As for the food, it’s ‘both high-end and accessible’, pulling in ideas from all over, whether you fancy a freshly shucked Lindisfarne oyster, a keema toastie or an elevated ham roll with bread cooked over the coals.
"Dig deeper and you might find a lobster madeleine with Yorkshire chorizo butter, a treacle onion tart or pork schnitzel with two fried eggs. Club steaks are served by the inch, there’s no creative let-up when it comes to sides, and the nostalgia is ramped up with the likes of strawberry and Champagne trifle with ‘sprinkles’.
"But never forget that this is a self-proclaimed ‘drinkers’ pub’ dispensing everything from ‘properly served’ British brews and ’the best Guinness in Leeds’ to a staggering line-up of whisky optics."
Georgina Pellant -
2nd June 2021 
