Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.
It's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.
We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie in country pubs, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre- so take your pick, whatever the occasion.
Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.
Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.
All lovingly made by The Pie Hole, expect copious amounts of thick gravy with pies, poured over delicious pies stuffed with classic fillings like peppered steak and ale; cheese and onion; chicken, bacon and mushroom; slow roast pork and cider or opt for the inventive slow cooked chicken curry, or veggie-friendly sweet potato, caramelised onion and goat’s cheese selection.
Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm
Image: Whitelocks Ale House
Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu. The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.
Banyan
City Square, Horsforth, Ilkley and Roundhay | Open from 12pm
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Banyan is celebrating British Pie Week with the award-winning Great North Pie Co. and they really live up to the hype. With four delicious flavours to choose from, all with the perfect drinks pairings to match.
You could go for the classic Steak & Ale, Lancashire Cheese & Onion, or Chicken Balti (our personal favourite). The vegan option doesn't disappoint either - North African Spiced Sweet Potato pie which of course comes with vegan gravy. All pies are also served with fresh seasonal greens and your choice of creamy mashed potatoes or crispy gastro chips.
Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships. At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.
Pieminister
Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm
Image: Pieminister
Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.
The Botanist, Trinity
Boar Lane, Outside Trinity shopping centre | Open from 12pm
Image: The Botanist
Famed for its hanging kebabs and botanical cocktails, The Botanist at Trinity is always a good option for a crowd-pleasing dinner. The coconut sweet potato pie is our vegetarian pie of choice in Leeds. Served with chestnut mushroom, sweet potato mash and curry sauce: this warming dish comes with buttery, flaky pastry and a unique curry-flavoured twist.
A much-loved Leeds cafe and brunch favourite has announced a major expansion, with bags more seating both inside and out.
Independent cafe Olive & Rye has announced that it's expanding into the unit next door in the beautiful Queens Arcade.
The local brunch spot has already started work on the neighbouring unit and is set to be back up and running in just a few weeks.
It's great news for the arcade, which is already home to businesses like Pop Boutique and Art & Soul, as well as Olive & Rye's sister business, the authentic little Thai cafe, Olive & Thai.
The cafe has a seasonal menu, so there's always a new special to try, as well as a core menu of classic brunch favourites like homemade granola, eggs on sourdough, and pancakes.
They're also famed for their huge full breakfasts, which feature items like crispy pork belly, homemade beans, black pudding, and hash browns.
Announcing the news yesterday, Olive & Rye said: "It’s finally official !!!
"We’re expanding into the unit next door. We so excited for a bigger dining area and kitchen. That means we will have more inside and outside spots for brunch
"We will be closed on February 3rd & 4th for construction, but back up and running on the 5th."
Popular holiday company launches new ‘Beckham Clause’ for feuding families
Emily Sergeant
A popular package holiday company has launched a new ‘Beckham Clause’ to help protect feuding families.
It's official… family fallouts are now holiday-proof, thanks to a new ‘Beckham Clause’ that’s been launched by a Manchester-based travel company On The Beach in the wake of the ongoing – and at this point, inescapable – Beckham family feud.
In case you need bringing up to speed, then allow us to (briefly) sum up the Beckham family drama for you as best as possible.
Basically, at the centre of this discourse the eldest Beckham child, Brooklyn, his wife Nicola Peltz, and primarily his mum Victoria, although as the months have gone on, it appears there’s no member of the Beckham family that isn’t somewhat involved (okay, maybe not Harper… well at least not publicly, anyway).
Image: Natalya Zaritskaya (via Unsplash)
Earlier this month, it was reported that Brooklyn had become estranged from his family, and had told his parents to contact him only through lawyers.
And then yesterday, of course, Brooklyn publicly spoke out about the accusations on his Instagram Stories for the first time ever… and all hell broke loose in the celebrity news world.
On the Beach’s new clause – officially titled the Family Fallout Refund, and already nicknamed the ‘Beckham Clause’ by bosses – aims to give holidaymakers peace of mind that no matter how messy things get at home, their getaway won’t suffer, as it applies to family holidays where one member suddenly drops out due to a feud, argument, or full-blown emotional meltdown.
Under the new policy, if a family member pulls out before departure, their share of the hotel booking will be refunded rather than leaving the rest of the group to foot the bill.
Family fallouts aren’t just limited to celebrities, every year hundreds of holiday bookings need amending due to feuds, On The Beach said, which is why it’s chosen to launch the new refund scheme.
“We love family holidays, but we’re also very aware that family fallouts cam hamper plans,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Chief Customer Officer at On the Beach.
“The ‘Beckham Clause’ is there for those moments when someone decides they’d rather cool off at home than by the pool.
“Our new perk means that if a family feud takes place and one person drops out, the rest of the group can still head off, relax, and enjoy the holiday they were looking forward to.”
The Family Fallout Refund is available on family holidays with five or more people, and needs to be claimed at least 60 days before departure.
It applies to new and existing bookings departing on or before 31 August 2026.
Sophie Smith -
4th March 2024 
