One of Leeds' most popular steakhouse restaurants is set to launch the largest outdoor heated terrace in Oakwood next week.
Ahead of the further easing of national lockdown restrictions as part of the government's roadmap on 12th April, Chophaus - based in Roundhay Park - has announced it's "bouncing back with plans that are set to rock 2021" by unveiling a brand-new outdoor heated terrace, alongside some of its most ambitious menus to date.
The outdoor terrace's complete overhaul will comfortably seat 80 guests and has been designed by the award-winning Nanu Soda, who first worked their magic on the stunning Chophaus interiors back in 2019.
Flanked by the lush green trees that surround the restaurant, the cosy heated terrace will no doubt become one of the places to be in Leeds this summer.
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That's not all either, as Chophaus has also teamed up with celebrated Scottish-born chef, Lee Murdoch - who has had an illustrious career since it began back in 2003, working around the globe picking up awards in several Michelin restaurants and five-star hotels - to create a collection of menus that are designed to capture the interest of the city's foodies.
Taking inspiration from around Asia, Europe and beyond, Lee has created "a stunning array of dishes" for the new menu, which includes Truffle Puffs with black garlic sauce, and smoked sea salt and Fior Fries with aged Parmigiana making up the lighter bar plates section, whilst the larger plates are split across four sections.
Highlights from the raw and sushi menu include the refreshing Salmon Tartar Tacos with grapefruit and a lime crème Fraiche, California Crab Rolls, Spicy Tuna Gunmaki and Kumamoto Oysters with yuzu and galea apple.
If you're looking for a lighter bite, the salads and seafood menu includes Sauteed King Prawn with chipotle and mango olive oil, and Miso Wild Bass with sake, mirin, and ginger.
Chophaus | Will Stanley Photography
The 'Signature & Charcoal' section offers up a mouth-watering range of steak plates too.
And when it comes to dessert, the sweet and savoury offerings include Moji by Murdoch with honeycomb, raspberry, and milk chocolate, Coconut Edible with mango sorbet and tropical salsa, and a Foie Gras Crumpet with manuka honey and pink pepper.
The summer cocktail menu will also be on hand to complement the new plates.
You can find more information on menus and advanced bookings ahead of reopening next week via the Chophaus website.
Featured Image Credit - Chophaus | Gemma Bridge
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."
The Hoot -
6th April 2021 
