Lishman's of Ilkley has received a prestigious national award in the Smithfield Star Awards.
Located just north of Leeds, celebrated butchers Lishman's of Ilkley, is officially one of the UK's top butchers- and now they have the award to prove it.
Announced at Butchers’ Hall in London last week, Lishman's of Ilkley became just one of twelve artisan butchers from across the UK to be crowned top of their class.
The Ilkley butcher won the award for ‘Gluten-Free Sausage’ with its Cooking Chorizo in what is widely recognised as the meat trade’s most high profile and challenging product evaluation.
Described by judges as ‘well-made’ and ‘a product they would buy’, the chorizo made with Yorkshire high welfare outdoor bred pork and handcrafted in-house, received top marks beating four other finalists to secure the top spot.
The Diamond Award was presented to David and Emma Lishman by much-loved restaurateur and Michelin star chef Angela Hartnett OBE.
The Ilkley butcher also made the final shortlist in the ‘From the Deli’ category with its Smoked Chicken Breast, the Bacon category and Steak category with all three products receiving coveted three-star status – the highest possible rating from the guild.
Emma Lishman of Lishman’s of Ilkley said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won this award. Our gluten-free cooking chorizo is a product we’re really proud of.
"It took five years to develop and is made with the highest welfare pork from local farmers – it’s definitely a great local alternative to the traditional Spanish varieties!”
Organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, the awards which have run for more than 30 years, recognise and reward the UK’s finest craft butchery products including Traditional Pork Sausage, Best Burgers, Gluten-Free Product, Best Bacon, BBQ Product and Black Pudding- a tasty lot of awards if we've ever heard some.
Products are evaluated using a one, two and three star rating system by a panel of independent industry judges, with all three star products in each category then pitched against each for the category champion Diamond Award.
Established in 1986, Lishman’s of Ilkley went onto launch their now nationally-renowned charcuterie arm in 2010- and this is what really separates the local business from the rest.
Last month, following an extensive refurbishment, the store reopened complete with a standalone charcuterie display section and a butchers’ display window featuring a Himalayan salt wall containing bricks that create the perfect environment for dry-ageing beef and maximising its flavour.
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Eats
Beloved Leeds takeaway Souvlaki Corner to open new restaurant in Morley next month
A new Souvlaki Corner is set to open in south Leeds.
If you're a Leeds local who loves food, then you'll have most likely heard and dined at Souvlaki Corner.
It's an absolute gem of a restaurant and takeaway, situated in Wortley selling fabulous authentic Greek food at a great price.
And now they're opening a new site in the nearby town of Morley which is going to be even bigger and better. Get in.
The new site will feature a bigger space with more seating, offering both dine-in and takeaway options, as well as a brand-new bar.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now you're talking our language.
Souvlaki Corner told The Hoot: "We’re excited to confirm that Souvlaki Corner will be opening a new site in Morley, Leeds. Our targeted opening is in around four weeks, although we don’t have an exact opening date yet and will confirm this closer to the launch.
"One of the highlights of the new restaurant will be a traditional Greek spit where we will cook whole lamb in the proper Greek way. It will be cooked over charcoal to give the authentic Greek flavour that people would experience in Greece.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"Our chefs are Greek, bringing authentic knowledge and experience from Greece. The interior design will also reflect the style of the Greek islands, so when people visit they will feel like they are stepping into a little part of Greece."
They continued: "Souvlaki Corner was created to bring authentic Greek street food to Leeds, focusing on freshly grilled souvlaki, gyros, and traditional flavours served quickly and affordably. Since launching our first location, the response from customers has been fantastic, and Morley felt like the natural next step as we continue to grow."
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Clementine Hall
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.
The Hoot -
15th April 2022 
