Eats

Ilkley Food and Drink Festival announces 2023 dates

"A place to soak up the buzzing atmosphere and celebrate all things food, drink and entertainment."

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 17th February 2023

The Ilkley Food and Drink Festival will return to East Holmes Field for a celebration of international food, independent drink, live music, arts and charity.

After attracting a whopping 20,000 attendees to the quaint spa town of Ilkley over the past two years, organisers promise that this year's festival will be bigger and better than ever before.

Taking place from Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 June 2023, visitors can expect an impressive array of street food venders, bars, fine artisan markets, live cooking demos and a whole lot more.

Take a stroll through the idyllic green fields of East Holmes Field and be greeted with the smells and temptations of delicious food from all over the world.

Image: Ilkley Food and Drink Festival

After tucking into something yummy, why not put your feet up on one of the deck chairs whilst placing an order from one of the eight independent bars which will be quenching people's thirsts all weekend.

Fancy getting in on the action? The Ilkley Food and Drink Festival will be hosting a full Live Chef’s demo stage for the entire weekend. Working with Zest Charity & Leeds Cookery School, you can watch the region’s best chef’s rustle up a storm.

Ilkley Food and Drink Festival.
Image: Ilkley Food and Drink Festival

Each chef will be showcasing unique culinary expertise and focusing on a variety of different ingredients and cuisines from around the world.

Of course after being surrounded by such amazing food, you'll definitely want to take some goodies home with you and you can do so by browsing the fine artisan markets shacking up for the weekend. Showcasing some of the best independent producers from across the UK, tuck into a gooey brownie before sampling some cheese and taking your perfect match home with you.

A burger from Ilkley Food and Drink Festival.
Image: Ilkley Food and Drink Festival

And it doesn't stop there, across the weekend there will be live entertainment, music, children's entertainment and loads of activities to keep you occupied.

The festival's charity partner is Mind in Bradford who they have already raised over £65,000 for over the past two years. They'll be collecting donations through ticket sales as well as fun activities and competitions taking place over the weekend.

Early bird tickets are available now for just £6 each including booking fee, so if you're thinking of going then save yourself a few quid and book now via their website.

Read more: Inhaler kick off UK tour in Leeds with non-stop new album hits

Feature image - Ilkley Food and Drink Festival

Eats

A new rotisserie chicken restaurant promising to be ‘clucking delicious’ is coming to Leeds

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A restaurant and cafe is coming to Leeds city centre - and it's all centred around rotisserie chicken.

We live in a world where food trends are really leading the way that we eat.

From matcha and frozen yoghurt to stacked sub sandwiches and acai bowls - it seems us foodies just can't help but jump on the ever evolving bandwagon.

And now there's a new one, rotisserie chicken.

A number of restaurants have popped up all over the UK serving up this protein-lover's dream, and now Leeds is getting in on the action.

Rotisserie Club will be taking over the old Shokupan site on Wellington Street in the city centre and although we don't have many details just yet, we've got a small inclination of what's in store.

It seems that in the morning the space will be occupied by Habitum, a trendy coffee shop that opened on Lower Briggate last September.

They'll be slinging out all the caffeinated beverages throughout the morning until lunch time hits and everything rotisserie chicken takes over.

We're talking wraps, bowls, salads, pittas - all jam-packed with deliciously tender chicken cooked on the rotisserie.

Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, the Rotisserie Club said: "The secret is out..Leeds is about to get its own Rotisserie Club with an Habitum to boot.

"More details will be revealed in time, but expect us at the back end of Sep - early Oct. Habitum will look after the AM’s with Rotisserie Club stepping in from lunch.

"Two new quality additions to the area - from a bunch of familiar faces from the Leeds Hospitality scene.."

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

The best bakeries in Leeds serving everything from crusty loaves to flakey croissants

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

If you're got a sweet tooth, then you're going to want to keep reading.

Oh Leeds, if there's one thing we're good at - it's baking.

Just walking around the city you'll bump into delightful bakeries offering sweet treats galore, and you'll find even better gems when you venture into the suburbs.

We've rounded up a handy little guide for you to make your way through when you're looking to treat yourself to a cheeky baked good, which should be every day if we're being honest.

So, without further ado let's dive into the best bakeries in Leeds.

Bake

Mustard Approach, Mustard Wharf

Images: The Hoot Leeds

From the team behind Things in Bread and Doh'hut comes this absolutely beautiful bakery by the water.

Led by mastermind Tom, they're serving up great British bakes but with a refined twist. Think ultra cheesy cheese twists, sticky school cake and unbeatable sausage rolls.

Fat Pigeon Bakery

406 Broad Lane, Leeds LS13 3DF

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Fat Pigeon is a micro-bakery in Bramley that opens every Saturday to queues of adoring fans.⁠
⁠
And it’s no surprise why, as here you’ll find some of the very best bakes - from croissants to cinnamon buns - that Leeds has to offer.⁠ Oh, and owner Ruth is about as lovely as they come too.
⁠

Fold

62 Brussels Street, LS9 8AB

Images: The Hoot Leeds

From the absolute masterminds behind The Cheesy Living Co. comes Fold, a hidden bakery serving up from under the arches every Saturday morning.

You can get your chops around their famous focaccia, stuffed sausage rolls, cookies, sarnies, bagels and the creme de le creme for us: the foot-long three-cheese twist.

Underground Bakery

Call Lane

Images: The Hoot Leeds

If you're after a really great almond croissant, then you've got to get yourself to Underground Bakery. They're serving a whole array of baked goods but doing them all really, really well.

Right in the centre of town, it's a great spot to swing by on your way to work because everyone deserves a midweek croissant every now and again.

Laynes

New Station Street

Images: The Hoot Leeds

This one probably doesn't need any introduction, as Laynes bakery are known amongst the city for their exceptional bakes and it's not hard to see why.

They stock a number of coffee shops across Leeds but for the true experience, pop in and enjoy a bake alongside a cup of their fabulous coffee.

Nova

Leeds Dock

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Nova Bakehouse is a beautiful sun drenched spot that serve up irresistible morning buns, chewy cookies and speciality bread.

They focus on 'flavour forward baking' using seasonal ingredients to create monthly specials that'll have you going back time and time again.

Oh, and they've been named one of the best bakeries in the UK by The Good Food Guide two years running now - so you know it's good.

Read more: Leeds bakery crowned one of the best in the UK for second year running by The Good Food Guide

Crumbb

154 Hyde Park Road, LS6 1AG⁠

Images: The Hoot Leeds

These guys have really made a mark for themselves since opening, and have cured all of LS6’s sweet tooth cravings and caffeine fixes.⁠

You'll find everything from stacked brownies and blondies to incredible red velvet cookie pies, and how could we forget their savoury options too?⁠

Chunk

174 Kirkstall Hill

Images: The Hoot Leeds

If cookies are your kryptonite, then Chunk is where you need to be.

From baking inside her student shared house to opening her very first bakery, the last few years have been a whirlwind for owner Amy Bennett- and there's really no stopping her now.

Her gooey NYX-style cookies are out of this world, served with great drinks to match.

The Savvy Baker

Albion Street

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Again, this one needs absolutely no introduction. A Leeds staple that has been curing sweet toothed brownie-lovers for years, it's The Savvy Baker.

Their new site in the city centre is truly one to behold, baking cookies on site and whipping up speciality matchas from a dedicated matcha bar - you don't want to miss it.

Karpaty Bakery

Leeds Kirkgate Market

Images: The Hoot Leeds

⁠This traditional Polish bakery inside the market is selling some of the cheapest bakes you can get your hands on. Their authentic donuts are as big as your head and the perfect sweet treat that won't break the bank.

Street Lane Bakery

399 Street Lane

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Hidden away just behind Street Lane, is Street Lane Bakery.

These guys have been baking up a storm in the kitchen for over a decade, from their ever-so-famous home-cooked bagels to the sweetest of treats.

Slow Rise Bakery

Sunnybank Avenue, Horsforth

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Can't get over to New York but craving a proper chewy, stacked bagel with all the trimmings? Slow Rise Bakery is the only answer.

Pick your flavour bagel from sesame to everything and then pick your fillings, we'd recommend going for lashings of cream cheese and layers of smoked salmon. Delicious.

Read more: Three of the most exciting new openings coming to Leeds this spring

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

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