Paying a respectful homage to the building’s wealth of history, Kino effortlessly fuses new and old, indie and popular, and wine with charcuterie.
Kino, meaning cinema, has been lovingly built from the rubble of a former-derelict cinema space.
The space within the Grade II-listed Opera North has opened its doors this week, revealing a space with soft greys and blues, terrazzo table-tops, and a stunning tiled bar.
The gist of the food offering is a simple one – boards loaded with cheese, charcuterie, and other nibbles, sourced as regionally as possible.
Suppliers include Leeds’ George & Joseph, North Star Coffee Roasters, Latitude Wines and Northern Monk in addition to Darlington’s Acorn Dairy, Lishman’s of Ilkley and Bluebird Bakery.
Everything will be evolving constantly to showcase seasonal favourites as well as guest chefs and kitchen residencies.
From September, one of Leeds’ most exciting pop-up brands will take over the full food offer, with plenty of exciting names to add to the menu come autumn.
Inspired by the cinematic experience formerly hosted inside the Grade II listed building, Kino means ‘cinema’ in multiple languages, but also encompasses the minimalist style that the restaurant has taken on as part of its opening identity.
Inside you’ll see 100 covers across a whopping three floors with clean lines to create a relaxed and welcoming space perfect for pre-show drinks, post-performance bites and everything in between.
This exciting new opening will be far more than a foodie option for theatre-goers, it’ll be a game-changing restaurant championing independents near and far, all whilst keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum.
Running on renewable energy created from solar panels and from the grid, Kino promises to put sustainability in everything it does- and we can’t wait to see the restaurant in action later this summer.
Richard Mantle, general director at Opera North says: “Opening Kino is the final piece in the puzzle following our transformative £18 million redevelopment programme, Music Works.
“Located next to Leeds Grand Theatre, where Opera North is a resident company, and below the Howard Assembly Room, the most eclectic music venue in the north of England, Kino will be the perfect spot to enjoy drinks and a bite to eat before a performance, or as a destination in its own right.
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“With Kino, we continue to do what we do best – entertaining through memorable experiences – adding seriously delicious food and drink to our repertoire.”
Kino will initially open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings 5pm – 11pm, and all day on Fridays and Saturdays over the summer before moving into its September menu and full restaurant opening.
For more information, visit the Kino website.
Featured image – The Hoot Leeds
