The pub equivalent of the Oscars was huge night for Leeds bar group Arc Inspirations.
The Publican Awards celebrates the industry's finest bars and hospitality groups across the UK and unsurprisingly, Leeds scooped plenty of awards.
Leading Leeds-based bar group, Arc Inspirations were the biggest winners of the night, scooping two of the prestigious awards for Best Company and Best Operations Team.
The company own Leeds' Manahatta, BOX and Banyan and were awarded for their efforts"after navigating some of the most challenging times faced in the pub and bar sector’s history."
Presented by TV host Paddy McGuinness, Arc Inspirations was recognised in front of 1,500 industry representatives at the Evolution London arena last night at the renowned awards ceremony.
Image: Arc Inspirations
Commenting on the awards, Arc Inspirations co-founder and CEO Martin Wolstencroft, said: “This truly reflects the towering and relentless work of every single person at Arc Inspirations during these last two years. To be up against the very best bar and pub businesses in the UK and to come out on top is amazing.
"The double win in these national awards caps a memorable 12 months for the group. Since reopening its doors in April 2021, following the enforced closure due to the pandemic, Arc Inspirations has produced a record year in terms of sales and profit. The performance was celebrated by the company with a ski trip to Mirabel for its top 25 team members."
Whilst Leeds remains Arc Inspirations home base, the company is continuing to expand across the north. In autumn last year, the group opened two new flagship sites, in Birmingham and Manchester, and last week secured approval to launch a £2.5m Manahatta bar in Newcastle, its largest development to date.
North Brewing Co, who own multiple Leeds venues were also awarded a Publican Award, taking home the top prize for 'Best Brewing Pub Company' whilst Yorkshire-based Provenance Inns and Hotels were awarded 'Best Food Offer', which awarded for "a successful mainstream food offer across their estate, which average food price for a two course meal (Starter/Dessert and Main) is from £12.50 to £25 per head."
More information about the award winners at the 2022 Publican Awards can be found on their website.
Feature Image- Arc Inspirations
Eats
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Sophie Smith -
5th April 2022 
