Eats

The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant

We've been waiting for this one.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 20th March 2025

Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.

Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.

Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.

But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.

Image: Supplied

And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.

The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.

The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.

Image: Supplied

The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.

Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.

“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”

Bookings for The Swine Bistro can be made here.

Read more: Popeyes announces official opening date for Leeds City Centre restaurant

Featured image - Supplied

Eats

The best places to celebrate the Lunar New Year with food in Leeds 2026

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The Lunar New Year is here - how are you planning to celebrate the Year of the Horse?

Tuesday 17 February is a date you'll want to have marked in your calendar, regardless of whether you're celebrating the Lunar New Year or not. The date marks the first day of the the year in the lunar calendar, and as such is a time to celebrate.

Leeds, as always, is bringing the best of the new year in with hearty menus, killer cocktails and a whole range of dining options made especially to help you celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Here's our top picks for foodies to enjoy during the Lunar New Year.

Bánh & Mee

Open from 11am | Inside Leeds Kirkgate Market

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Serving up traditional Banh Mi with Siagon Noodles, Pho and summer rolls aplenty, Banh & Mee has become a real city centre staple - and it's easy to see why.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year with a giant balloon mascot called Chilli, hungry diners are invited to head down for a taste of authentic Vietnamese food this weekend, and make sure to try some of Mama Nguyen’s 3rd generation broth, noodle soup.

Find out more here.

Wen's

Open from 4pm | North Street, Leeds city centre

Images: The Hoot Leeds

A hidden gem sitting in plain sight, Wen’s feels like one of those ‘if you know, you know’ spots and we are certainly all the better for knowing.The menu is extensive and allows for multiple visits to try out all of the goodness on offer, and we are certainly not complaining.

The portions are generous and perfect for sharing, Wen’s is the place to bond with friends and family over wonderful food that won’t set you back a pretty penny. And if you need any help choosing from the menu, The Dandan Noodles can only be described as a hug in a bowl, served swimming in a bowl of rich, savoury broth and topped with a mound of delicious pork mince and crunchy spring onions.

Tattu

Open from 12pm | East Parade, Leeds city centre

Image: The Hoot Leeds

As one of four locations in the UK, Tattu Leeds hosts a range of cuisine, including the Char Sui Monkfish with a delicious honey glaze, served with morning glory, caramel orange and pickled cucumber, which is due to land on their menu soon. Cocktail-wise, you're really spoilt for choice, but one to take advantage of during the new year celebrations is the gin, almond, lemon, umeshu and jasmine tea combination that makes up Firecracker, which is said to be inspired by the dance of the dragons.

Little Bao Boy

North Brewing Tap Room, Leeds city centre

Those steamed dumplings that we all know and love are a variation of a dish called mantou from Northern China and Little Bao Boys have got the modern version down to a tee. You'll find them at either North Brew Co venue in the city centre and we guarantee their small but tasty menu will have something for everyone.

MANS Market

Friday 20 January - Sunday 22 January 2023 | West Point, Wellington Street

Celebrating Chinese New Year with traditional cuisine is our favourite hidden Chinese restaurant, Mans Market. Tucked away downstairs in the city centre, their authentic menu has always got us wanting more and no doubt their new year menu will be just the same.

Crown Hot Pot

Open from 12pm | Back Blenheim Terrace, Woodhouse

Hidden inside a supermarket across the road from University of Leeds’ Parkinson Building, Crown Hot Pot is the true definition of a hidden gem.

Here, you get the chance to cook your own food- and all within seconds of entering the boiling dish. The idea is that each table orders from a seemingly endless choice of meats, served by the metre, and then select smaller portions of noodles, salads and dumplings to compliment the serving.

Take your heatproof chopsticks and dunk each meat into the bubbling pot and watch an near-instant transformation from raw pinks to juicy cooked meats. We’re talking 10-20 seconds for pork, and just a few minutes for sausages and meatballs: it’s truly a blink and you’ll miss it experience. Prawns and pork belly both come highly recommended, but Crown Hot Pot truly match your meaty preferences to ensure that each member of your table is well-fed.

Maxi's Rotisserie

Open from 11am, Kirkgate market

Images: The Hoot Leeds

If you're looking for some real authentic Cantonese cuisine then there's no where better than Maxi's in Kirkgate market. The best roasted meats, french toast and comforting steamed dumplings. Make sure you've got your wallet with you though, as they only take cash.

Noodle House

Upper Briggate

Images: The Hoot Leeds

If you're looking for fresh, handmade noodles and banging roast meats then you can't go wrong with Noodle House. It's got a huge menu to choose from and plenty of seats for you to sit back and relax whilst tucking into some authentic grub.

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Stuzzi team to open brand-new sandwich shop and diner in Farsley

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The team behind Stuzzi - one of Leeds’ best-loved Italian restaurants - are set to launch a brand-new concept in Farsley this week.

La Grassa will be a new Italian-American ‘Paninoteca’ and diner concept, where you’ll be able to get your hands on paninos filled with house-made meats, cheeses and sauces.

The new concept comes from Stuzzi Leeds co-founders Jimbob Phillips and Brett Lee, and is set to open in Amity Brew Co.

They’ll be taking over the former brewing area at Sunnybank Mills, after Amity moved their brewery operations over to a new site in Greengates.

This new collaboration between Stuzzy and Amity Brew Co will bring Italian-American flavours to Farsley with quick-service dining - hearty sandwiches and light bites by day, and more substantial plates by night.

Jimbob Phillips of Stuzzi Leeds said, “La Grassa is about bringing people together over food that’s indulgent, fun and full of flavour. Working with Amity gives us the perfect space to explore that in a new way.”

Brett Lee added: “We wanted to create a place that feels lively and approachable, where people can enjoy the quality of Stuzzi Leeds in a quick-service format without compromising on taste.”

Verity Clarke, Director at Amity Brew Co, said: “While we were brewing on-site at Sunny Bank Mills, it did limit the hospitality experience. We could only open four days a week, and there wasn’t a weekday that went by without mill visitors wanting to pop in for a daytime drink or bite to eat.

"Over the past five years, we’ve collaborated with food vendors, and it’s always added another welcome dimension to the experience at Amity. We’re very excited to have such a high-quality team joining us to really fulfil Amity’s potential.”

La Grassa at Amity Brew Co will officially open on Friday 13 February 2026 with new extended opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday every week.

Read more: The best places in Leeds to get pancakes on Pancake Day 2026

Featured image: Supplied

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