The latest on the Leeds club scene is bringing a taste of Havana to West Yorkshire.
After much anticipation, the new club-cafe Canal Club has opened its doors to visitors for the very first time.
Bringing a flavoursome menu of food and drink from around the world, the busy bar will be serving fresh fish, tasty tacos and more from their canalside location.
The menu is full of fresh-ingredient-dishes. / Image: Canal Club
The cafe-club has embraced the changes that the pandemic have brought to our lives, but the brand is keen to ensure that their pre-Covid globetrotting-inspired-decor can still take visitors on a trip to parties around the world whilst restrictions are still in place.
Iconic party hotspots such as Havana, LA and Miami will have nothing on Canal Club as new club-cafe effortlessly brings the best of all three to Leeds.
£1m has been invested in Canal Club to create a multisensory space. Living walls and ceilings, dripping with lush palm leaves and bougainvillaea are peppered throughout, whilst neon signage, twinkling lights and kitsch furnishings mean that no two tables are alike.
This exotic, tropical flair is designed to transport guests straight to a Havana-style club night that’s perfect to grab a few photos for the ‘gram, let your hair down and party like you’re under the tropical heat of the Caribbean.
Guests can also tuck into world tapas dishes and light bites like Beet Hummus Toast, sliders, salt and pepper squid and sweet potato crostini, day and night.
Cocktails are beautifully garnished and served in stunning glassware. Try a cherry Blossom ‘Tini, served Asian-style with sake and Cointreau, or turn up the heat by sipping on a spicy Strawberry and Coconut Margarita with jalapeño-infused tequila.
Image: Canal Club
The food and cocktails are playful and innovative, blending the familiar with the exotic to create menus filled with promise and temptation.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Operations Director Jade Renner said:
“It’s an eclectic space, with lots of picture-perfect fixtures and fittings. Our food and drinks are also exceptional and are presented in a way that adds to the whole experience for our guests.
“No stone has been left unturned. The pandemic gave us time to think about what it is that people are looking for when they socialise now.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming people when we open next month because we do have to be seen to be believed.”
The Canal Club may have opened its doors, but visitors will have to wait until early 2022 to check out the Canal Cafe.
Opening its doors in Spring 2022, guests will be able to choose from a selection of coffees as well as grab ‘n’ go breakfast options and sweet treats. Think edible granola gardens and charcuterie jars, as well as freshly baked pastries almost too pretty to eat.
Of course, a new cafe-bar-club concept couldn’t open in Leeds without a bottomless brunch option.
On weekends, step things up a gear in the highly anticipated venue and grab a bottomless brunch from a plentiful menu designed to delight.
Silver's Bakehouse is finally here, and it's just as fabulous as we'd hoped.
Just when you thought Leeds’ favourite sandwich spot couldn't get any better, they go and open a bakery.
Silver's Bakehouse has opened its beautiful pastel green doors today over in Farsley to queues of excited fans eager to get their first taste.
So, what's on offer at Silver's Bakehouse?
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Well, as masterminds of the almighty sandwich you'll be happy to know you can still get one here. However, their iconic sub sarnies have had an Italian makeover and are now served in fresh, springy sourdough which is baked onsite.
Elsewhere on the menu you'll find brown butter buttermilk brownies (try saying that three times), a range of delicious cookies, sausage rolls, soft amaretti biscuits and Dark Arts tiramisu.
There's also a fab selection of Italian drinks on offer in a swanky new fridge, as well as a coffee menu so you can pick a brew to go hand in hand with your chosen baked good.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The interior is just as gorgeous, complete with yellow walls, red tiles and a mirror hanging above the baker's table so you can really see all the magic happen.
And trust us, it is magic.
There's a couple of benches outside so you can plonk yourself in the sunshine to enjoy your sarnie, which is what we'll be doing in this glorious bank holiday sunshine.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can really tell this is a proper labour of love, and Chris and the team have done a cracking job of keeping that Silver's spirit in there.
Go and say hello to congratulate them on this fabulous new opening, it's a great addition to Farsley and the Leeds foodie scene.
The beautiful West Yorkshire valley walk that ends at a top gastropub
Daisy Jackson
If your idea of a perfect Sunday doesn't involve a stroll in the countryside followed by lunch in a country pub - we can't be friends.
And if that does sound like your idea of a very nice day out, we've found a pretty spectacular walk-roast combo for you, right here in West Yorkshire.
You can start your day by strolling through surprisingly varied and very green countryside, with stunning valley views, before resting your weary legs beneath the table of an award-winning gastropub.
If you haven't guessed it yet - we're off to the Shibden Valley, just outside Halifax, where your gentle hike will lead you straight to the warm embrace of the Shibden Mill Inn.
The walk begins in the car park beside the pub, but don't get tempted in for a pint just yet.
There's an easy-moderate 5.6km circular that will lead you along a country lane, dropping down to cross a brook, then heading back up a gentle incline towards the top of the valley.
The views along the Shibden Valley from here are beautiful - lush green fields dotted with trees as far as the eye can see.
Then the route takes you along some wide open fields, with plenty of wildlife to spot along the way, before heading into peaceful woodlands.
You can take a break here to paddle in the stream before continuing on through farmland, with friendly horses to say hello to.
Views along the Shibden Valley Circular. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Then you'll find yourself back at the Shibden Mill Inn, a pub that's consistently finding itself in the prestigious Top 50 Gastropubs list.
Dating back to the 17th century, it's a pretty white building converted from a former mill, with ivy climbing all up its walls.
There's a sizeable beer garden - with a live musician playing when we popped in - but it's hard to resist the cosy charm of the pub's interior, where staff have to duck beneath the low ceiling beams and no surface feels totally straight.
The Shibden Mill Inn's Sunday roast offering does a set menu, with two courses for £40 or three for £45, changing seasonally.
You'll find pub classics on the starters, like chicken liver parfait and homemade soup, before delving into the main event - the Sunday roast.
We love a pub that gives you both mashed AND roasted potatoes, which the Shibden Mill Inn does, along with roast seasonal veg and a towering Yorkshire pudding.
The Sunday roast at the Shibden Mill InnChicken liver parfait, and soup Chocolate fondant with torched marshmallowInside the Shibden Mill Inn
There's roasted salt-aged sirloin of beef, cooked perfectly pink (though they're happy to give it a bit longer if you prefer your meat to not be blushing); or an excellent wedge of belly pork with crispy crackling.
And on the side, a portion of cauliflower cheese that is actually more cheese than cauliflower. Perfect.
Puddings are a nice mix of heavy winter favourites and lighter, fruitier desserts - but we go full stodge, with a chocolate fondant dessert topped with torched marshmallow, salted caramel, and sugared pecans, and have no regrets.
If you want to replicate this Sunday walk and roast, you can see the full circular route here.
Sophie Smith -
10th December 2021 
