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
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
Sophie Smith -
5th April 2022 
