Honest Burgers is finally set to open its restaurant in Leeds this weekend- and it will celebrate with free burgers and chips.
The restaurant chain already has 40 restaurants scattered across the UK, but has only been running as a pop-up in Leeds (at the Northern Monk brewery) until now.
It's now set to open its 41st site on Cloth Hall Street, just next to the newly-pedestrianised Corn Exchange area.
Credit: Honest Burgers
To celebrate the Leeds opening, Honest are giving the first 500 customers a burger and chips on the head. All you need to do to claim yours is head down to the new restaurant on Cloth Hall Street from 11.30am on Saturday 30 August and be the first to enjoy the great British burger, it really is that simple.
The launch also will mark the start of plenty of Leeds-exclusive specialities, including a soon-to-be-released local burger (those who have visited the Northern Monk pop-up will know exactly how highly anticipated this one is) as well as a collaborative sauce with Leeds-own Thiccc Sauce, and if that's not enough, for the first time ever, HONEST will be serving a cheesy version of their much-loved bacon gravy.
Image: Supplied
Speaking ahead of the launch, Tom Barton, Co-Founder Honest Burgers said: "Leeds has been a long time coming for Honest and we’re very happy to open on Saturday 30thJuly.
"All of our restaurants have close ties with local breweries and producers. In Leeds that means beers from Northern Monk and a local burger (launching in August) featuring beer pickled onions, smoked cheddar and a brand new black garlic chipotle chutney from lockdown star Thiccc Sauce.
"And for the first time ever, we’ll be serving a cheesy version of our cult favourite bacon gravy for all your burger and chip dunking needs."
A fully-vegan burger. Credit: Honest Burgers
The new Honest Burgers will create 20 new jobs for Leeds ahead of its opening on 25 July.
The burger brand is the only one in the UK to craft everything from scratch, including its beef patties (from its own butchery in London), its pickles, all sauces and relishes.
Honest Burgers was founded in Brighton in 2009, by friends Tom Barton and Philip Eeles.
Since then, it's championed local business and works closely with existing breweries and bars to collaborate in each city it opens in.
In Leeds, that meant its partnership with Northern Monk, where it made beer cheese using the brewery's Heathen IPA, and pickled onions with Faith pale ale.
In May this year, Honest Burgers announced Honest Farming, which will see it switch to regeneratively farmed British beef in partnership with farming collective Grassroots, cutting its carbon footprint and the environmental impact of eating beef.
Menu staples range from the classic Honest and Tribute burgers to the fiery Chilli burger which comes loaded with bacon, chilli cheese, Honest hot sauce, shoestring chips, and jalapenos.
The chicken wings are covered in sauce, and finger-licking food. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Vegetarians have a choice of three vegan burgers, including an Indian-spiced sweetcorn, cauliflower, and chickpea fritter, and the Plant burger, made with a BeyondMeat patty.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers said: "Leeds has been a long time coming for Honest and we’re very happy to open on Monday 25 July.
"All of our restaurants have close ties with local breweries and producers. In Leeds that means beers from Northern Monk and a local burger (launching in August) featuring beer pickled onions, smoked cheddar and a brand new black garlic chipotle chutney from lockdown star Thiccc Sauce.
One of Leeds' most popular independent bakeries has addressed a recent one-star review, which slammed them for being sold out of sandwiches.
Silver's Bakehouse, which comes from the same team behind Silver's Deli, suggested that the reviewer should 'work on their manners'.
The review hit out at the Farsley bakery for being sold out of sandwiches by the time they travelled 'an 80 minute round trip', describing owner Chris Riley as a 'silly man'.
The reviewer said they have been 'loyal high-spending customers since the first one opened' but wrote that they won't be visiting Silver's again after being left empty-handed.
They wrote: "It's all very good being mr instagram but things can go south very quickly silly man, make more sandwiches if you are going to be sold out in the first hour, don't risk the disappointment!!!"
Silver's Bakehouse has now publicly shared and responded to the review, stressing that they won't tolerate 'rudeness' and detailing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
He said: "Let me explain again for you, David…
Inside Silver's Bakehouse in Farsley. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
"We start baking at 5am and rarely finish before 6pm. Everything is made fresh, by hand, often taking days to prepare, in a very small bakery. You can literally see how small it is - and we utilise every inch.
"We make as much as we physically can. Sometimes we sell out earlier than we’d like, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people want what we make. But there is, unfortunately, a limit to how much we can produce.
"For the record, I’m not overly enthused about being “Mr Instagram” - what a truly horrendous phrase to conjure up. I managed to avoid it for years, but needs must and all that.
"I am genuinely grateful for your custom, David. Rudeness, however, I’m considerably less enthusiastic about.
"So yeah, we’ll keep working hard. You keep working on those manners."
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Thomas Melia
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
The Hoot -
28th July 2022 
