Bringing a whole new meaning to Sunday lunch, Honest Burgers is serving up a unique roast dinner burger inside Northern Monk Refectory.
Honest Burgers is opening a permanent store in Leeds this summer, but whilst construction and staff training takes place, the nationally renowned burger joint has taken over the kitchens at Northern Monk to give us a taste of what's in store.
A mouth-watering menu exclusive to Leeds is just one of the bonuses about the takeover.
There are no less than two burgers on the menu that you won't find in any of their fifty odd restaurants- and they embody everything it means to be a northerner, including our love for a Sunday roast.
The pop-up will remain at Northern Monk for the next two months. / Image: Honest Burgers
The Sunday Roast Dinner burger is a gravy-laden dream for anyone looking for a weekend foodie fix that can cure a hangover or act as a formal family dinner choice with respective interest.
The burger itself is a standard, but nonetheless delicious, meaty beef patty served pink, then piled high with all your typical roast dinner faves. Think cheesy leeks, horseradish cream, savoy cabbage, bacon gravy and bacon- there's even mini rosemary roasties hidden inside the soft brioche buns.
The Roast Dinner burger comes with gravy aplenty. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Offered originally as a National Burger Day special back in 2016, the secret recipe makes its way onto the menu for very special occasions only, according to the Honest Burgers team. Designed out of a love for cheese and veg on a roast dinner plate with cheddar, stilton and parmesan- this really is a unique combo you're unlikely to find anywhere else in Leeds.
This is a Sunday exclusive, but if you're after a mid-week burger fix, there's still a one-of-a-kind burger that combines all the best part of us northerners into one juicy lunchtime special.
The Northern Monk X Honest Burgers collab deserves prime place on the menu (and we're keeping all our fingers crossed that it becomes a permanent fixture at the Leeds restaurant later this year) with no less than two alcoholic infusions.
The Northern Monk X Honest Burgers collab. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
An Honest beef patty with bacon and Heathen IPA beer with cheese, Faith pale ale pickled onions, rocket and then a delectable combination of thick curry sauce and shoestring fries (like an elite version of chip stick on a sarnie).
Served with rosemary fries, coleslaw or salad, washing this one down with a pint of Northern Monk lager is optional, but highly recommended.
If this is the bar set for the new Leeds menu, we're really excited.
Northern Monk has a selection of fresh lagers and ales to wash your burger down with. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The new restaurant is set to open on Cloth Hall Street this summer, but if you can't wait until then to get your hands on these drool-worthy burgers, paying a visit to the Northern Monk refectory is well worth the five minute walk
The kitchen will be open from 12pm-9pm every Tuesday – Saturday, with an earlier closing time of 6pm on a Sunday. For more information, including what else you'll find at the Leeds pop-up, visit the Honest Burgers website.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Leeds
Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Sophie Smith -
13th May 2022 
