The annual Rate Good Roasts shortlist is one we can always look forward to in Leeds.
Rate Good Roasts provides us with an annual list of roast dinners that are well worth the type, and the number one recommended is not too far from Leeds.
Last year, it was Shear's Yard that took the hotspot for the nation's best roast dinner, and this year we've seen a solid five entries into the top 15 that are pretty close to the city centre.
Now in its fifth year, the Instagram page reviews roasts across the country and ranks ten different categories, including: meat, veggies, sides, Yorkshire puds, drinks, value, potatoes, gravy, service and sides- so there’s no messing about here.
This year the top slot was given to The Hawthorn in Haworth for its delicious Sunday dinner inside a gorgeous country pub, steeped in history (find out more at the end), before places like long-standing local favourites and Michelin Guide-recommended Ox Club and newcomers Braizin' Squad over in Meanwood snook their way into the top roast list.
Keep reading to find out what to expect from the top roasts from Rate Good Roasts.
The Ox Club
The Headrow, Leeds city centre
Image: The Ox Club
Ox Club was the only Leeds location to make it into the top ten- and given its reputation to be regularly booked up on a Sunday, its really no surprise. The menu changes with the seasons, but with options like roast rump cap of beef, bone marrow and chive gravy or confit fennel, apple and herb porchetta with smoked trotter and and fennel gravy to look forward to, you'll be in for a treat whenever you visit.
The menu spans across far more than just a roast on a Sunday and there's chalk stream trout crudo; aged beef tartare; oysters and Bloody Marys to take advantage of here too.
Taking the 11th spot of the year for Rate Good Roasts, Blackhouse has the three course dinner that gives you a chance to find out exactly why this place has such a reputation for its meats.
Choose from lemon and black pepper half-roasted chicken; sage and garlic rubbed pork loin or roast beef, served pink or well, with steamed greens, beef gravy, rosemary carrots, roasties Cumberland stuffing and, of course, a Yorkshire pud. Those looking for a meat-free selection will be delighted to spot the spiced squash wellington on the menu too, with roasted tiny totes, spinach and porcini gravy.
In joint 13th place with Old Gate in Hebden Bridge, The Tetley's roast dinner is officially one to check out this year, according to Rate Good Roasts.
Using locally-sourced meats, this is a menu that'll have you drooling for sure. Choose from Roast Sykes House Farm silverside of beef; slow-cooked Yorkshire porchetta; pulled Lishman's lamb shoulder; plantbase 'lamb' with pomegranate molasses, with Yorkshire puds, roasted herb potatoes and all the sautéed greens you could wish for. Topped off seasonal root veg, sticky miso glaze, apricot and sage stuffing balls and copious amounts of homemade gravy.
Taking a very respectable 14th place, Braizin' Squad, who took over the kitchen inside Boot & Rally in Meanwood late last year, hasn't been in the Leeds foodie scene for long, but has certainly left an impression.
Every week there's a slightly different menu, but no matter when you pop down you'll be full to the brim- and dreaming about each course long after you've visited. The herb-stuffed porchetta with a slow-braised pig cheek served in jus is an all-round crowdpleaser. Perfectly cooked with a soft yet crispy texture oozing with flavour, between this and the gorgeous served-pink grilled beef rump cap, any meat eater will agree that this roast really is a feast for the senses. Although each roast comes with a huge Yorkshire pud, grilled seasonal veggies and roast potatoes, the sides are well worth adding for those looking to add extra flavours to the classic weekend treat.
Taking the top spot was The Hawthorn in Haworth. Located an hour from Leeds in Brontë country, this gorgeous country pub has had quite some limelight, featuring in the likes of Time Out after Rate Good Roasts crowned it as the best of 2022.
The former home of a clock-makers, The Hawthorn serves up a selection of meats every single Sunday, including dry-aged Heritage breed beef topside; slow roasted braised shoulder of Swaledale lamb; Chicken Supreme; market fish; a veggie Goulash Crumble and a Chateaubriand for two, all of which include garlic-roasted potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, green beans, carrots, bacon and chestnut winter greens, cauliflower cheese, a Yorkshire pudding and some pan juice gravy.
An unflinching and empowering portrait of Tina Turner’s life.
Bringing the life of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll to the stage, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre with an energy that is both electrifying and deeply affecting. More than just a celebration of Tina Turner’s iconic career, this production offers a powerful portrayal of the hardship she endured and the extraordinary strength it took to overcome it.
While the musical is packed with well-known hits, it is the story behind them that leaves the greatest impact. From her early years to her rise to global stardom, the production lays bare the reality of Tina’s life, particularly the abuse and control she experienced at the hands of Ike.
These moments are handled with care but never softened, forcing the audience to confront the emotional and physical toll of her journey. It is this honesty that gives the show its real power this is not just a story of success, but one of survival.
Image: Supplied
A standout element of the production is the use of a younger Tina to show the early stages of her life and career. These scenes reveal her vulnerability, ambition, and the experiences that shaped her resilience, giving crucial context to her struggles with Ike and making her eventual empowerment all the more powerful. From hopeful, constrained performer to fiercely independent icon, her journey feels earned and deeply moving.
At the heart of the show is Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi, whose portrayal of Tina is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures every facet of the performer from vulnerability to fierce determination allowing the audience to fully experience Tina’s lowest moments as well as her eventual rise.
Image: Supplied
Opposite her, David King-Yombo delivers a chilling performance as Ike, embodying the manipulation and control that defined their relationship. Their dynamic is deeply uncomfortable at times, but essential in highlighting the magnitude of Tina’s resilience.
Equally striking is the musical’s staging and visual storytelling, which mirrors Tina’s emotional journey. Intimate early-life moments and larger-than-life concert sequences are enhanced with lighting, set design, and choreography.
Iconic numbers such as “Disco Inferno,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Private Dancer” are brought to life with golden disco balls and soaring spotlights, celebrating her rise while reflecting her transformation from oppression to empowerment. These moments are met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm, making Tina’s struggles and triumphs feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable.
Image: Supplied
The only area that felt slightly less polished was the stage combat. While the physical tension between Tina and Ike was effective in conveying conflict and control, some of the choreography occasionally felt a little uneven, which momentarily pulled focus from the emotional intensity of those scenes. Even so, these moments were brief and did little to diminish the overall impact of the production.
By the final moments of the production, Tina prepares once more to take the stage, the narrative comes full circle the show ends the same way it began, with Tina getting ready for her gig. This framing is both thoughtful and powerful, giving the audience a moment to reflect on and celebrate the journey they have just witnessed.
Having experienced her struggles, triumphs, and transformation, the audience is invited to share in the exhilaration of her performance, turning the theatre into a concert-like celebration of resilience, empowerment, and music. As Tina herself, who worked on the production before her passing in 2023, described on opening night, the show is “poison turned into medicine.”
Ultimately, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is a story of empowerment forged through adversity. For audiences at the Leeds Grand Theatre, this is more than a night at the theatre; it is an emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable tribute to a woman who refused to be defined by her past.
Running until 4 April. Tickets available now here.
Featured image - Supplied
Leeds
Leeds has been crowned the best city in the UK for foodies outside of London
Clementine Hall
It's fantastic news for our city as Leeds has been crowned one of the best cities in the UK for foodies.
It's news that we've been pretty certain of for some time, but it's still nice to be recognised isn't it?
It comes from a new study carried out by credit card brand Aqua who analysed 30 major UK cities across a range of dining and social media metrics, including cuisine variety, restaurant availability, meal affordability, Michelin recognition and TikTok hashtag volumes.
Coming in at number on was, of course, London.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With 47 cuisines, 22.5 restaurants per 10,000 residents and 81 Michelin-starred establishments, the capital unsurprisingly continues to dominate the UK’s culinary scene.
But in at number two was our glorious city of Leeds, supported by the highest restaurant density in the study, with 38.5 establishments per 10,000 people, and strong affordability compared with cities in the south.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We will absolutely take that.
Other northern spots to feature on the list include Sheffield and Bradford in sixth and eighth place.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
London
Leeds
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Wolverhampton / Leicester
Sheffield
Birmingham / Glasgow
Bradford / Swansea
Preston
Milton Keynes
Here in Leeds we've got so many fabulous food spots, with new openings cropping up every month it's hard to keep track.
From the multi award-winning Bavette Bistro in Horsforth to the highly acclaimed indie Bundobust that started off in Leeds - you certainly won't find yourself hungry or at a loss for somewhere to eat here.
Sophie Smith -
20th January 2023 
