A fine dining restaurant in Leeds has been named the best in England this week as it was handed the prestigious gong at the Food Awards England 2022.
Run by former Masterchef finalist Jonathan 'Jono' Hawthorne, the New Briggate restaurant Chef Jono at V&V took home Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year at a glitzy awards ceremony.
Offering a modern British dining experience with a focus on seasonal produce and creative cooking, throughout the week it offers its signature tasting menu - an eleven course feast featuring the likes of 'ramen broth' with hen's egg, seaweed and corn, Gressingham duck, and 'mushroom tiramisu'.
Priced at £70, a matched wine pairing is available for another £70 on top.
San marzano tomatoes dressed in a tigers milk dressing and finished with some pistachio and salty cheese. / Image: Chef Jono at V&V
On Sundays, the restaurant serves a slightly different tasting menu geared towards everyone's gravy-soaked favourite: Sunday lunch.
Priced at £40, this seven-course Sunday tasting menu starts with an amouse bouche, moves to a celeriac veloute with langoustine oil and fennell Pollen, then on to traditional(ish) starters, a main of roast aged beef with Yorkshire pudding and red wine sauce, followed by a pre-dessert, a dish of potato, rhubarb tarragon and, finally, cheese.
The beef and Yorkshire pudding main from the Sunday roast tasting menu at Chef Jono at V&V. / Image: Chef Jono at V&V
Sharing the news to its social media pages on Wednesday, the restaurant wrote of its delight at landing the title of Best Fine Dining restaurant in England.
It said: "Bringing it home for Leeds last night. Thank you to everyone that has supported us our guests, our supporters and of course, our team.
"We are truly humbled and proud of everything we have accomplished. Congratulations to all the winners last night."
Chef 'Jono' Hawthorne trained at top restaurants in Denmark and Australia as well as at Ilkey's Box Tree.
He appeared on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2020, and after making it to the finals made the decision to reopen Vice and Virtue using his own name.
Chef Jono at V&V was not the only Yorkshire restaurant to take home a gong, either.
Other local eateries to pick up awards in the regional section included Sheffield's Amigos Mexican Kitchen (Best Mexican Establishment North), Ilkley's The Box Tree (Restaurant of the Year Yorkshire) and Holmfirth's Philomena Foggs (Café/Bistro of the Year Yorkshire).
In Halifax, Kiplings Restaurant took home Best Indian Establishment North and Best Indian Establishment Overall Winner.
The Food Awards said the awards "recognise the success of local professionals and establishments that continue delivering great flavours and experiences to their customers."
Feature image - Chef Jono at V&V
Leeds
A new Turkish-inspired street food spot serving homemade shawarma is coming to Leeds city centre
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around
Clementine Hall
A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.
There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.
The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.
The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.
The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.
Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”
They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."
We really couldn't agree more.
And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.
Georgina Pellant -
9th June 2022 
