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
Leeds man jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences
A man from Leeds has been jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences.
Paul Benstock - aged 62, of Appletree Court in the village of East Ardsley - appeared at Leeds Crown Court last week where he was sentenced after being convicted of more than 40 offences committed against five victims,
Following a Leeds Safeguarding investigation, Benstock was found guilty of a number of sexual offences and physical assaults against both adult and child victims, including 14 counts of rape - with these offences having thought to have taken place over a 22-year period between 1998 and 2020.
Benstock was also identified as being involved in the making of indecent images of children following an operation by the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP), and was also found guilty of these offences.
"Much of Benstock’s offending was against victims who were children at the time," explained Detective Sergeant Michelle Barnes, of Leeds Safeguarding Unit.
"His victims have shown incredible bravery in giving us detailed accounts of what has taken place and then again supporting the trial process by giving evidence when Benstock refused to take accountability for his awful crimes."
Benstock was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, West Yorkshire Police has confirmed.
Featured Image - West Yorkshire Police
Leeds
Innovative Leeds music venue TESTBED announces launch party lineup
Thomas Melia
Ever-evolving Leeds music hotspot TESTBED is making its grand return to Leeds city centre with an impressive launch party lineup.
Recognised as a cultural venue for bringing people together via music, TESTBED has hosted a variety of club nights in its warehouse location since 2024.
Back in April, it was announced that the team behind this rave-centric club were transforming this space from it's 'Phase 1.3' to 'Phase 2.0'.
Now, TESTBED has released the full lineup for its upcoming launch party which will show off some of the venue's latest features like its 360-degree DJ booth, improved acoustics and 5,000 sq ft mezzanine and balcony area.
Annie Mac is headlining the TESTBED Leeds launch party joined by Horse Meat Disco / Credit: Press Shots (via supplied)
Previous performers include Liverpool dance music duo Camelphat, house music DJ Alisha, Netherlands-own Chris Stussy and more, so it will come as no surprise that this relaunch features an equally-stellar lineup.
Fronting the bill for the TESTBED Launch Party is none other than EDM connoisseur and influential figure Annie Mac, who's hosted a variety of radio shows across the BBC as well as curating a set or two herself.
Also in attendance is Horse Meat Disco, a group who put disco and queer culture at the forefront of each and every high-energy set.
Irish selector Shee is also showing off his music expertise and already having collaborations with the likes of A-trak and Karma Kid, expect to hear some tunes.
Shee and Junior Simba will be taking to the decks to wow the crowds over at TESTBED Leeds / Credit: Press Shots (via supplied)
Seasoned club DJ and presenter Marcia Carr, known for playing live sets with vinyl records, will also be soundtracking the night too, playing out everything from Afrohouse to dubstep.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Leeds-based party without some local talent courtesy of Junior Simba who's quickly become a key player in the house music scene.
And if that wasn't enough raving for you, TESTBED has already announced even more insane nights of music madness featuring ROSSI., Interplanetary Criminal and Obskür.
TESTBED's opening party is taking place on Saturday 3 October from 2pm til 12am and you can grab tickets from as little as £20 HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
9th June 2022 
