Remember The Box's giant beer towers from the Euros? Well they're back.
The Box have locations in the city centre and Headingley, so you’re never far from a cold pint of Budweiser or a bottle of wine. You can grab 2-for-1 cocktails, a 20% student discount and a pornstar martinis, served by the stein here too but if that’s not enough, they're showing the Six Nations games in style.
At nearly a metre high, the towers of beer here are absolutely huge and available during Six Nations games. They also add a little bit of fun in that you can pour your own pints from them at your table.
Drinkers in Leeds can get their hands on the giant towers at Box bar, an award-winning sports bar with two sites in Leeds: one in the city centre and the other in Headingley. If you’re spending a day out in the suburbs watching the sports fixtures, this is definitely the spot to be.
As well as serving up the giant towers of beer, the bar will also be dishing out their legendary BOX pizzas and a whole menu of Six Nations inspired food.
Image: The Box
On the menu is a double beef burger, garlic mushrooms, crispy onions, deep fried Brie and peppercorn sauce. Inspired by the Parisian streets and the beautiful game everyone has come together to watch, the Burger De Paris is guaranteed to be a bestseller this month.
Wales is celebrated with some deliciously loaded fries. Expect triple-cooked chips, spiced lamb, cheesy creamed leeks, crispy onions and with a signature spicy sauce drizzled over the top.
Obviously us Brits got fish and chips and we’re not complaining about getting our hands on those crispy cod bites, triple-cooked chips with tartare and curry sauce. The perfect food for a sports bar is small, picky food that can be chomped down at half time or grazed on as the match goes on and this dish is the epitome of both these options.
Italy got the pizza dish, surprisingly. This isn’t your regular margarita though, expect a basil pesto base with fior di latte, roast cherry tomatoes, mascarpone and rocket on top. You’ve got the colours of the Italian flag, all using traditional ingredients: not a bad choice for a mid-match snack.
Naturally, Ireland’s menu item was an alcoholic beverage with whiskey in. The Irish mule is a concoction of Slane Irish Whiskey, ginger ale and orange that’ll transport you to the backstreets of Dublin in no time. The Scottish option is also booze-based, but this one comes in the form of a refreshing spritz. Think Johnnie Walker Black label, Cocchi Americano, honey, apple and topped with ice and soda.
Image: The Box
If the specials aren’t for you, other menu items to try here include their crispy fried katsu chicken pizza and long-standing BOX favourites like their towering Boxster burger, chicken shawarma kebab and steak frites.
The pub is showing all the Six Nations games with commentary, and bookings are very much recommended – although the venue does promise that every seat in BOX has a solid view of the action.
Let’s be honest, you’ll probably want something to wash all that beer down with.
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Dishoom announces official opening date for new Leeds restaurant
Clementine Hall
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
Sophie Smith -
7th February 2022 
