There's a new Scandi-style restaurant in Leeds that we've got our eye for brunch, lunch and probably dinner too.
From the team behind Fettle comes a new opening, Fint. Housed in the same space as its predecessor on Leeds' leafy Great George street, the owners have rebranded following a period of closure - and we're really excited to see them back, albeit in a new guise.
Inside Flint, formerly known as Fettle, which has reopened following a period of closure / Image: Fint
Fettle was known and loved for its understated, laid-back cafe-meets-restaurant vibe, and whilst the space has reemerged with a new name it seems that its overall aesthetic still holds up. The difference? There's now more of a restaurant focus.
That said, the owners have tried to keep everything their customers loved about Fettle - meaning brunch is very much still a thing here, in a nod to the space's old cafe credentials.
On the brunch menu there's plenty for vegans as well as carnivores, with dishes like the vegan benedict sitting proudly alongside a braised duck benedict and pain perdu - a pan-fried dish of spiced maple custard-dipped sourdough, strawberry compote and vegan vanilla ice cream.
The vegan benedict at Fint, comprised of a crumpet topped with crushed peas, roasted golden beetroot, smoked tofu and vegan hollandaise / Image: Fint
As for lunch, dishes like 'strangle the priest' (a nod to the hand-twisted Italian pasta, strozzapreti) promise the ultimate light summer plate of pasta, combining charred broccoli, courgette and lemon with mint, mace and hazelnuts.
Elsewhere, other tempting midday options on the brunch menu include their warm cannellini bean salad and sweet potato gnocchi, which comes served with seed cream, crushed peas, rocket oil and garden pesto. If you ask the team, they'll be more than happy to recommend a good wine to pair with it from their list too.
An ever-popular choice in the day, Fint also serves an evening menu from Thursday to Saturday starting from 4.30 pm - offering up some gorgeous-looking dishes, like their beurre noisette haddock, that use the very best locally sourced produce the owners can get their hands on.
Priced at two courses for £25, with additional courses just £5 more, the evening menu offers brilliant value for the quality of food on offer.
With starters like oak roasted salmon with cauliflower cream and broad beans, and miso aubergine served with almonds and a cherry tomato marmalade, anyone heading down is in for a real treat.
Mains, meanwhile, include a vegan-friendly portobello mushroom kiev and a braised duck leg dish served with preserved blackberries, celeriac gratin and crushed peas for the ultimate indulgence.
As for dessert? Think passion fruit tart with praline and iced vanilla, affogato, or the house tiramisu - listed as a "Ms Sue with Mr Blacks coffee liqueur.' Yum.
Fint's passion fruit tart with praline and iced vanilla / Image: Fint
Sharing the news of the change on their website prior to their reopening last month, owners Simon and Kamil wrote:
"After a long consideration, the last 17 months left us with only one option and that was to close Fettle and create something new."We’re sure you’ll love what we’ve created in Fettle’s place. You can still find us at 73 Great George Street," they added.
Fint is now open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am. Go down and show them some love - you won't be disappointed.
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times
Clementine Hall
Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?
Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.
The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.
Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
Image: Unsplash
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
Skipton
Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Newcastle: Gosforth
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."
Georgina Pellant -
26th August 2021 
