Elizabeth Cottam is returning to The Owl and steering it in a new direction.
First established in Leeds Kirkgate Market back in 2019, The Owl was Elizabeth's second restaurant venture in the city, following the launch of fine dining venue Home in 2017.
The Owl relocated to its current home in Mustard Wharf in 2022, where it boasts stunning relaxed atmosphere with beautiful waterside views.
Following the unfortunate closure of Home last, Elizabeth is now turning her attention back to The Owl bringing it to its former glory days.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Owl has launched several new menus including a new ‘Guinea Pig’ night, alongside a new main menu to give customers a taste of something different.
Guests will now be able to choose from a two, three or seven course option, accompanied by an extensive wine and cocktail list.
Elizabeth said: “When Home closed, many people asked me what was next. The one thing I knew was that whatever I did next, it would be centered around pared-back, soulful cooking, the kind of food that makes me really happy.
“This year we're placing ingredients and accessible dining at the heart of everything we're doing at The Owl, but that doesn't mean that our creativity is taking a back seat. The restaurant landscape has definitely evolved, but it hasn't completely changed either. Our menus reflect this evolution, offering a way to enjoy great cooking, quality ingredients, and vibrant flavours every day - not just for special occasions.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
“Our Guinea Pig nights are a great way to test new dishes, but it’s also about connecting with our wonderful regular guests and having a lot of fun. These nights are all about surprises but it's very much a creative process in progress. We love experimenting with new dishes and making sure that our menus stay fresh and exciting.”
The Owl is open from Wednesday - Sunday, The Guinea Pig night is priced at £39 per person with a wine pairing option for an additional £39.
To book your table and to view the menus, take a look at their website.
A new Souvlaki Corner is set to open in south Leeds.
If you're a Leeds local who loves food, then you'll have most likely heard and dined at Souvlaki Corner.
It's an absolute gem of a restaurant and takeaway, situated in Wortley selling fabulous authentic Greek food at a great price.
And now they're opening a new site in the nearby town of Morley which is going to be even bigger and better. Get in.
The new site will feature a bigger space with more seating, offering both dine-in and takeaway options, as well as a brand-new bar.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now you're talking our language.
Souvlaki Corner told The Hoot: "We’re excited to confirm that Souvlaki Corner will be opening a new site in Morley, Leeds. Our targeted opening is in around four weeks, although we don’t have an exact opening date yet and will confirm this closer to the launch.
"One of the highlights of the new restaurant will be a traditional Greek spit where we will cook whole lamb in the proper Greek way. It will be cooked over charcoal to give the authentic Greek flavour that people would experience in Greece.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"Our chefs are Greek, bringing authentic knowledge and experience from Greece. The interior design will also reflect the style of the Greek islands, so when people visit they will feel like they are stepping into a little part of Greece."
They continued: "Souvlaki Corner was created to bring authentic Greek street food to Leeds, focusing on freshly grilled souvlaki, gyros, and traditional flavours served quickly and affordably. Since launching our first location, the response from customers has been fantastic, and Morley felt like the natural next step as we continue to grow."
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Clementine Hall
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Clementine Hall -
13th February 2025 
