Burns Night is just around the corner, what've you got planned?
Burns Night is a celebration of the legendary Scottish poet Robert Burns, but it's celebrated around the UK as one of the most important days of the year, especially to those with Scottish heritage or influence.
Just because Leeds is 222 miles from Scotland, it doesn't mean we don't know how to throw a Burns night celebration. Officially, the occasion falls on a Tuesday this year, meaning that there's events running on weekends either side, as well as midweek- so there's plenty to choose from.
Here's the best Leeds has to offer over the next week, in celebration of Burns Night.
The first ever Supper Club from North Brew Co is celebrating Burns Night over at Springwell. For £30, expect three delicious courses from Kerbside Kids and a dram of whiskey to wash it all down with. If you need any more inspiration, how does Curried Cullen Skink Soup with Haggis Benedict, made from haggis fritters in a Springwell batter with two poached eggs, peated scotch hollandiaise, neeps and tatties crisps and chives. For dessert, there's a donut ice cream sandwich with Buckfast sugar and house-made Irn-Bru chew ice cream- we're drooling just at the thought of this one.
This will be the seventh year that Ox Club holds a special Burns Night event, so they've got the menu down to a tee. Expect a whole six courses of culinary delights from the Scottish highlands. There's tables all night long from 5pm - 10pm but booking is advised as this one is going to sell out fast. Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide have already given their blessing to the restaurant's dishes, so we're certain the quality will be worth the £65 price tag.
The pub stock plenty of winter warmer seafood dishes. / Image: The Bear at Carriages
If you're looking for a menu with haggis for starters, mains and more, the set menu from The Bear at Carriages will certainly appeal. Think haggis, neeps and tatties with the choice of whisky glazed langouistine, venison loins or a Glasgow Cullen skink: a smoked haddock with bombay potatoes and curried creamy broth. Honouring all traditions, the dessert menu has Tunnocks and Iron Bru, as well as a deep fried Mars Bar with banana ice cream and shortbread. For £25 a head, it's worth the trip over to Knaresborough.
If you need a quick haggis-flavoured snack for on-the-go. These haggis and cracked black pepper potato crisps are available from The Leeds Deli while stock lasts. The local deli stocks far more than just snacks though, expect plenty of quality coffee, white chocolate and raspberry croissants, Goats Cheese salads and plenty more. They also have a dedicated Mum's Club and Pizza and Prosecco nights for other celebratory occasions throughout the year.
A Scottish-themed menu from the chefs at Assembly Bar Kitchen will be served for one night only at the HEART centre in Headingley. Expect Scottish folk music from locally loved duo Duncan McFarlane and Anne Brivonese. If £15, you can choose two different plates, but extra dishes can be added for just a fiver each. The selection will include, but will not be limited to: Haggis scotch egg with Irn Bru sauce; neeps and tatties bravas with whiskey aioli, Cullen Skink fishcakes and even a beer-battered Mars Bar lollipop. The menu is 50% vegan too- even better.
Booths in Ripon is hosting a Burns Night meal and whisky tasting, all set to the sound of traditional Scottish bagpipes. For £15, you'll receive a welcome drink and whisky tasting, as well as a full meal of haggis, neeps and tatties. If you can't make it down to the main event yourself, there's plenty of takeaway options too, including Macsween Haggis with portions from 1.36kg to a whopping 3.6kg; Scottish raspberry creme and a huge selection of Whiskeys starting from £13.75.
Available Tuesday 25 February. Find out more here.
Meat is Dead
Image: Meat is Dead
This is an evening to celebrate the life and works of the great Scottish poet and perfect for vegans looking for plant-based haggis to tuck into. The entirely vegan three course Scottish-themed meal will also include interludes of whisky tastings, an address to the haggis, toasts, a wee bit of poetry and of course the pipes they will be calling throughout the night. After the food and the drink and the toasts we will remain open for the restaurant's weekly quiz night which will be entirely Scottish themed and will have a 1st prize of £40 in bar credit. Tartan is encouraged, but by no means compulsory at this one.
The Tetley and Brown-Forman have partnered up to run a Rolling Social Event to deliver an evening of great food and whiskey. With over 150 yers experience in quality whiskeys, the UK Malts Ambassador for Brown-Forman, Charlotte Coyle will be talking guests through each whisky, the history and the differences between them- so there will be plenty to learn as well as taste. For £50, the ticket includes: a welcome cocktail, the whisky Highball - Benriach Original 10, Peach Iced tea syrup, lemon and soda; as well as a three course Scottish-inspired menu with vegan options and three whiskies.
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Featured images - The Hoot Leeds
News
Leeds Pride 2026 announces dates and first wave of acts for 20th anniversary celebration this summer
Clementine Hall
Leeds Pride has confirmed the dates for its 2026 festival, which will mark the event’s 20th anniversary this summer.
And you bet that organisers are pulling out all the stops.
The city-wide celebration champions local LGBTQ+ talent alongside world-class headline acts, and this year for the first time ever, celebrations will be held across two days on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2026.
The festival’s first performer has been announced as Strictly Come Dancing Icon & RuPaul’s Drag Race Star La Voix, who will be taking to the main stage.
Image: Supplied
And it doesn't stop there, Leeds Pride will feature a full weekend of diverse events, including the Leeds Pride Drag Brunch Fest, street parties across the city and of course the iconic Pride parade, which is set to be even bigger and better than ever before.
A Leeds Pride spokesperson said: "We're incredibly excited to celebrate 20 years of Leeds Pride. This milestone anniversary represents two decades of bringing our community together, championing LGBTQ+ voices and creating unforgettable moments.
Images: Supplied
“Leeds Pride is growing and stronger than ever and we're committed to giving Northern LGBTQ+ performers a platform to shine. This 20th anniversary festival will be our biggest and best yet, but as we expand, we need public and sponsor support more than ever to make our vision a reality. We're calling on businesses and individuals to get behind Leeds Pride and help us deliver an incredible celebration that our community deserves.
“Expanding to two days for the first time shows just how far we've come, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back to Leeds this summer for what will be our most spectacular Pride yet."
More details will be announced soon and you can find out more here on the Leeds Pride website.
Sophie Smith -
20th January 2022 
