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Award-winning Leeds restaurant, The Swine That Dines, announces exciting expansion to new site

"The right premises has come up for us and we want to grab that opportunity with both flour-covered hands!"

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 30th May 2024

Modern British restaurant, The Swine That Dines, is set to open its doors in a nearby venue later this year.

Located on North Street, the popular eatery focuses on simply cooking using local seasonal produce with an added , as they call it, 'little bit of sunshine'.

Over the last 12 years in their current premises, the family-run intimate restaurant has become one of the top places to eat in the city.

And now, The Swine That Dines is embarking on an exciting journey as owners Stuart and Jo Myers announce the relocation of their beloved restaurant.

Images: The Swine That Dines

The new venue will allow them to increase their food and drink menu, host private dining events and bring more people on board.

They've launched a Crowdfunder with aims to raise £25,000 to help the restaurant "turn this empty shell into a beautiful space for The Swine to spread its wings even further”.

Announcing the news to Instagram, they said: "Over the last 12 years we’ve really enjoyed working out of our home on North Street. We’ve grown from a cafe to a restaurant, survived a pandemic, served you meals to enjoy at home, hosted many a delightful pop-up event and thrived in a community that has supported us so well and gone from strength to strength.

“But there is still SO MUCH MORE we want to do. And that’s why come autumn we’re hoping to be in a new home not too far away.

"The right premises has come up for us and we want to grab that opportunity with both flour-covered hands! Our business is in a position to take this huge step, but we need a little help getting over the last hurdle."

The funds raised will cover some of the changes needed in the new spot including accessible toilets, extraction and fire suppression systems, minor structural changes and adaptations to the kitchen and furniture.

Read more: Leeds institution, Latitude Wine, opens brand new bottle shop and wine bar on The Calls

Featured image - The Swine That Dines

News

Bradford man, 20, jailed after admitting to 36 child sex offences

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A 20-year-old man from Bradford has been sentenced to time in prison this week after admitting to numerous child sex offences.

Following an investigation initially by West Mercia and Lancashire Police, Kasey Fitton, aged 20 of Amundsen Avenue in Bradford, was arrested in February 2025 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with four children residing outside of West Yorkshire Police force area.

An investigation was then launched by Bradford Safeguarding Unit, who went on to uncover large-scale sexual offending against children.   

In February 2026, Fitton was charged with 16 counts of sexual communication with a child and 20 counts of making/possession of indecent images of children - with police confirming that five child victims have been identified.   

At Bradford Crown Court, Fitton admitted to all 36 counts, and then earlier this week (7 September), he was jailed for seven and a half years, plus a five year extension on licence. He will also be required to sign the sex offenders register for life, and he has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Speaking following the sentencing this week, Detective Superintendent Alan Weekes of Bradford District Police, described Fitton as a 'very dangerous individual to children'.

"There are further investigations ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who may have been a victim to come forward to us," DSI Weekes said.  

"We are keen to speak to anyone who interacted with the Snapchat accounts Kaseyfitton23, Kaseyfitton24 and MyCroft110.  

"We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and they are treated with sensitivity. We have specially trained officers who will guide you through the process and do everything we can to get justice."

Featured Image - West Yorkshire Police

News

History has never been this fun – Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House | Review

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case, a musical by its posters.

Going in completely blind, I really didn’t know what to expect from Operation Mincemeat. In fact, after the first number, I found myself thinking, I’m not sure this is quite my cup of tea.

How wrong I was.

Watching Tuesday night’s performance at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, I was quickly proven wrong about what I thought a musical needed to be. There are no huge sets, endless costume changes, or hundreds of performers filling the stage. Instead, Operation Mincemeat delivers a genuinely funny, surprisingly heart-warming story with just five performers, while somehow teaching you a bit of history along the way.

If I had to sum this show up in two words? Belly laughter.

Based on the real-life British intelligence operation during the Second World War, the musical follows the unlikely group tasked with convincing Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Greece rather than Sicily.

And honestly, if you didn’t already know it actually happened, you’d probably think someone had made it up. That ridiculousness is exactly what makes the show work. The comedy comes thick and fast, with characters, accents, and personalities constantly changing as the five-strong cast jump between roles.

And this is where the production really impressed me.The multi-roling is incredibly slick. A pair of glasses, a change in voice or a small shift in posture can completely transform a character, and somehow it never feels like a gimmick. Instead, it becomes part of the magic of the production. It’s a brilliant example of how much can be achieved on stage without throwing money at elaborate sets or costumes.

Credit: Matt Crockett
Credit: Matt Crockett

But underneath all the comedy is where Operation Mincemeat really surprised me.

One of the standout performances for me came from Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt. During ‘Roses’, Andrews completely captivates the audience while portraying an older woman writing about the experience of wives waiting for their loved ones away at war.

What makes the moment so effective is its simplicity. With little more than a pair of glasses, Andrews transforms into Hester, but there is never any sense that the character is being played for laughs. Instead, there is real care and respect in the performance.

Andrews captures the loneliness, vulnerability, and uncertainty of a woman whose life has been put on hold while her partner is away fighting. After so much laughter, the sudden change in tone really lands. For me, it was one of the clearest examples of the craftsmanship behind the show. Both the writing and performance manage to find genuine emotion without losing the production’s personality.

The music follows the same balance, moving between big, energetic numbers and quieter moments that give the characters room to breathe. It never feels like songs have been added simply because this happens to be a musical; they actually help tell the story.

And despite being based on a historical event, it never feels like a history lesson.

Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House / Credit: Matt Crockett

In fact, I left the theatre wanting to find out more about the real Operation Mincemeat, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it and definitely will be watching the film very soon.

If you’re heading to the theatre expecting huge dance numbers, powerhouse ballads and elaborate sets, then this might not be the show for you. But if you want something different, something that will have you laughing at one of the strangest stories in British history while leaving you amazed at just how slick a production can be with only five cast members, then this is absolutely worth seeing.

What I initially thought wasn’t my cup of tea ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the evening.

Funny, clever, completely bonkers at times and unexpectedly moving, Operation Mincemeat proves you don’t need a massive production to make a big impression. I have seen a lot of theatre productions in my life, but I have never seen anything as slick as this production, and that is pure talent at its finest.

Sometimes, all you need is a ridiculous true story, five brilliant performers and a whole lot of belly laughs.

Featured Image - Matt Crockett (Supplied)

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