The 13th Oliver Awards, hosted by the Yorkshire Evening Post took place last night at the Queens Hotel.
It was the biggest event in the Oliver Awards history, with over 400 guests joining in on the celebrations. The awards celebrate the brilliance of the food and drink sector in Leeds and after two years of resilience throughout the pandemic, there was certainly a lot to celebrate last night.
From the city's best late night bars, fine-dining restaurants and trendy brunch spots; there were awards to commemorate all the outstanding talent in the hospitality sector from in and around Leeds.
BBC's legendary Harry Gration hosted the glitzy and glamorous awards, which was then followed by a night of live entertainment.
Image: Below Stairs Bar
Noticeable wins include Below Stairs, an underground cocktail haven on South Parade taking home the award for Best Bar. Best cafe went to Grön who have locations in both Leeds and Harrogate and serve up healthy, nourishing dishes all day long. Lamb and Flag on Church Row took Best Pub and Overall Restaurant of the Year went to Chef Jono at V&V.
Image: The Lamb and Flag
Here is the full list of winners at the glamorous Oliver awards this year:
Best Cafe/Deli - Grön Kafe
Best Pub or Brewery: Lamb & Flag
Best Brunch: Grand Pacific
Best Use of Local Produce: The Beehive Thorner
Best Bar: Below Stairs
Best Speciality: Tharavadu
Best Family Friendly: Grumpy's
Best Use of Outdoor Space: Chow Down
Sustainability Award: The Alchemist
Best Customer Service: Kuala Lumpur Cafe
Newcomer of the Year: CORA
Best Takeaway Offering: Bomba Paella & Tapas
Best Fine Dining Experience: HOME
Chef of the Year: Jono Hawthorne of Chef Jono at V&V
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around
Clementine Hall
A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.
There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.
The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.
The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.
The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.
Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”
They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."
We really couldn't agree more.
And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.
Clementine Hall -
29th March 2022 
