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Chow Down returns to Leeds for 2023 with new day parties, food festivals and Urban Garden
Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.
One of Leeds' most talked about open-air bar concepts is back for 2023 - and this year is set to be its biggest yet.
The Temple Arches venue is set to host a brand-new Urban Garden space, perfect for soaking up the summer sun. The new addition will make Chow Down 'the largest garden in the city centre', with the jam-packed events calendar lasting all summer long.
Sell-out successes like Bingo Lingo, Camp Presents Drag Brunch and DJ nights will return for the 2023 season, and there's been a huge injection in new food festivals and days and nights out in the city centre that'll have people across Leeds and beyond heading down to the arches.
Chow Down will reopen in April. / Image: Chapter 81
Expect food meets drawing classes in a new Floating Arts events and the return of Dog Social, a dog-lover's heaven that gives chance for four-legged friends and humans to explore the arches with hundreds of like-minded individuals.
Also new for this year, Chow Down is hosting everything from Leeds Indie Food Wing Fest to Battle of the Burger and a Taco and Tequila Festival - there's truly going to be something for all foodies this year.
And that's before we've even began to look at the regular food traders that'll be supplying a feast of food from around the world all summer long.
Drag Brunch is back for 2023.
Images: Chapter 81
Taking over the first resident kitchen will be much-loved new pop-up Braizin' Squad, with slow roasted meats to the masses. These guys have been seriously commended for their roast dinners over the past few months, including a mention from The Observer and ranking in the Top 15 Sunday Roasts in the UK from Rate Good Roasts- but turns out this is only the beginning of the culinary offerings available.
Jamie Marrion, Braizin’ Squad says “Keep your eyes peeled for us at Chow Down this spring, expect Smokey flavours, braised meats all cooked over fire and regular specials as we like to keep everything fresh..”
Braizin’ Squad's Jordan Kaye, Jamie Marrion and Michal Marud. / Image: Chapter 81
Also returning for 2023 is Bastards Bistro. The pop-up brought Leeds winter warmers like festive fries and juicy beef burgers, and huge pots of dipping gravy throughout the festive period - and were undoubtably one of the most popular options over the festive period as a result.
Additional foodie options will come from a rotating street food offers from the likes of Archchi’s, Cluck n Dough, Colombo Street, Fire & Dough, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen, Homeboy Pizza Co, Nasi Lemak, Nikos Comfort Kitchen, Little Bao Boy, Little Red Food Cluck, Shoot The Bull and Sri Non Thai.
Chow Down's Winter Village saw the space transformed for the festive season with foodie options from Bastards Bistro.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Tipple Cocktail Bar has also had a makeover and will be serving up the perfect pint and speciality cocktails to sip inside the bigger-than-ever space.
Matt Long, Founder Chow Down and New Citizens, is excited about the return of Chow Down for 2023: “With the opening of our brand-new urban garden, which will be the ideal spot to soak up the sun this summer, I expect a very busy season. In addition to our own Taco & Tequila weekender, we will be hosting a number of new events this season, such as Guilty Pleasures, Floating Art, the Battle of the Burger, the Wings fest in collaboration with Leeds Indie Food, and the Wings fest.”
Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday 17 March for the first eight weeks of events. Chow Down scrapped its entry and booking fees last year, so although you can reserve a table down at Temple Arches to check out the new venue, walk-ins will also be accepted.
You can find out more about Chow Down 2023 and book tickets here.
Feature Image- Chapter 81
News
A huge football fan zone with space for up to 1,000 fans has opened in Leeds
Trinity Leeds is transforming Trinity Kitchen into the ultimate space to watch all the World Cup 2026 action together.
Looking for somewhere to cheer on England in the 2026 World Cup? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered.
Foodie hotspot Trinity Kitchen has been completely transformed into the ultimate fan zone with space for up to 1,000 cheering fans.
And they’ve made sure that nobody misses out on the action.
There are three super-sized 5x3m screens dotted around the space, so wherever you go you won’t miss out on a goal.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
There’s also a brand-new bar courtesy of local favourites Northern Monk named the ‘Northern Monk Trinity Tap’.
The tap will feature two, seven-metre bars with a whopping 20 beer taps to keep you refreshed and hydrated during the tournament, because cheering the lads on really can be thirsty work.
If you don’t fancy a beer there’s also cocktails, wine and soft drinks on offer as well - so nobody has to miss out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Feeling peckish? Of course there’s 11 street food vendors serving match day meals and snacks to keep you fuelled through the games.
Choose from Caribbean jerk chicken from Jerk Junction, Indian street food from Rolawala and loads more.
Entry is completely free but if you’re after a reserved seat on a table, tickets cost just £10.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Josie Towning, Food and Beverage Manager at Trinity Leeds, said: “Trinity Kitchen will operate as normal during the day, transforming into a football fan zone in the evening.
“It will be one of the biggest World Cup venues in Leeds with three huge screens showing the games live and more dotted around Trinity Kitchen. There will be live roaming brass bands and DJs turning every England fixture into a true celebration.
“Fans can turn up and grab a space for free and we will also be offering table bookings for England games for those who want to guarantee the best spots to watch the drama unfold.
“Our line-up of street food vendors will serve bold flavours from around the world, while the all-new Northern Monk Trinity Tap will pour award-winning craft beers across 20 taps, making Trinity Kitchen the ultimate place to eat, drink and experience every unforgettable World Cup moment."
It’s all kicking off on Wednesday 17 June for England v Croatia. So rally your mates together, get your England shirts on and grab your tickets here.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
News
Dishoom announces official opening date for new Leeds restaurant
Clementine Hall
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
Sophie Smith -
16th March 2023 
