Free 18 inch pizzas for an entire year? Now that is a lot of Homeboy.
When we heard the news that Leeds legends Homeboy Pizza Co. were opening up their first ever takeaway, we quite simply couldn't contain our excitement.
Whilst we adore seeing them and tucking into their slices at popular neighbourhood hangouts such as Roland’s and Green Room (as well as basically every festival during the summer), it'll be great to see them cooking up a storm over on Burley Road in their very own place.
And we don't have long to wait now either, as Homeboy Pizza Co. is officially opening its doors this Friday 7 June - just in time for your Friday night takeaway.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their new spot will be blessing us with New York-style pizzas with toppings like chilli vodka sauce, slow cooked ratatouille and hot honey pulled chicken.
As well as garlic bread, wings and loaded fries - feeling hungry? Us too.
Better yet, to celebrate this exciting new opening we're giving one of you lot the chance to win FREE pizza for an entire year.
You'll receive one 18 inch pizza of your choice every month for a whole year, as well as two trendy Homeboy pizza t shirts.
The competition ends next Tuesday 11 June, and you can enter here over on our Instagram page.
If you’re not familiar with the delicious pies that Homeboy Pizza Co. are slinging out then first of all, where have you been? And secondly, allow us to fill you in.
Known for their incredible Detroit-style slices, you can expect thick layers of toppings on a chunky base all encapsulated with crispy cheese.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
But not only that, they’re known for their weird and wonderful toppings which creates a pizza unlike any other you’ll find in the city.
Fan favourite flavours include ‘Tropic Thunder’, featuring fresh pineapple, zingy chilli, jalapeños, pickled onion and salsa verde as well as the ‘Paul Phoenix’ with smokey nduja, piquante peppers, fermented chilli, vodka sauce, candied jalapeño.
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.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
Clementine Hall -
5th June 2024 
