We all know Yorkshire is hardly short of brilliant pubs, but we'd still never say no to visiting a new one - especially one with the title of the best pub in Yorkshire.
We're talking about the charming 17th-century pub The Shibden Mill, which is much-loved by regulars and critics alike - and has garnered quite the impressive collection of accolades.
With a 2AA Rosette award-winning restaurant, a mention in this year's Good Food Guide and a ranking in the Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs, there's no doubt this is a pub worth making a trip for.
What's more, its owners have just scooped another gong - this time at the 2021 National Pub and Bar Awards.
Having previously been named as the best pub in West Yorkshire at an earlier stage in the competition, the pub took home the regional award for the best in all of Yorkshire but missed out on the national award to The Galvin Green Man in Essex.
Popular for its food offering and nearby walks, you'll find it nestled in the Shibden Valley near Halifax.
Just a thirty-minute drive from Leeds and surrounded by beautiful countryside, it makes the perfect day out - and there are even bedrooms upstairs if you want to stay the night.
Converted into a country pub from its original purpose as a corn and spinning mill in 1890, the building still retains many of its original character features including low-beamed ceilings and cosy, roaring fireplaces.
Found opposite Red Beck, the millstream that provided the vital nourishment to the inn’s corn and spinning mill beginnings, it's rooted in the area's long industrial history.
In the restaurant, you're treated to a range of menus spanning breakfast, lunch and Sunday roasts as well as their famed a la carte and tasting menus.
The bar, meanwhile, is separate and boasts an extensive wine list as well as a wide-reaching range of drinks that include some lovely local ales, spirit mixers and classic cocktails.
With a gorgeous beer garden and it's own allotment, this pub really does have it all. The only question left to answer is, when are you going?
Open Monday to Friday 12-11 pm, Saturday12 - 11.30 pm and Sunday 12 - 1030 pm, we'd say the Shibden Mill is an absolute must. That many awards don't lie.
News
A new Turkish-inspired street food spot serving homemade shawarma is coming to Leeds city centre
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.
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2021 
