Over in Boston Spa there's a new contemporary bakehouse putting its own special twist on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Serving up a host of bakery and patisserie-based creations, since opening in spring this year CORA has quickly made a name for itself amongst locals in the area - elevating the usually casual meals of afternoon tea and brunch into fine dining territory.
In-house patisserie chef Rosie has been creating some weird and wonderful concoctions, ranging from burnt butter and cardamom swirls to "dark and mysterious looking" confit duck leg with pistachio and cherry pastries - and she's received some rave reviews.
A sneak peek at one of the evening taster menu dishes to come in August / Image: CORA
According to a recent post on the CORA Instagram, yesterday a man popped in for a coffee and decided on trying one of those swirls. Five minutes later, he ran back in and bought four more. We think that really speaks for itself.
Her bread, so we hear, is also incredible. Truffled ciabatta and fennel, goats cheese and lemon bread? We're already drooling just at the thought of it.
And CORA is not done yet - rather, it's expanding its offering into evening tasting experiences, offering a series of mysterious menus that are sure to delight and challenge diners in equal measure.
From August, the bakehouse come restaurant, headed up by chef Elizabeth Cottam (head chef and founder of lauded Leeds restaurants HOME and The Owl), is going to be introducing a new tasting menu of eight small plates on Friday and Saturday evenings.
CORA's 'Blooming Rosie' nods to the Yorkshire white rose / Image: CORA
Priced at £65 per person, the menus are not published - rather the whole experience is a surprise. Even when you get to the restaurant you won't know what you are eating until your plate hits the table.
Reservations for tasting experiences will require a deposit and can be enjoyed on the evening alongside a carefully selected drinks pairing.
The full team at CORA / Image: CORA
The fully female senior team has already seen high praise, and CORA’s new and diverse offering has been celebrated in Boston Spa for enriching the town’s culinary scene. We can't wait to see what these new tasting menus hold.
Find out more about contemporary bakehouse, dining room and wine cellar CORA on their website here.
Find them at 162 High St, Boston Spa, Wetherby LS23 6BW.
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Converted manor house in West Yorkshire awarded coveted Michelin Key
A beautiful hotel in West Yorkshire has been awarded a Michelin Key.
What is a Michelin Key I hear you ask? It's basically the equivalent of a Michelin Star but for hotels, so it's quite a big deal indeed.
The Michelin Guide's hotel section added 18 keys to its list this year across the UK and Ireland, and one of them was the Manor House Lindley over in Huddersfield.
The former Georgian manor house is nothing short of stunning, having been converted into an 11-bedroom venue by a hotelier who used to be a designer.
But don't just take our word for it, here's what the Michelin guide had to say: "Here in Huddersfield a manor house hotel is an uncommon sight; Manor House Lindley, however, is the real deal, an authentic Georgian house rescued by an ambitious designer-turned-hotelier and transformed into one of West Yorkshire’s most unique hotels.
"With just 11 bedrooms it’s not extraordinarily large, and thanks to its situation it’s a semi-urban refuge rather than a country-style getaway. All the same, it’s as private as a manor house should be, and its interiors mix classic correctness with an eclectic modern influence to create a space that’s anything but ordinary.
"Its public spaces attract not just overnight guests but locals as well, who gather for dinner, for afternoon tea, or for a drink in one of three in-house bars."
It's an amazing achievement, as the Manor House is now only one of three hotels in Yorkshire to own a Michelin Key. The others being Grantley Hall in Ripon and The Grand over in York.
You can have a proper nosey and find out more about the Manor House Lindley here.
End of an era as historic Leeds pub announces shock closure with ‘heavy heart’
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
Georgina Pellant -
27th July 2021 
