A fine dining restaurant in Leeds has been named the best in England this week as it was handed the prestigious gong at the Food Awards England 2022.
Run by former Masterchef finalist Jonathan 'Jono' Hawthorne, the New Briggate restaurant Chef Jono at V&V took home Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year at a glitzy awards ceremony.
Offering a modern British dining experience with a focus on seasonal produce and creative cooking, throughout the week it offers its signature tasting menu - an eleven course feast featuring the likes of 'ramen broth' with hen's egg, seaweed and corn, Gressingham duck, and 'mushroom tiramisu'.
Priced at £70, a matched wine pairing is available for another £70 on top.
San marzano tomatoes dressed in a tigers milk dressing and finished with some pistachio and salty cheese. / Image: Chef Jono at V&V
On Sundays, the restaurant serves a slightly different tasting menu geared towards everyone's gravy-soaked favourite: Sunday lunch.
Priced at £40, this seven-course Sunday tasting menu starts with an amouse bouche, moves to a celeriac veloute with langoustine oil and fennell Pollen, then on to traditional(ish) starters, a main of roast aged beef with Yorkshire pudding and red wine sauce, followed by a pre-dessert, a dish of potato, rhubarb tarragon and, finally, cheese.
The beef and Yorkshire pudding main from the Sunday roast tasting menu at Chef Jono at V&V. / Image: Chef Jono at V&V
Sharing the news to its social media pages on Wednesday, the restaurant wrote of its delight at landing the title of Best Fine Dining restaurant in England.
It said: "Bringing it home for Leeds last night. Thank you to everyone that has supported us our guests, our supporters and of course, our team.
"We are truly humbled and proud of everything we have accomplished. Congratulations to all the winners last night."
Chef 'Jono' Hawthorne trained at top restaurants in Denmark and Australia as well as at Ilkey's Box Tree.
He appeared on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2020, and after making it to the finals made the decision to reopen Vice and Virtue using his own name.
Chef Jono at V&V was not the only Yorkshire restaurant to take home a gong, either.
Other local eateries to pick up awards in the regional section included Sheffield's Amigos Mexican Kitchen (Best Mexican Establishment North), Ilkley's The Box Tree (Restaurant of the Year Yorkshire) and Holmfirth's Philomena Foggs (Café/Bistro of the Year Yorkshire).
In Halifax, Kiplings Restaurant took home Best Indian Establishment North and Best Indian Establishment Overall Winner.
The Food Awards said the awards "recognise the success of local professionals and establishments that continue delivering great flavours and experiences to their customers."
Feature image - Chef Jono at V&V
Leeds
Leeds City Council confirms plans to repair historic Lower Kirkgate with work set to begin this month
Leeds City Council has confirmed that work to stabilise buildings on Lower Kirkgate is set to begin later this month, with repairs expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
Back in 2024, Lower Kirkgate in Leeds city centre was closed following the partial collapse of a building, leaving one of the city's oldest streets inaccessible.
Since then, the street has remained closed while plans were developed to address the structural issues affecting the buildings.
Now, almost two years after the initial incident, the council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.
The buildings are privately owned, but Leeds City Council says it will step in to carry out the stabilisation work to prevent further deterioration and protect the historic properties.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased that, following months of careful planning and preparation, we are now in a position to begin stabilising these privately owned buildings.
“A contract has been awarded for the work, which is scheduled to get under way later this month and is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
“It should be stressed that the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, with the owners of the buildings allowing their condition to deteriorate over many years and then failing to take the necessary steps to address the resultant structural issues.
“By stepping in and carrying out this work itself, the council will be able to arrest the deterioration of important heritage assets on one of Leeds’s oldest streets. As always, we thank the local community for their continued patience and support.”
Further details about the work, including when the street may be able to reopen, have not yet been confirmed.
Canadian rock legends Nickelback announce Leeds gig on huge world arena tour
Clementine Hall
Nickelback announce world arena tour in support of their new album - and they're coming to Leeds.
The Canadian rockers will be bringing their biggest hits as well brand-new music to arenas around the world.
Formed in Hanna, Alberta, the band made up of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair, have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide.
Best known for rock anthems including Rockstar, Photograph and How You Remind Me, Nickelback have built up a huge global following over the course of their career.
The upcoming tour will see the band celebrate their new album, Everything Under The Sun, and they'll be kicking off the UK leg of the tour right here in Leeds at the First Direct Bank Arena.
The tour follows their record-setting Get Rollin' world tour, and will once again take them to venues across North America, Europe, and Australia.
The group have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide, and achieved billions of streams across digital platforms.
Their new album will be released at the end of the month on Friday 30 October, so you'll have plenty of time to get to know their new tracks before they come to Leeds on Saturday 22 May 2027.
They'll be supported on the tour by Don Broco, an English four-piece featuring Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney, Tom Doyle and Matt Donnelly. Known for their genre-defying sound and dynamic approach to modern rock.
Nickelback 2027 UK Tour Dates in full
22 May - Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
24 May - London The O2
28 May - Birmingham Utility Arena
1 June - Glasgow Ovo Hydro
2 June - Manchester Co-op Live
Tickets for Nickelback at the Leeds First Direct Arena go on sale next Friday 16 October and you can get yours HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
9th June 2022 
