The West Park Hotel's charity dinner has been one of the Yorkshire foodie scene's most anticipated events. The dinner featured Yorkshire's top chefs preparing courses of fine-dining cuisine for those lucky enough to grab a ticket to the event.
Raising a grand total of £9425 for national charity, Hospitality Action, the Harrogate hotel played host to the event that has supported hospitality workers suffering in the face of adversity.
Kicking off proceedings was Head Chef at two rosette Shibden Mill Inn, Will Webster, who began the evening by whetting guest’s appetites with his delicious starter made from pea, crab, buttermilk and apple marigold.
The main course came from Provenance Inn’s very own Group Executive Chef, Jason Wardill who served guests the mouthwatering options of Treacle Cured Fillet of Beef with Short Rib Croquettes or a delicious vegetarian option of Spiced Roast Cauliflower with a Chickpea Tagine.
This was then followed by a pre-dessert of Orchard Fruits and Yorkshire Honey from Steph Moon, a local produce hero that has many accolades to her name.
Rounding off the evening with a dessert from MasterChef finalist and award-winning Chef Patron of Vice and Virtue, Jono Hawthorne, with his signature dish from his time on Masterchef, Mushroom Tiramisu.
The night also supported the charity Hospitality Action with an auction. Prizes includes an overnight stay at The Carpenters Arms in Felixkirk, with a private tour of the Gardens at Mount St John where the hotel grows all of its own produce.
The evening was a fantastic success and a great way to celebrate the Provenance Inn group's achievements. Recently the group was awarded three additional rosettes across three sites, bringing the total to five rosettes across the group and the group have also just been announced as one of three finalists in the best food offering for the Publican 2022 awards.
Jason Wardill, of Provenance Inns and the vision behind the whole event reminds us that the event was essential to helping those who need it the most in a struggling industry: “There has never been a more important time to support such an amazing charity and we are over the moon to have raised £9425.
"The charity, who support those in the hospitality industry, have given £1.4 million to those in need in 2020 alone. We’d like to thank those that came and supported the event, and also to our fantastic Provenance partners who donated produce for the menu and experiences for the auction”.
From mental health problems to physical injuries, the charity Hospitality Action provides financial, physical, and psychological support to those in the hospitality sector, helping them get back to work as quickly as possible. All of the money raised will help the charity to help as many hospitality workers across the UK as possible.
One of Leeds' most popular independent bakeries has addressed a recent one-star review, which slammed them for being sold out of sandwiches.
Silver's Bakehouse, which comes from the same team behind Silver's Deli, suggested that the reviewer should 'work on their manners'.
The review hit out at the Farsley bakery for being sold out of sandwiches by the time they travelled 'an 80 minute round trip', describing owner Chris Riley as a 'silly man'.
The reviewer said they have been 'loyal high-spending customers since the first one opened' but wrote that they won't be visiting Silver's again after being left empty-handed.
They wrote: "It's all very good being mr instagram but things can go south very quickly silly man, make more sandwiches if you are going to be sold out in the first hour, don't risk the disappointment!!!"
Silver's Bakehouse has now publicly shared and responded to the review, stressing that they won't tolerate 'rudeness' and detailing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
He said: "Let me explain again for you, David…
Inside Silver's Bakehouse in Farsley. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
"We start baking at 5am and rarely finish before 6pm. Everything is made fresh, by hand, often taking days to prepare, in a very small bakery. You can literally see how small it is - and we utilise every inch.
"We make as much as we physically can. Sometimes we sell out earlier than we’d like, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people want what we make. But there is, unfortunately, a limit to how much we can produce.
"For the record, I’m not overly enthused about being “Mr Instagram” - what a truly horrendous phrase to conjure up. I managed to avoid it for years, but needs must and all that.
"I am genuinely grateful for your custom, David. Rudeness, however, I’m considerably less enthusiastic about.
"So yeah, we’ll keep working hard. You keep working on those manners."
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Thomas Melia
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Sophie Smith -
25th January 2022 
