Leeds brewery Piglove has relaunched its al fresco bar and taproom by the River Aire.
After a turbulent year for the business following the tragic loss of its founder Jesus Moreno, a much-loved member of Leeds' hospitality scene, the craft brewery's pop-up beer garden Piglove by the River is open once again in Hunslet.
The team has introduced some new features and expanded the site to include 'The Sty’, a new indoor drinking space that seats up to 50, and it is running a programme of music and events throughout the summer as well as showcasing local street food traders.
Image: Piglove Brewing Co
Niko's Comfort Kitchen is just one local trader to appear at Piglove by the river. / Image: Piglove Brewing Co
Braford's Gryz pizza has also made an appearance. / Image: Piglove Brewing Co
Known for creating 'eccentric beers for near and far', Piglove describes itself as a 'rebellious' brewery.
With a range of distinctive beers in its collections, its brewers combine the bold flavours of South America with bold ingredients to create what they have described as the 'bravest beer possible'.
Piglove's riverside beer garden has welcomed more than 24,000 customers to date, with a huge 8,000 visitors flocking in since April.
Piglove’s co-founder Marcos Ramirez said: “We are thrilled that Piglove by The River is here to stay at the Climate Innovation District. We are grateful for the support of CITU and the thousands of visitors who have made Piglove a cherished destination along the riverbank.
"Piglove translates in Venezuelan to ‘when you really love something’ and it’s great to see people loving our venue.
"We look forward to creating more memorable experiences for our patrons and continuing to contribute to the incredible community spirit of the Climate Innovation District especially as we have now improved our facilities to keep up with demand and greet customers in the summer and winter months – rain or shine.”
Phoebe Nicol, Development Manager at CITU’s Climate Innovation District, said: “Piglove is now the heart and soul of this community, and the company also aligns with our sustainable ethos and is working towards becoming a carbon-zero business.
"The pop-up bar is the first tenant here at the CID, and this is just the start of us opening more commercial spaces to help us realise our vision of creating a sustainable and connected neighbourhood which revitalises the riverside.”
Featured image - Piglove Brewing Co
Eats
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
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."
Georgina Pellant -
21st July 2023 
