MorMor will be taking over the kitchen at Kino from Wednesday 14 September 2022.
The announcement comes after the success of Kino X MorMor supper club, where diners had their first opportunity to taste test Levantine dishes aplenty.
MorMor is the first kitchen residency to be announced by Kino, and is likely to impress customers with its inventive menu, serving up light dishes like Soft Shell Crab, Chicken Shish Tawook with Grilled Lombardi and Grilled Aubergine with Date & Dukkah Crumb and Tahini Yoghurt.
The popular Leeds foodie stop specialises in Levantine cuisine. / Image: MorMor
Hugo Monypenny of MorMor is delighted with the takeover: "The pop-up last month was incredible. After being in fields and working events, it was great to be back in a full sized kitchen once again, where the food can fully shine.
"We can’t wait to take over the kitchen again from 14th September. Thank you so much to the Kino team for putting so much trust in us.
"What can you expect? From the rack of lamb to whole mackerel with daily specials, we suggest you keep your eyes on social media for our menu.”
The new space at Opera North opened just a few weeks ago, offering an exciting insight into Leeds' rich cinematic history.
Since opening, the Grade II-listed building and has since become a popular spot for those searching for carefully-considered food and drink with a seriously swoon-worthy architectural design.
The careful restoration project has been years in the making, but now houses cheese, charcuterie and wines from local suppliers, as well as exciting collaborative projects with some of Leeds most exciting foodie names.
Kino, meaning cinema, has been lovingly built from the rubble of a former-derelict cinema space, and now hosts an impressive kitchen area, intimately lit bar area and three-tiered seating space complete with soft greys and blues, terrazzo table-tops, and a stunning tiled bar.
Inside Kino. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The restaurant has also announced an exciting range of themed event nights, all centred around cheese. Each featuring three cheese boards with selections by Chapel Allerton’s award-winning George & Joseph, the three nights will see either wine, beer or gin paired with the renowned cheesemonger's favourites for a night of pure foodie luxury.
Taking place on Wednesday 10 August 2022, Leeds’ independent wine merchant Latitude will take over the drinks selections, whilst the following week on Wednesday 17 August, Kino is partnering up with Kirkstall Brewery for a craft beer evening.
Rounding off the events before MorMor take over the kitchens, Masons and Fever-Tree will be showcasing their alcoholic treats with a cheese and gin night on Wednesday 7 September 2022.
Richard Mantle, General Director at Opera North comments: “Following a hugely successful pop-up event, we are thrilled to welcome MorMor for the first kitchen residency at Kino from September, extending the restaurant’s dining offer with their vibrant and contemporary Levantine-inspired dishes.
"We are also looking forward to welcoming visitors to the restaurant over the coming months to enjoy special tasting events with our fantastic local partners at George & Joseph, pairing delicious cheese and charcuterie with the best wine, beer or gin.”
For more information, including how to book a table at any of the cheese events or during MorMor's takeover in September, visit the Kino website.
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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."
Sophie Smith -
3rd August 2022 
