Ossett Brewery is set to host the eleventh edition of its huge waterside food, drink and musical Wharfest 11 next weekend.
Taking place at one of Leeds most tranquil city centre spots, by the waterside of Granary Wharf, organisers are promising an unforgettable afternoon of live music between free-flowing drinks and plenty of good food.
Organisers have promised an electric mix of soul, motown, funk, chart and party music from live performers, DJs and a saxophonist each taking the stage at three bar venues down by the waterside.
The free to attend festival will take place across newly-opened Salt Craft + Falafel, The Hop and Archies on Saturday 26 March, with live singers playing out well-loved tunes from 3pm from Salt and The Hope, whereas Archie's will play host to a DJ and saxophonist from 6pm in the evening.
Amongst the musical lineup is Dylan Brierley, an alternative/indie guitarist and singer-songwriter from Leeds; Him & Her Duo, a husband and wife team performing 70s to present day hits on the ukulele, guitar and piano and Sarah Widdup, a wedding performer that does a beautiful rendition of Christina Perry's A Thousand Years.
Also performing at Salt Craft + Falafel is Bangin' Tuesdays a band dubbed "an energetic duo who can perform a huge range of popular upbeat covers guaranteed to get you on your feet".
There’s a whole range of craft beers available to taste, as well as some incredible cocktails on tap. 2 for £12 all day, every day on all your favourite concoctions, as well as quality craft beers on offer and a super speedy service. Think Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martinis and Strawberry Cosmos, amongst other draught options- and we can confirm they taste as good, if not better, than the hand-crafted versions.
Situated to the left of the bar is a nook for all things Falafel Guys where the chefs are serving up chunky grilled halloumi, beautifully flavoured (and presented) pots of hummus, falafels and chicken shawarma.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Over at The Hop, who have one of the best selections of local ales in the north, with plenty of favourites from award-winning brewery Ossett due to be pulled on the day, another four performers are set to jump on the stage and fill the afternoon with plenty of upbeat tunes.
The Dandy Lions, a high energy 'Glam Rock' band will be sharing the stage with Brothers of the Slide, After Party and swinging rock 'n' roll band, Get Back Beats.
The Hop will be serving a small but highly regarded menu of hearty local pies, peas and mash up to help you wash all that beer down.
Down at Archie’s, a live DJ will be dropping a crowd-pleasing mix of soul, Motown, funk, chart and party tunes with a live sax from 6 pm onwards. Known for their calorific pizzas, sides and desserts, this is the spot to soak up all that alcohol and recoup with a spot of sugar.
With free entry and a wealth of activity hitting Granary Wharf next weekend: this really is going to be the best spot in Leeds to hang out with loved ones, pint in one hand and a slice of something good in the other.
Bluebird Bakery, a firm favourite for freshly-baked loaves and cakes in Leeds, has announced it's opening a brand new cafe.
The much-loved local business has been trading out of Kirkgate Market for almost a decade, selling hand-crafted loaves and loads of other beautiful bakes.
Bluebird Bakery already has locations dotted all around Yorkshire, including in York (where founders Al and Nicky Kippax launched the business from their kitchen table), Beverley, and Holmfirth.
And now they've announced big plans for a second location here in Leeds, setting their sights on Chapel Allerton.
The Bluebird Bakery team said they hope the 'West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb'.
They're taking over a site on Stainbeck Lane, where we'll all be able to tuck into bread, cakes and pastries, plus coffees from Roost Coffee.
And there'll even be outside seating at the new Bluebird Cafe too.
Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafeBluebird Bakery currently operates from Kirkgate Market in Leeds
Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote: "Big news. We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a shop and cafe in Chapel Allerton this summer.
"We love our Leeds Kirkgate Market shop and we hope the West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb, which is full of independent businesses like ours.
"We’ll be based on Stainbeck Lane where there’ll be both inside & outside seating, brilliant @roost_coffee and all the bread, cakes and pastries Chapel Allerton can eat!
"We’re recruiting soon - so do keep an eye on our socials if you’re a brilliant barista, an experienced cafe assistant or a hands-on supervisor.
A Leeds icon has been reborn as The Smithfield opens in former The Reliance site
Daisy Jackson
The Smithfield is finally here - and we're pleased to report that it's every bit as special as you were hoping.
This newcomer to Leeds has taken over the site that was home to The Reliance for more than two decades.
The team's transformation of the site started with a paint job - probably the most-talked-about paint job in the city - taking the site's exterior back to its memorable dark red.
That move immediately won over fans of The Reliance, with one person writing: "Seems the team here held the Relly in high regard and rightly so! Hopefully they can recapture some of its magic."
But the efforts to recapture the essence of the iconic old venue go way beyond that.
The Smithfield, a collaboration between Crooked Brewing and Chef James Donovan, is setting out to mix up relaxed hospitality with simple dining.
It's all about connection - to seasonal food, to the heritage of the building, and to the community that will make connections here.
Co-founder Steve Dawson outside The SmithfieldThe Reliance has been reborn as The SmithfieldWayward WinesThe dining room
If you're wondering what sort of things will be on the table, allow us to enlighten you.
There are sharing plates like grilled leeks on romesco, pigs head croquettes (a must-order), and whipped cods roe with radishes, all served on charming mismatched plates.
The bigger dishes include a comically massive pie for sharing, packed with chicken, leek, and tarragon. It's a mighty thing, especially paired with their crispy-edged chips.
You can also order a whole wild Cornish seabass for a real feast, or a fantastic beef sirloin with wild garlic butter.
There's a fantastic selection of natural wines from Wayward Wines, as well as (unsurprisingly) great beers.
Steak, pie, and charred leeksA spread of the plates at The SmithfieldSticky toffee puddingThe Smithfield has taken over the old The ReliancePigs head croquettes with gribicheThe chicken and tarragon sharing pieA sharing pie and chips at The SmithfieldBeef sirloin with wild garlic butter, and purple sprouting broccoli with ricotta and mintWild Cornish seabass with kohlrabi, fennel, and chervil - plus an orange wine from Wayward WinesThe Smithfield is now open
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, and his business partner chef James Donovan, were drawn to the old The Reliance site and are seizing the opportunity to contribute to the area's dining legacy.
While Steve's focus is on creating a social meeting point, James will focus on the casual, social dining, taking inspiration from the building's reputation as a cutting-edge gastro pub.
They'll be sourcing seasonally and locally, with menus that will change with the seasons.
The space itself inside is still familiar - those huge windows are the stars of the show, with the bar still standing centrally, while the dining room at the back is stripped-back and simple overlooking the open kitchen.
It's very early days for The Smithfield - they're just out of their soft launch period and gearing up for their first 'proper' weekend.
On their soft launch period, they wrote: "We were so grateful to welcome friends, neighbours, and the Leeds hospitality community to The Smithfield. Seeing the bar and dining room full after weeks of cleaning, painting, and graft has truly made it all worth it.
"A huge thank you to everyone who came along, showed their support, and has made this journey possible. Not least the Kitchen and bar teams, whose incredible service has kept the plates coming and the drinks flowing."
We feel pretty confident in saying Leeds will be very proud to have The Smithfield in our city.
Sophie Smith -
17th March 2022 
