Bringing a whole new meaning to Sunday lunch, Honest Burgers is serving up a unique roast dinner burger inside Northern Monk Refectory.
Honest Burgers is opening a permanent store in Leeds this summer, but whilst construction and staff training takes place, the nationally renowned burger joint has taken over the kitchens at Northern Monk to give us a taste of what's in store.
A mouth-watering menu exclusive to Leeds is just one of the bonuses about the takeover.
There are no less than two burgers on the menu that you won't find in any of their fifty odd restaurants- and they embody everything it means to be a northerner, including our love for a Sunday roast.
The pop-up will remain at Northern Monk for the next two months. / Image: Honest Burgers
The Sunday Roast Dinner burger is a gravy-laden dream for anyone looking for a weekend foodie fix that can cure a hangover or act as a formal family dinner choice with respective interest.
The burger itself is a standard, but nonetheless delicious, meaty beef patty served pink, then piled high with all your typical roast dinner faves. Think cheesy leeks, horseradish cream, savoy cabbage, bacon gravy and bacon- there's even mini rosemary roasties hidden inside the soft brioche buns.
The Roast Dinner burger comes with gravy aplenty. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Offered originally as a National Burger Day special back in 2016, the secret recipe makes its way onto the menu for very special occasions only, according to the Honest Burgers team. Designed out of a love for cheese and veg on a roast dinner plate with cheddar, stilton and parmesan- this really is a unique combo you're unlikely to find anywhere else in Leeds.
This is a Sunday exclusive, but if you're after a mid-week burger fix, there's still a one-of-a-kind burger that combines all the best part of us northerners into one juicy lunchtime special.
The Northern Monk X Honest Burgers collab deserves prime place on the menu (and we're keeping all our fingers crossed that it becomes a permanent fixture at the Leeds restaurant later this year) with no less than two alcoholic infusions.
The Northern Monk X Honest Burgers collab. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
An Honest beef patty with bacon and Heathen IPA beer with cheese, Faith pale ale pickled onions, rocket and then a delectable combination of thick curry sauce and shoestring fries (like an elite version of chip stick on a sarnie).
Served with rosemary fries, coleslaw or salad, washing this one down with a pint of Northern Monk lager is optional, but highly recommended.
If this is the bar set for the new Leeds menu, we're really excited.
Northern Monk has a selection of fresh lagers and ales to wash your burger down with. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The new restaurant is set to open on Cloth Hall Street this summer, but if you can't wait until then to get your hands on these drool-worthy burgers, paying a visit to the Northern Monk refectory is well worth the five minute walk
The kitchen will be open from 12pm-9pm every Tuesday – Saturday, with an earlier closing time of 6pm on a Sunday. For more information, including what else you'll find at the Leeds pop-up, visit the Honest Burgers website.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Leeds
Beloved Leeds coffee brand announce opening date for ANOTHER city centre site
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.
At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.
And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Sophie Smith -
13th May 2022 
