All your favourite pub classics are on the menu- but presented in a beautiful fine-dining style.
Known as one of the hidden gems of Thorner, Beehive is the country pub that's an absolute must-visit for any serious foodie in Leeds.
Located just 20 minutes from the city centre, the dining style here is 'unconventional twist on classic British dishes presented in a sophisticated way within a relaxed environment'- and it shows.
A range of seasonal produce form a small but clearly considered menu with copious Yorkshire cheese throughout (not that anyone is complaining).
Split into six sections, for starters and nibbles, snack on artisan bread ad oils with churned salted butter, confit garlic and aged balsamic, or opt to warm up your stomach with small plates of crab stuffed pasta parcels in a dill basque.
The Wild Pea Risoni is another home-grown dish: with Kalamata crumb, whipped ricotta and foraged cress from Thorner- it doesn't get much more local than that.
Wild pea risoni. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
This simple but sophisticated menu offerings extends onto the 'pub classics' and main course section. Between Wild Nettle Gnocchi and loin of Yorkshire lamb, you'll find the ultimate British staple: fish and chips.
Served as Ale battered market fish with beef dripping chips, this mouth-watering combo comes with both curry sauce and pea puree (so you never have to choose again), presented in a fine-dining splattering of pastel green.
Fish and chips. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Meat eaters will be delighted to see additional pub classics like Yorkshire sirloin on the menu, neighbouring the house-favourite, Beehive 6oz Burger.
Build high with pilings of saurkraut slaw, wild garlic mayo, crispy bacon and Harrogate blue cheese between layers of meat and brioche bun, this mammoth meal comes with fistfuls of fries on the side and still manages to deliver the same level of finesse in its presentation as the other dishes- a rarity for burgers.
The Beehive 6oz Burger. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
For those with a sweet tooth, there's plenty of Yorkshire classics to choose from.
Think Baked Rhubarb Cheesecake with rhubarb and custard compote, candied buckwheat and marigold, as well as a selection of Yorkshire cheeses, Sticky Toffee Pudding with maple glazed pecans, porter toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream and a Torched Italian meringue on Lemon Tart-Alaska.
With ample outdoor seating wrapping around the pub from front-to-back and a cosy intimate dining space, there's room to lounge in the beer garden by day and move into the cosy corners of the restaurant area during the twilight hours.
Indoor dining and seating area. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking to impress with an unconventional British dinner without the cooking, we really can't think of a better than The Beehive to while away the weekend.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant
Clementine Hall
Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.
Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
Image: Supplied
And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.
The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.
The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.
Image: Supplied
The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.
Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.
“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”
Sophie Smith -
26th April 2022 
