Leeds biggest celebration of independent food and drink is back for another year.
Returning for 2022, Leeds Indie Food has announced this morning that they will be hosting a mini festival spanning across a whopping ten days.
Kicking things off on Thursday 19 May 2022, Leeds city centre will be showcasing the finest of Leeds independent culinary talent, with plenty of unique experience, one-off collaborations and exciting events to get involved in.
Expect big names like Ox Club and Kirkstall Brewery to come together to create an exclusive taster menu, filling tables with produce from God's Own Country as well as celebrating beers old and new to provide the perfect pairing.
Image: Chapter 81
Rolling Social Events is also teaming up with The Tetley and Starward Whisky and Plantation Rum with Bastard Bistro to offer the ultimate booze experience. Expect local supper clubs across the city to take pride and place on the calendar, whilst vegan yoga and brunch services will offer daytime food and drink with a difference.
The likes of handmade pasta specialists Sarto collab with renowned Latitude is also a must-visit experience that will offer a five-course pairing meal including wine, aperitifs and digestifs to compliment the service as part of Leeds Indie Food's festivities.
If that's not enough, Friends of Ham will be sharing an exclusive five-course taster menu paired with wines, beers and cocktails- each of which will be introduced and inspired by a clip from Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, an award-winning video from the celebrated chef's food and travel show.
Image: Chapter 81
Stuzzi will be also transport diners through the senses with an evening of 'zero miles dining', a menu which highlights local independent suppliers, changing on a weekly basis to make space for farmers, foragers and more.
Little Bao Boys will also making an appearance over the Leeds Indie Food period with one of their well known Laksa evenings.
The mini food festival and culinary events are timed with the launch of the new Leeds Indie Food website: which will act as a promotional tool and an "inclusive hub for Leeds' independent businesses all year round".
Simon Fogal, Founder of Leeds Indie Food has commented on the launch:“What can be said about the last couple of years that hasn’t already been said? Like all hospitality businesses we pivoted constantly as we went from our annual festival in May to signposting people to indies, creating supportive merch, hampers, magazines and more.
"We listened to businesses and helped initiate Chow Down at Temple Arches. The time has come to start back, telling our story and raising the profile of some of the smaller indies as well as the bigger boys, really trying to put Leeds on this map.
"The mini-festival is here but we are planning so much more, we have set ourselves some big goals and are planning a lot of initiatives too. We want to celebrate indie culture too, having a thriving indie food scene helps a city tell a story, so we want to strengthen this part. To get involved (everyone is welcome) just contact us via our website.”
Image: Chapter 81
Tickets for Leeds Indie Food 2022 are on sale now on the newly launched website. For more information, including to book your seat at the table, visit the LIF website.
Feature Image- Chapter 81
News
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.”
Leeds Tattoo Expo to return to the First Direct Arena for 10th anniversary
Clementine Hall
The tenth annual Leeds Tattoo Expo will showcase some of the best in tattooing both local and internationally.
If you fancy getting yourself a fancy new bit of ink, then look no further than the iconic Leeds Tattoo Expo that will be returning to the First Direct Arena this June.
Taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025, over 200 tattooists and 70 traders will be flocking to the city to show off their skills.
And not only that, but there’ll also be a whole host of market traders for you to browse as well as live music to have a boogie to.
The artists will be tattooing with options for both pre-booked appointments and walk ups available throughout the weekend.
Image: Leeds Tattoo Expo
There will also be a piercer, tooth gems and a henna artist ready to adorn your body.
Alongside getting tattooed, there’s plenty to do and to see over the whole weekend; there'll be an alternative drawing class, an illustrators market with kids’ workshops provided by Art Gecko, an art fusion event on the main stage, burlesque performances and competitions, a small vintage clothing pop-up, fire breathing and break dancing demonstrations in the square outside the arena.
The annual tattoo competitions will also be taking place each evening, where tattooists showcase their work to a panel of judges, sponsored by Killer Ink!
To celebrate Leeds Tattoo Expo's tenth anniversary, they'll be hosting a Pre-Party at Belgrave Music Hall on Thursday 5 June which is a completely free entry event complete with live music and free pizza.
You can find out more about the event and book your tickets here via the First Direct Arena's website.
Sophie Smith -
12th May 2022 
