From award-winning produce to Michellian-starred restaurants, Yorkshire’s food and drink scene is thriving. There’s a lot to discover. So if you're feeling curious, head to Leeds, which is one of the best places to try out all of the delectable treats on offer this summer, be it at hip-hop sound-tracked barbeques, high-end cocktail bars or countryside food festivals. We’ve teamed up with Hendrick’s Gin to curate this round-up of the best food and drink events for those wanting to experience all the mind-blowing food and drink the UK’s largest county has to offer. Look out for Hendrick’s Gin on the menus!
Looking for more refreshingly curious news? Sign up for exclusive access to personalised offers, new releases, and more from Hendrick's Gin here.
The dress code is strictly ‘glitz and glam’ at this family-owned Italian, with glittering Art Deco interiors and show-stopping pasta to match. This summer there’s a full Henrick’s summer menu to complement the glossy plates of spaghetti al Fruiiti di Mare and angus steak carpaccio. Look out for the regular old-school tribute acts which turn the whole place into a Las Vegas-style cocktail lounge. Good vibes guaranteed.
Classy cocktails meet delectable charcuterie at this small but stylish bar hidden behind the train station. The carefully picked drinks list feels even more special with personal recommendations from the staff, the cocktails use top-notch ingredients and exciting twists on the classics, and local beer comes on draught. Add an indoor-outdoor roof terrace and live music and you’ve got yourself a perfect night out.
Summer really feels like it’s arrived when Mint Club opens its terrace for alfresco parties. This shindig transforms the traditional summer barbeque into a bouncing hip-hop extravaganza for one day only. Expect bountiful helpings of Snoop, Jay Z, Busta and Biggie alongside side orders of flamed-grilled meats.
Jul 27
True to its name, sipping a cocktail in one of the Lazy Lounge’s comfy Chesterfields surrounded by kitsch knickknacks feels a bit like hanging out in your own front room, only with one of the best wine and gin lists in the city on hand. Ask the staff for their tips on what Hendrick’s Gin cocktail to go for and enjoy with fusion tapas dishes.
Get ready for Leeds West Indian Carnival by scoffing down portions of perfectly spiced jollof rice and crisp fried dumplings at this mouthwatering precursor event packed with African and Caribbean food and drink. Over 25 independent chefs and bartenders will take over Kirkgate Market loaded with star dishes like spicy jerk chicken and ackee, while steelpan orchestras and a pop-up carnival parade add to the atmosphere.
Aug 24
Find the great and the good of Yorkshire’s thriving independent food and drink scene at this artisan festival taking place in the beautiful riverside meadows on Leeds’s rural outskirts. Leeds Cookery School have curated a delectable line-up of live chef demos, including from MasterChef UK’s Olayemi Adelekan, while local street favourites will be cooking up tasty dishes and independent bars will pour the drinks. Live music, great entertainment and an artisan market complete the line-up.
Jul 27 to 28
There are three Be At One bars to pick from in Leeds, all offering the chain’s failsafe combination of dizzyingly long cocktail menus and wild party atmosphere. Change up your usual order by picking the Cabaret Club cocktail, featuring the stone-fruit-infused taste of Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Gin mixed with refreshing hits of raspberry and lemon. Stay to hear the sound systems cranked up and watch the staff start dancing on the bar.
Keen to find more curious goings-on around the UK? Discover the Hendrick's Gin hub here. Or if you are in more of a stay-at-home kind of mood, discover where to buy Hendrick's Gin here.