Flat Iron is set to open a two floor, 110 cover restaurant in the heart of Leeds, bringing its menu to the North of England for the very first time. Set to open on the corner of Albion Place and Lands Lane in the former Church Institute, Flat Iron will be conveniently nestled beside the…
(ad – pr visit) Cars and restaurants are two of my favourite things. It’s a little unfashionable these days but I’ve a good deal of formative memories centred around obscenely loud and powerful engines and have retained an interest throughout my life. I’ll happily bore you with my collection of books on the history of…
Social media has changed the way in which we interact with our favourite celebrities, brands and businesses over the last decade or so. We now expect to be able to share our thoughts with all those subjects in the public domain, for better or worse, while some businesses scramble for the most striking appearance to…
For the last half decade or so I’ve felt like I’ve known Leeds pretty well. Occasional invites have rolled in to tempt me over for a meal, or gigs crop up that I fancy a look at that also justify a pre-event feed. One way or another, I’ve been a semi-regular visitor for a couple…
The way that the last two years have compressed into themselves gives us a slightly odd sensation when returning to once familiar places. Strolling round Leeds at a more leisurely pace than I’ve done in a couple of years leaves a vague sense of unfamiliarity as I try to recall which of the establishments I…
Did you know that there are kids who don’t have their own beds to sleep in, in Leeds, in 2021?! Neither did Slap and Pickle until the owners saw a news item about the work of Zarach Leeds; a charity which provides beds to kids who would otherwise be sleeping on floors, sofas, or sharing a bed with a sibling negatively impacting their esteem, mental…
Kirkgate Market is a bit of a Leeds legend, easily found bang in the centre of the city, that local chefs regularly wander round for inspiration while picking up quality produce. Its history in the city stretches over 150 years and it can call itself the largest covered market in Europe. As well providing local…
This is one of the hardest pieces I’ve had to write. It seems ludicrous as I sit in my living room today with life changed drastically and many operators in the hospitality industry in tatters. It hardly seems like any time at all since I was out and about enjoying great food. The last few…
I’m not sure I can ever see myself taking up veganism, but I’m always up for trying something new and not the type to insist that a meal isn’t a meal unless it contains something that’s been killed. I’ve heard various viewpoints and arguments over the years, notably a speech from William Sitwell who came…
Restaurants in hotels always seem to start on the back foot. Having a restaurant with rooms is one thing, but there’s undoubtedly a stigma surrounding restaurants that are perceived just to function as a service to the hotel thaFirelake t hosts them. There always remains the possibility that this will inspire greater depths of effort…