Award-winning Holbeck Urban Village set to showcase independent excellence as part of Leeds Indie Food
The most creative corner in Leeds is set to showcase its culinary excellence as part of Leeds Indie Food Festival. The public will be invited to join the independent restaurants, cafes and bars of Holbeck Urban Village, recently chosen as the location for Burberry’s new manufacturing plant, for a guided tour.
Holbeck Urban Village, the cradle of Leeds’ Industrial Revolution, has played a key role in the regeneration of Leeds’s South Bank in recent years and is now host to a community of thriving independent businesses. In 2015, Holbeck Urban Village beat off strong competition from regenerated housing estate Devonport in Plymouth and picturesque resort Broughty Ferry in Dundee to be crowned the UK and Ireland’s best neighbourhood at the 2015 Urbanism Awards. The thriving area, which is home to the Round Foundry and Marshalls Mill business hubs, is expected to continue to expand, as Leeds City Council recently held a six-week public consultation on new planning guidance for the area.
Leeds Indie Food fans can enjoy a tour of half a dozen of the area’s big hitters that have been fuelling over 2,000 workers and more than 150 creative and tech companies in Holbeck Urban Village for more than 10 years. There will be the chance to taste some mouth-watering macaroons at café and patisserie Engine House Café, try your hand at latte art using the finest Yorkshire coffee from Dark Woods in Out of the Woods café, and sip the finest Yorkshire ale from North Brewing Co. at The Cross Keys, the cosy pub that was recently named runner-up for Best Sunday Lunch in the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2015.
A pit stop at the Pickled Pepper will give tour goers a taste of the Med as they serve up a tempting tapas selection, whilst a trip round the corner to The Midnight Bell, a favourite of Jamie Oliver, sees them serve up some of the most local beer you can get, which comes from the Leeds Brewery Company just five minutes from the pub itself. The boozing doesn’t stop there either; tour attendees will be taken to the Grade II listed mill that is home to Northern Monk Brewery for a taste of their best brews.
The tours will take place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May, the full programme can be seen below. Tickets are priced at £15 each and can be purchased from leedsindiefood.co.uk/events/holbeck-urban-village- tour. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Women’s Aid charity.
Holbeck Urban Village Tours – Leeds Indie Food Festival 2016
Each tour group should meet at the Round Foundry Media Centre
Friday 20 May
- 2.30pm: Meet at Out of the Woods for a complimentary coffee and chat with their coffee supplier Dark Woods
- 3pm: Perfect patisserie next at Engine House Café with magnificent macaroons (15% off for tour attendees)
- 3.30pm: A pit stop at the Pickled Pepper and a sample of their house specialities
- 4pm: A tasting of the best brews Northern Monk have on their taps (25% off Northern Monk draught beers for the tour attendees)
- 4.30pm: Which Leeds Brewery ale is your favourite, find out at The Midnight Bell (2 pints of any Leeds Brewery ALE, for £6)
- 5pm: The Cross Keys, try one of the latest beers from North Brewing Co and find out about the latest plans from The Cross Keys kitchen
Saturday 21 May
Tour One
- 11am: Meet for bacon butties & a brew at The Cross Keys
- 11.30am: Perfect pastries at Engine House Café (15% off for tour attendees)
- 12 midday: The first ale of the afternoon at The Midnight Bell (2 pints of any Leeds Brewery ALE, for £6)
- 12.30pm: Tapas tasters at The Pickled Pepper
- 1pm: Line up the ale samples at Northern Monk (25% off Northern Monk draught beers for the tour attendees)
Tour Two
- 3pm: Start with tea and cake at Engine House café (15% off for tour attendees)
- 3.30pm: A savoury snack at the Pickled Pepper
- 4pm: Wet your whistle at Northern Monk (25% off Northern Monk draught beers for the tour attendees)
- 4.30pm: Dropping into the Cross Keys for a chat over a pint about their brand new brewery
- 5pm: The Midnight Bell, ending up at the Bell to try some of their Leeds Brewery ales (2 pints of any Leeds Brewery ALE, for £6)
Throughout Leeds Indie Food, festival passport holders can get to know Holbeck Urban Village’s fantastic foodie businesses better with a series of offers for some tasty treats, including everything from bacon butties to beer.
- The flagship gastro pub for Leeds Brewery, The Midnight Bell offers a perfect mixture of traditional and contemporary food & drink. Offer: 2 pints of any Leeds Brewery ALE, for £6.
- The Pickled Pepper is a deli, Bistro and outside caterers rolled into one with a bit of Spanish influence on the side. Offer: A series of main meal & drink offers for £5.
- Famous for its selection of smoothies, juices, sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee, Out of the Woods is the perfect pit stop. Offer: 50% off soup and sandwiches.
- The Cross Keys welcomes you in with traditional British food made from locally sourced, ethically produced, seasonal ingredients. Offer: 10% off food and drink.
- The Engine House Café is THE place to spend an afternoon, especially as they specialise in homemade patisserie. Offer: Free hot drink with every cake or pastry.
- If you are in need of a proper cuppa, a bacon buttie or some affordable comfort food, David Street café is a favourite with foodies in Leeds. Offer: Free hot drink with every breakfast bap.
