From Brunch to BBQ – A Foodie's Guide to Live at Leeds

The award-winning Live at Leeds makes its welcome return this month. Celebrating its tenth birthday showcasing new music at multiple venues on the weekend of May Bank Holiday. We’ve picked our favourite places to refuel between gig hopping this mammoth event.
Brudenell Social Club
33 Queen’s Rd, Leeds LS6 1NY

While catching a gig at ‘The Brude’ you could grab an award winning Pie Minster pie, served hot from the bar. Don’t fancy pie? Well, fear not. Just round the corner, you’ll find New York inspired dive bar, The East Village. Serving the real deal American hot dogs all night long to keep their boozy faithful happy.
The East Village, 47-49 Brudenell Grove, Leeds LS6 1HR
The Lending Rooms/The Library
229 Woodhouse Ln, Leeds LS2 3AP

With only the late night takeaways serving the same pizza, kebab and burger combo in this part of town we’d head a couple of minutes down the road to Boss Burgers. Voted in the ‘Top Ten Burgers of the UK’ by Trip Advisor their aim is to create the very best in gourmet burgers – trust us they do it very well indeed.
Boss Burgers, 75 Brudenell Grove, Leeds LS6 1HR
Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen
1-1A Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP

There really is no better place for a Live at Leeds venue than Belgrave. With music upstairs and mouth-watering burgers, session fries and pizza by the slice downstairs. Failing that just two doors down you can get some delicious tacos at Leeds newest Mexican hangout Chida Cantina, not to mention a huge selection of tequila and Latin-inspired cocktails. Read our recent review of Chida Cantina.
Chida Cantina, 5 Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP
Holy Trinity Church
Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 6HW

If you’re at Holy Trinity Church you’re in luck when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat. Head down to one of Leeds favourite drinking dens, Distrikt. They’ve got one of the best selections of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired tapas and small plates. Find out more about Distrikt. Alternatively for a quick pit stop head up to Trinity Kitchen. With wood-fired pizza from Pizza Loco, and American inspired classics from What the Truck currently feeding the masses. See the full Trinity Kitchen street food line-up.
Distrikt, 7 Duncan St, Leeds LS1 6DQ
Trinity Leeds, 27 Albion St, Leeds LS1 5ER
THE KEY CLUB
The Merrion Centre, 66 Merrion St, Leeds LS2 8LW

While catching a Live at Leeds gig near the Merrion Centre, we’d recommend paying a visit to Leeds only Korean BBQ, Bulgogi Grill. Marinated meat/seafood cooked on the grill then wrapped with rice lettuce and Korean sides. Also just round the corner, no visit to the top of town would be complete without calling to the newly expanded My Thai. Serving some of the most authentic Thai food in the city, with a great atmosphere to match.
Bulgogi Grill, The Merrion Centre, The Arena Quater, 9 Merrion Way, Leeds LS2 8BT
My Thai, The Merrion Centre, 43 Wade Ln, Leeds LS2 8NJ
Nation of Shopkeepers
29 Cookridge St, Leeds LS2 3AG

Literally just next door to the Nation of Shopkeepers, you’ll find one of the North’s best burger joints, Almost Famous. Our recommendation would be ‘The River Phoenix Burger’ and a portion of crack wings.
Almost Famous, 23-25 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3AL
O2 Academy
55 Cookridge St, Leeds LS2 3AW

With not much in the way of decent eateries up this end of town, more high street chains and microwave merchants, our recommendation for a quick bite and caffeine fix would be La Bottega Milanese. Something more substantial but with a price tag to match, walk a bit further for Gaucho’s ‘Electro Brunch’. For £45 you can gorge on as much chorizo, smashed avo, steak, Bloody Mary’s and Aperol Spritz you can consume in the space of two hours. We’re not sure pogoing to the Pigeon Detectives straight after would be the best idea though!
La Bottega Milanese, Unit A11A, The Light, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8TL
Gaucho, 21-22 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JF
Leeds University Union Stylus & Refectory
Lifton Place, Leeds LS2 9JT

Looking for somewhere pre or post gig from Stylus or Refectory? Our shout would be student fave, The Faversham. Serving up a strong selection of sandwiches, salads and pub classics using some great locally sourced ingredients.
The Faversham, 1-5 Springfield Mount, Leeds LS2 9NG
Social
St Johns House, Merrion Street, Leeds

This great little venue is literally surrounded by decent places while powering through the Live at Leeds gig list. From Belgrave Music Hall to Chida Cantina, My Thai to Pizza Fella, they’re all within a few minutes walk.
1-1A Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP
Chida Cantina, 5 Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8J
My Thai, The Merrion Centre, 43 Wade Ln, Leeds LS2 8NJ
Pizza Fella, 114-116 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS2 7NL
Headrow House
Bramleys Yard, 19 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU

You know you’re in safe hands if you’re watching a gig at Headrow House. Situated on the ground floor there’s the award-winning Ox Club. Serving up a mean selection from brunch to small plates of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. If you don’t want to travel further than the beer hall grab steak, chips and béarnaise from the bar. All lovingly cooked on the imported Grillworks wood-fired grill from the Ox Club kitchen. Find out more about Ox Club.
Ox Club, 19a The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU
The Faversham
1-5 Springfield Mount, Leeds LS2 9NG

Our recommendation if looking for a feed near the Fav would be Nom Deli for fresh, Asian-influenced dishes. From freshly toasted ‘bahn mi’ baguettes with chicken, tofu or hoisin duck, to noodle salads, summer rolls and mouthwatering bowls of steaming pho. There’s plenty to keep you going for a full day of Live at Leeds venue hopping.
Nom Deli, 77 Great George St, City Centre, Leeds LS1 3BR
The Wardrobe
6 St. Peters Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS9 8AH

With a gig list running noon till night on Saturday we’d recommend a few places on route. Grab award winning street food at Leeds Kirkgate Market from the original pioneers Manjits, or make a pit stop to one of Leeds coolest hangouts, Outlaws Yacht Club for a sharing board. With an impressive menu of Yorkshire cheeses and charcuterie from Leeds own ‘The Reliance’, plus small plates, bar snacks and one of our local favourites Northern Bloc ice cream on the dessert menu. Down at the Wardrobe, you’ll find an epic lineup of burgers, steaks, ribs and wings to keep you fuelled throughout the festival.
Manjit’s Kitchen, Leeds Kirkgate Market, 28-34 George St, Leeds LS2 7HY
Outlaws Yacht Club, 38 New York St, Leeds LS2 7DY
Oporto
33 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BT

There are quite a few places just a stone’s throw from Call Lane. Our recommendations would have to be the BBQ pioneers, Reds. From locally sourced meat cooked over charcoal to barbeque trays smoked in-house, and don’t forget to wash it down with a Michelada cocktail too.
Reds, 1 Cloth Hall St, Leeds LS1 2HD
Leeds Beckett Uni Union
City Bar, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds

Not a million miles from Leeds Becket Union, down on Great George Street, you’ll find Fettle Café. This Scandi inspired café serves breakfast, brunch and lunch from locally sourced suppliers and sweet treats from our favourite bakers, Tarte & Berry. Definitely worth a detour to the next gig.
Fettle, 73 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3BR
The Chapel
Church Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

There really isn’t an abundance of foodie hotspots in this part of town, but there is a handful of good indie coffee shops across from the Uni steps. Serving a great choice of sandwiches, soups, sweet treats and coffees. Just try not to stray into the usual takeaways or nondescript chains swallowing up the nearby venues.
The main Live at Leeds event, on Saturday 29th April, hosts over 200 bands playing across a range of venues around Leeds; all of which are accessible via the purchase of a Live at Leeds festival wristband priced at £32.50. See the lineup and get your ticket at www.liveatleeds.com.
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