Guidebook for Meanwood, Leeds and surrounding areas
Food Scene
Recently tipped by The Telegraph as one of the coolest places to be in Yorkshire, and given a nod in The Guardian too, your local area of Meanwood has a wealth of great places to eat and drink amidst a lively community atmosphere.
This is a sublime eating experience as recognised by the Michelin Guide. With only 6 guests per sitting the atmosphere is calm and fascinating as you watch the head chef prepare the exquisite tasting sushi in front of you. The menu lists the source of each piece of fish you are eating and the experience stays with you long after you leave. Booking is essential.
HanaMatsuri はなまつり
This is a sublime eating experience as recognised by the Michelin Guide. With only 6 guests per sitting the atmosphere is calm and fascinating as you watch the head chef prepare the exquisite tasting sushi in front of you. The menu lists the source of each piece of fish you are eating and the experience stays with you long after you leave. Booking is essential.
This is a lovely friendly place, a 5 minutes walk away from the house, which serves small plates of beautifully cooked Italian food. I particularly recommend the fried zucchini with mint and the smoked haddock dish but as the dishes change and respond to seasonal availability they’re all generally delicious and prepared fresh in front of you in the kitchen at the end of the bar. You can sit and eat at the bar which is a nice choice if you're on your own.
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Zucco
603 Meanwood RdThis is a lovely friendly place, a 5 minutes walk away from the house, which serves small plates of beautifully cooked Italian food. I particularly recommend the fried zucchini with mint and the smoked haddock dish but as the dishes change and respond to seasonal availability they’re all generally delicious and prepared fresh in front of you in the kitchen at the end of the bar. You can sit and eat at the bar which is a nice choice if you're on your own.
Drinks & Nightlife
There is a wide selection of beers, many of which are locally brewed. The ambience is excellent as the bar is decorated in a shabby chic style and lit by a myriad of small light pendants that hang from the beamed ceiling, each with its own retro lamp shade (I love this). The view over Meanwood valley especially at sunset is really pleasant. The bar sells burgers on some nights. 'Transmission' is a seriously nice pint but watch out, it's over 6% alchohol!
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Alfred
6 Stonegate RdThere is a wide selection of beers, many of which are locally brewed. The ambience is excellent as the bar is decorated in a shabby chic style and lit by a myriad of small light pendants that hang from the beamed ceiling, each with its own retro lamp shade (I love this). The view over Meanwood valley especially at sunset is really pleasant. The bar sells burgers on some nights. 'Transmission' is a seriously nice pint but watch out, it's over 6% alchohol!
This is a cool bar with a good covered outdoor space at the front where you can stay warm and watch the world go by. In common with many of the bars in Meanwood 'Boot' sells a variety of locally brewed ales and a good range of spirits, wines and ciders.
Boot & Rally
This is a cool bar with a good covered outdoor space at the front where you can stay warm and watch the world go by. In common with many of the bars in Meanwood 'Boot' sells a variety of locally brewed ales and a good range of spirits, wines and ciders.
Parks & Nature
The oak woods that surround the park gives Meanwood its name - common wood. This is where the local peasants were allowed to take their pigs to graze on the acorns. From medieval times the woods were owned by Kirstall Abbey (whose ruins are a few miles away) and there was a quarry in the woods and tanning activities and at the beck which runs at the bottom of the valley. The woods provide lovely walks and the park itself has really pleasant views over the valley towards Weetwood and Headingley. there is a playground for younger children and a cafe that's open until early evening
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Meanwood Park
8 Tannery SquareThe oak woods that surround the park gives Meanwood its name - common wood. This is where the local peasants were allowed to take their pigs to graze on the acorns. From medieval times the woods were owned by Kirstall Abbey (whose ruins are a few miles away) and there was a quarry in the woods and tanning activities and at the beck which runs at the bottom of the valley. The woods provide lovely walks and the park itself has really pleasant views over the valley towards Weetwood and Headingley. there is a playground for younger children and a cafe that's open until early evening
On the other side of the valley from Meanwood Park, The Hollies are a cultivated wild garden with pathways and hidden little nooks and crannies, tennis courts and national plant collections in a specially dedicated section. The late spring and early summer is best to see the rhodedendrons in full bloom.
The Hollies
103 Weetwood LnOn the other side of the valley from Meanwood Park, The Hollies are a cultivated wild garden with pathways and hidden little nooks and crannies, tennis courts and national plant collections in a specially dedicated section. The late spring and early summer is best to see the rhodedendrons in full bloom.
Arts & Culture
Leeds has a myriad of different arts venues. For music try the hidden Domino Club, this is a great bar serving Cocktails and other drinks and it has seriously good live music on especially at the weekends. To find it get yourself to the Grand Arcade in the centre of town, by The Grand Theatre and look for the barbers shop at the back of the shop is a door leading down to the underground bar. Very speakeasy!
Leeds City Museum
Ruins of the medieval abbey with a tea room and exhibition across the road.
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Kirkstall-abbey
Abbey RoadRuins of the medieval abbey with a tea room and exhibition across the road.
The entrance to the club is at the back of the barber’s shop in The Grand Arcade (near the Grand Theatre) the bar is downstairs, very speakeasy style. The bar has great live music at the weekends.
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The Domino
7 Grand ArcadeThe entrance to the club is at the back of the barber’s shop in The Grand Arcade (near the Grand Theatre) the bar is downstairs, very speakeasy style. The bar has great live music at the weekends.
Recently relocated to the Holbeck Warehouse Slung Low are a local Theatre group which stages spectacular outdoor events and runs a community centred venue which books excellent independent and alternative theatre, music and other entertainments. They're a unique presence in the city and the venue is wonderfully atmospheric.
Slung Low at The Holbeck
Crosby StreetRecently relocated to the Holbeck Warehouse Slung Low are a local Theatre group which stages spectacular outdoor events and runs a community centred venue which books excellent independent and alternative theatre, music and other entertainments. They're a unique presence in the city and the venue is wonderfully atmospheric.
The Brudenell is a real draw in Leeds. It's a great venue for touring bands and often sells out when great artists tour here. It's situated in the Burley student area so there's always a vibrant nightlife going on around the venue as well as inside it. Many guests stay with me when coming to see something special at this venue.
Brudenell Social Club
The Brudenell is a real draw in Leeds. It's a great venue for touring bands and often sells out when great artists tour here. It's situated in the Burley student area so there's always a vibrant nightlife going on around the venue as well as inside it. Many guests stay with me when coming to see something special at this venue.
Sightseeing
About a 30 minute drive from my house, the spa town of Harrogate was mainly built over the span of 50 years in the mid 19th Century when the waters and the Turkish Baths (still open to this day) became a health and tourist attraction. There are lovely bars, restaurants and shopping experiences to be had as well as the Harrogate International Centre and Harrogate Theatre to visit for cultural events. The town is home to the famous Betty's Tea Rooms which also have outlets in Ilkley and York (booking for these is essential). You can also get there by train from the central station or from Headingley or Burley stations which are a bus ride away.
Harrogate
About a 30 minute drive from my house, the spa town of Harrogate was mainly built over the span of 50 years in the mid 19th Century when the waters and the Turkish Baths (still open to this day) became a health and tourist attraction. There are lovely bars, restaurants and shopping experiences to be had as well as the Harrogate International Centre and Harrogate Theatre to visit for cultural events. The town is home to the famous Betty's Tea Rooms which also have outlets in Ilkley and York (booking for these is essential). You can also get there by train from the central station or from Headingley or Burley stations which are a bus ride away.
This is about a 25 mins drive from our house, it's a beautiful town built on the hillside with a lovely river running through valley where you can have a nice cuppa or go out for a row in a boat that you can hire on the riverside. Many of the houses are painted with a traditional black and white checkerboard pattern. Mother Shipton made her famous prophecies from her cave on the opposite side of the river. A very enjoyable place to visit at all times of the year. There are train services from Headingley and Burley Park train station which you can reach by bus or a 40 min walk. The train goes from the central station in Leeds.
Knaresborough
This is about a 25 mins drive from our house, it's a beautiful town built on the hillside with a lovely river running through valley where you can have a nice cuppa or go out for a row in a boat that you can hire on the riverside. Many of the houses are painted with a traditional black and white checkerboard pattern. Mother Shipton made her famous prophecies from her cave on the opposite side of the river. A very enjoyable place to visit at all times of the year. There are train services from Headingley and Burley Park train station which you can reach by bus or a 40 min walk. The train goes from the central station in Leeds.