Leeds Indie Food kicked things off in style with a first week in which over 5000 people tucked in to an array of food and drink events all over the city

Leeds Indie Food Festival has been enthusiastically embraced by the city once again, and with support from Leeds BID and Leeds City Council has cemented itself as a firm favourite in a busy calendar of festivals and events. As the UK’s biggest independent food festival, Leeds Indie Food is putting the city on the map for its vibrant restaurant, bar and café scene.

The opening weekend saw big crowds at the popular City of Cake edible sculpture exhibition at Trinity Leeds, 2000 food fans at the buzzing School Diner family food festival in Chapel Allerton and an ambitious 50 course tasting menu at Lambert’s Yard from Harrogate restaurant Norse in which a whopping 3600 bites of food and 1008 drinks were served up in one evening. Monthly street food events Belgrave Feast andBrandon Street Night Market saw record breaking numbers, and sold out supper clubs included Thornback at Leeds Dock, Smoking Goat at Ox Club, Dinner at the Manor, Mama’s Girls at Munro House, a Guardian Local Veggie Dinner at The Reliance and Latitude Wine’s celebrated Tasting Room On Tour.

The second week sees North Bar handing over their taps to the London Beer Festival, Stitch-Up running family knitting workshops to create foodie items, Norre, which is a pop-up inspired by Northern Europe at The Brunswick, plus the start of Leeds Indie Food’s Film Fringe, with challenging foodie documentaries including GMO OMG and Mondovino. Film fans are also in for a treat at Belgrave Music Hall, who are returning with last year’s popular Chef dine along cinema event. Culture hunters can take in exhibitions including The Victorian Dinner Table at Leeds Library andWomen | Art | Food at The Gallery at Munro House focussing on the city’s female foodies and artists.

The festival also sees three new events this weekend. Keg Vs Cork is billed as a ‘celebration of booze’, and sees the city’s best wine and beer bars facing off, with pop-ups from The Reliance, Bundobust, North Bar and Latitude Wine amongst others, and food options including Ox Club on the barbecue. Leeds Coffee Social at Munro House sees the city’s best independent coffee shops gathering to celebrate all things caffeine, with free stalls and a boozy after party, plus tasting workshops from the likes of North Star and Maude Coffee Roasters. Over at Leeds Dock, families will be able to get in on the action with the Pop Up and Play Café, a European-style family café with brunch and dinner, plus fun activities and a few glasses of wine.

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