Leeds Indie Food 2017
Leeds Indie Food is returning this May for the third time, and we are very excited about that! The last two years have been a whirlwind of food and drink fun, and it looks like the 18 day run for #LIF17 in May is set to be even better.
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| Credit: Jessie Leong |
There's almost 100 events to pick from this year, and Plus One Magazine have been salivating all over that list (*sorry not sorry), and we've got a peek of some of the events in this years festival for you.
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| Credit: Jessie Leong |
Before we get to that, here's the skinny on what you need to know about Leeds Indie Food:
Created in 2015 by Matt Dix and Simon Fogal - two Leeds food and drink lovers and champions of all things indie, the festival is truly independent and truly a celebration of food and drink across the whole city. Matt had this to say about the festival:
“Over the last few years we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to build one of the country’s most exciting, innovative and progressive food festivals, and we hope we’re bringing something to the table that Leeds can be truly proud of. No other city gets the chance to tuck into such a diverse programme of events, and this year’s new strands – Eat. Drink. Do. – prove that there’s so much more going on than just beer and street food (though that's good too). Our amazing venues are screening provocative food documentaries, putting on supper clubs to support Syrian refugees, and fighting food waste, and we’re even giving a leg up to a few brand new businesses. As ever, it’s heartening to see our vibrant independent businesses getting creative and collaborating, proving that we all do better when we work together.” Matt Dix, Leeds Indie Food
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| Credit: Jessie Leong |
We see #LIF17 as genuinely having 'something for everyone'. From the beer lovers (hiya!), to family fun days, supper clubs and art - this year is seeing the festival splitting into distinctive categories of EAT, DRINK and DO - a great way of finding what tickles your fancy.
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| Credit: Jessie Leong |
To get the best out of the festival, we recommend getting yourself a Festival Passport - for a tenner, this gives you early booking access to the events (priority tickets are on sale 20th February at 3pm); discounts throughout the festival on food and drink, and some pretty sweet stamps to collect from each venue as you go. You can buy the passport now here: Leeds Indie Food Passports
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| Credit: Jessie Leong |
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| Credit: Nick Porter |
Now, eyes down for our quick look at the events we cannot wait to attend at this year's festival!
Hit The North: Collab Beer Launch and Ale Trail Shuttle (20th May)
Two stars of Leeds’ renowned craft beer scene, Northern Monk and North Brewing Co., are brewing up a truly collaborative beer launch. The popular breweries are producing a pair of very special Northern beers that can be drunk separately or mixed together to create a sensational drink. Each brewery is taking over the other’s tap room for the night in celebration, with a free shuttle bus running between the venues.
Two stars of Leeds’ renowned craft beer scene, Northern Monk and North Brewing Co., are brewing up a truly collaborative beer launch. The popular breweries are producing a pair of very special Northern beers that can be drunk separately or mixed together to create a sensational drink. Each brewery is taking over the other’s tap room for the night in celebration, with a free shuttle bus running between the venues.
Balcombe & Smith (26th May)
Pop-up dining purveyors Balcombe & Smith are teaming up with Fiction and Forest Found to present an eating experience that takes you away from it all. Set in a secret outdoor venue, the crew will provide a seasonal, banquet style tasting menu in a unique green space amongst campfires and fire pits, with attendees only finding out the location at the last minute.
Pop-up dining purveyors Balcombe & Smith are teaming up with Fiction and Forest Found to present an eating experience that takes you away from it all. Set in a secret outdoor venue, the crew will provide a seasonal, banquet style tasting menu in a unique green space amongst campfires and fire pits, with attendees only finding out the location at the last minute.
Bundobrunch: Return of the Brunchy Spice (20th and 21st May)
Indian street food pioneers Bundobust are teaming up once again with specialist coffee shop Laynes Espresso for a super spicy mash-up brunch service, mixing some brand new Bundo dishes with matched Laynes coffee drinks. Last year’s event was fully booked within 24 hours, so the Return of the Brunchy Spice is sure to be a hot ticket.
Indian street food pioneers Bundobust are teaming up once again with specialist coffee shop Laynes Espresso for a super spicy mash-up brunch service, mixing some brand new Bundo dishes with matched Laynes coffee drinks. Last year’s event was fully booked within 24 hours, so the Return of the Brunchy Spice is sure to be a hot ticket.
Big Fat Food Quiz of the Year (16th May)
Holbeck brewery Northern Monk already run what is arguably Leeds’ best pub quiz, ably hosted by quirky question masters A Tribe Called Quiz, so for Leeds Indie Food they’re turning up the dials for the Big Fat Food Quiz of the Year. Rounds including ‘Own Brand vs Big Brand’ and even ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style challenges are set to up the ante, and there are great prizes to be won too.
Holbeck brewery Northern Monk already run what is arguably Leeds’ best pub quiz, ably hosted by quirky question masters A Tribe Called Quiz, so for Leeds Indie Food they’re turning up the dials for the Big Fat Food Quiz of the Year. Rounds including ‘Own Brand vs Big Brand’ and even ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style challenges are set to up the ante, and there are great prizes to be won too.
Coffee and Cocktails at Stories (12th May)
Scandi-inspired Oakwood café Stories are inviting loyal customers and foodie explorers through their doors for a one-of-a-kind evening featuring coffee and cocktail making with UK Barista Champion and World Coffee in Good Spirits runner up Dan Fellows. Tickets include two free drinks, and we cant wait to see what Dan’s got in his shaker.
Scandi-inspired Oakwood café Stories are inviting loyal customers and foodie explorers through their doors for a one-of-a-kind evening featuring coffee and cocktail making with UK Barista Champion and World Coffee in Good Spirits runner up Dan Fellows. Tickets include two free drinks, and we cant wait to see what Dan’s got in his shaker.
Sounds good eh? There are loads more events in the calendar too, soon to be updated on the Leeds Indie Food site and you can follow the guys on Twitter for up to the minute announcements (and search #LIF17 to see what others are saying).
We hope to see you there!
Leeds Indie Food runs from 11th to 28th May 2017
Words - Faith Castle
