Lucky Number 7

The Irish and American flags are fluttering in Leeds now that Lucky Number 7 has opened. The site used to be the popular Ham & Friends and while the same company has kept its brand in Station Street and in Ilkley, it has changed the Merrion Street venue to a bar with 20 beers on draught, US and Irish sports on screen and an American street food menu.

Haute Dolci

Who doesn’t like dessert? Haute Dolci anticipates high demand for its sweet treats as it plans to open up to 20 new sites in the next two years. First up is a flagship, 75-cover space within Manchester’s Intu Trafford Centre and yes, there’s a chocolate tap. Also planned are sites in Bolton, Leeds, Blackburn and Leicester, to add to already-open Coventry and Ellesmere Port.

Lucia's

The 1930s building in York that was once home to Brown’s department store is the site for a new Lucia’s – the operators already have branches in York, Beverley and Harrogate. Lucia’s plans to create an airy restaurant with a central circular bar in St Sampson’s Square, subject to planning permission.

Alto

Nottingham will get a new rooftop bar when former boxer Carl Froch opens a major site in The Cornerhouse later in summer, taking over the former Saltwater bar. Alto will have four bars, a roof terrace and – thanks to Froch’s profile, plenty of attention. He has partnered with hospitality veterans John Glover and Marc Brough for the project.

Opening...

Cucina Italiana has opened in Liverpool, a second site for the team behind Nicolas. The Hardman Street restaurant will serve a variety of Italian dishes, including make-your-own pizzas for children. Meanwhile also in Liverpool, Einsten is the name of a new Bavarian bierhaus venue just opened in Concert Square. The three-storey site is open till 3am. Altrincham is the location of a new Cambodian restaurant by the Manchester team behind Angkor Soul. The Ashley Road restaurant will serve the same dishes that proved such a hit with national newspaper reviewer Jay Rayner last year.

...and closing

We await news of what Paul Rawlinson does next, after the sad news recently that he’d closed his popular Harrogate restaurant Norse. The food world had followed his progress after he wrote a blog post about the difficulties in keeping the business going. Meanwhile Scottish operators Bar Soba have called time on their Bold Street opening in Liverpool before it even opened. Back in March it also closed its Leeds venue on Merrion Street (now a Roxy Ballroom), but has said that plans are on track to find another location in the city and that Liverpool remains on its agenda too.

John Upton

John Upton has been appointed chairman of The Naked Deli, the Newcastle-based chain. Upton is the former MD of healthy fast-food chain Leon and had previously worked for McDonalds. The Naked Deli is poised for major expansion following a £2.5m investment from private equity to take its healthy, clean-eating offer beyond current sites in Heaton and Gosforth.

Tim Shearman

Tim Shearman has been appointed chief executive of Aprirose’s hotel division. The company bought QHotels in Leeds last year and has plans to expand (it currently has 37 properties in its portfolio worth £1.7bn). Shearman was previously at London & Regional, and also has experience at Hilton.

Front of House, Faviken

Fäviken Magasinet is a restaurant located in Jämtland, northern Sweden. We follow the seasonal variations and our traditions. We live alongside the community.

We're looking for experienced restaurant professionals to join our Front of House team. Ideally you will have experience of working in restaurants of a similar level. The duties are varied and comprise both dinner and breakfast service.

Click here to read more and apply

Marina O’Loughlin on The Moorcock Inn, West Yorkshire

Grace Dent: ‘The processed food debate is delicious, MSG-sprinkled class war'

We can’t keep ignoring mental health in the kitchen

Anthony Bourdain was a teller of often unappetizing truths

Fri 22 June

• Gin Festival Leeds 2018

Sat 23 June

• Leeds Seafood and Wine Festival

Sat 26 June

• English sparkling wine event at The Pig & Whistle

Weds 27 June

• Flok sherry tasting at The Northern Wine School

​Thurs 5 July

• One-night-only Venetian dinner at Randall & Aubin

Sat 7 July

• Manchester Eats Festival

The Dumbwaiter attended the National Restaurant Awards last week. It's always an, er, well-refreshed affair thanks to drinks sponsors and a hidden-away setting and spirits were high - not least because although London sites took 53 of the top 100 spots, there were places in the top 10 for L'Enclume, Moor Hall and Restaurant Sat Bains.

Meanwhile, The Dumbwaiter didn't get the shout for the World's 50 Best awards in Bilbao, Spain, last night. UK restaurants got less of a share, understandably, but the biggest shock was about Clare Smyth, recently voted The World's Best Female Chef by the same organisation. Her acclaimed restaurant Core wasn't placed anywhere in the league table. Wonder why?

Well, well, so that's what Michael O'Hare did next. The Dumbwaiter was waiting patiently for news after the chef ended his association with his own restaurant The Rabbit in the Moon – now DW can get a fix of the maverick on Great British Menu, which returns to BBC in August, because he's appearing... as a judge.

From Sloane Square to Soho. Click here to read The Dumbwaiter’s best bites of the week.

MEATliquor Leeds 

Sunday - Wednesday | 50% off food
 

Alston Bar & Beef

Sunday | 20% off drinks