A day in food - breakfast

Food wise, Leeds has a lot to offer. Over the next couple of days we’ll be introducing you to some of the best places to go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snacks (and drinks!).

First up, breakfast:

For a relaxed informal breakfast, head to the bohemian cafés on Hyde Park Corner. The cafés are ten minutes walk north along Woodhouse Lane from the university; a quick stroll through Hyde Park; or five minutes bus ride from the Parkinson Building steps on the number 1, 6, or 28 buses (ask for Hyde Park Corner).

Cafes include LS6, La Cafetiere or Oranaise for full breakfasts, light bites, coffees and smoothies.

Map here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Hyde+park+corner+Leeds&hl=en&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.410453,33.793945&z=16

If you’re looking for somewhere a little closer to the conference, try the cafés across the street from the Parkinson Building. Opposite is great for coffee, pastries and porridge and the Smoothie Company will be a healthy start to your morning.

(Photo: Opposite Café)

If you fancy something stronger...





Image from pub-explorer.com website, 2011

  The most interesting, and oldest pub in Leeds is Whitelock's - down one of the alleys off Briggate called Turk's Head Yard (just up from Marks and Spencer's). It has a beautiful ornate interior with etched mirrors, tiles and brasswork, and was the favourite meeting place of Leeds' artistic and literary community.
Traditional Yorkshire pub food is served in the bar (12-5.00pm) or the restaurant (12-3.00pm).Whitelock's was awarded the 100th 'Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque' for historical importance in 2006.

Coming early or extending your stay?

If you are in Leeds for longer than the scheduled conference here are some cultural highlights you may want to explore...

Royal Armouries, Leeds
Clarence Dock, Leeds, LS10 1LT
28 First Bus, direct service from Woodhouse Lane to Clarence Dock
In addition to the arms and armour from antiquity to the present day, the Royal Armouries also has a significant collection of fine and decorative arts, and a special collection of material relating to the Tower of London, including antique prints and drawings, paintings, early photographs, stereoscopes and lantern slides, and rare books.

Finding Adam. Epstein and Harewood : an Extraordinary Story
Terrace Gallery, Harewood House 22 April to 31 July
10 miles from Leeds City Centre

Image from
Harewood House
website, 2011

The exhibition celebrates Sir Jacob Epstein’s powerful Adam sculpture and its recent return to Harewood following conservation and inclusion in the ‘Modern British Sculpture’ exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Sir Jacob Epstein (1880 - 1959) was one of the most controversial and now celebrated sculptors of the 20th Century. ‘Finding Adam’ is supported by many other works by Epstein and his contemporaries drawn from public and private collections in the UK.

Artist Rooms : Damien Hirst
Leeds Art Gallery, 15 July to 30 October
The Artist Rooms collection comprises five important works spanning Hirst´s career including photography, painting, sculpture and installation. Additionally, and unique to this exhibition in Leeds, is a display devoted to elements from the Pharmacy restaurant project in London´s Notting Hill (established in 1998), where Hirst´s art was embedded in the experience this restaurant offered diners - from branding, to all aspects of its interior design, showing the artist´s determined desire to root his art in the real world.

Photo from Hempworth Wakefield website, 2011

Hepworth Wakefield
15 miles from Leeds City Centre
The Hepworth Wakefield opened in May 2011 in the city where Hepworth was born. The new museum contains a unique collection of over forty working models in plaster and aluminium from the Hepworth Estate, alongside the existing collection of Wakefield Art Gallery which includes a strong group of works by twentieth century British artists. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the ten superb gallery spaces make this one of the UK’s largest purpose-built galleries outside London.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park
20 miles from Leeds City Centre
The only one of its kind, Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an international centre for modern and contemporary art. Set in 500 acres of parkland, the open-air displays contain work by some of the world’s finest artists, and the four galleries enjoy fascinating exhibitions, events and activities.