We are Leeds Indie Food. We began as a food festival back in 2015, and today we’re a multifaceted platform championing the brightest and best names on the independent scene – in our city and beyond.
Our mission is simple. To make Leeds the UK’s go-to city for gastronomy by celebrating food and drink traders and allowing the spirit of creativity, growth and experimentation to thrive. We believe indie hospitality brands form the social and cultural fabric of Leeds, and we work every day to give them the recognition and support they deserve.
Transformation calling
With the world returning to normal and the food scene coming alive once more, 2022 is set to be a year of innovation, investment and ingenuity for Leeds Indie Food. We know our strengths, understand our capabilities and have firmly established our status as more than just a food festival. We’re ready to run more live events, launch an urban cookbook and take Support Your Local and Digital Food Week to new heights.
Let’s go digital
Digital Food Week was born in 2021, when we not only created a week-long programme of interviews and foodie chats, but also found a whole host of new ways to showcase the indie food scene. We partnered with LeedsBID to broadcast a vibrant range of content as the world was coming back to life, driving engagement and excitement among customers returning to restaurants and bars for the first time. Watch the episodes here.
Changes afoot
We were just announcing the 2020 festival when Covid-19 hit – and we had no choice but to act quickly. Independent businesses needed our support more than ever, and we began signposting customers to operating venues and selling vouchers wherever we could. We created a free magazine full of community contributions – from recipes and games to interviews and features. Our indie directory opened in the spring, and by winter, was serving as the perfect portal for local Christmas shopping.
The homemade takeover
It felt like the perfect time to celebrate home cooking and give chefs a platform to share their craft – and we made it happen in style. There was a cake, cheese and beer event at Kirkstall Brewery and a ‘Big Bloody Brunch’ at Café 164 with proceeds going towards tackling period poverty. We learnt about female pleasure and sensory food experiences by way of a ten-course meal, and put the spotlight on bars for the first time, with new cocktail creations and collaborations across the city.
The year of the collab
With themes of veganism and waste-reduction driving the agenda, 2018 saw half of the festival’s events become free to attend, with 27,000 attendees heading to Leeds and a wealth of new businesses getting involved. Prashad, Ox Club and Bundo joined forces. Mary Jane’s Bakehouse delivered a five course dessert menu and Parmstar took over Laynes Espresso. It was the year of connection and creativity, and the festival was flying.
Diversity and excitement
Our growth journey continued in 2017, when we brought 21,000 people into the city, putting on a record 83 events across Leeds. The allotment at Kirkgate created a new area for community engagement and entertainment, and the iconic beer and doughnut pairing happened for the first time ever. There were food styling workshops, supper dates and school diners. There was foraging, fun and above all – food!
The second helping
From neon cakes in Trinity Leeds to a 50-course dinner for £50, 2016 was the year our festival took flight. We ran 78 events, welcomed 20,000 people and brought £548,000 into the indie community through ticket sales and additional spend. Bundobrunch was born. Keg v Cork began. North Bar’s Magical Mystery Tour came to life – and the future looked bright.
Where it all began
When a meeting of minds brought together some of Leeds’ keenest food lovers and indie champions, Leeds Indie Food was born. After rigorous planning and a successful kickstarter campaign, we launched the biggest celebration of food the city had ever seen. Featuring exhibitions, pop-ups, demonstrations and more this was where the LIF dream started.
Transformation calling
With the world returning to normal and the food scene coming alive once more, 2022 is set to be a year of innovation, investment and ingenuity for Leeds Indie Food. We know our strengths, understand our capabilities and have firmly established our status as more than just a food festival. We’re ready to run more live events, launch an urban cookbook and take Support Your Local and Digital Food Week to new heights.
Let’s go digital
Digital Food Week was born in 2021, when we not only created a week-long programme of interviews and foodie chats, but also found a whole host of new ways to showcase the indie food scene. We partnered with LeedsBID to broadcast a vibrant range of content as the world was coming back to life, driving engagement and excitement among customers returning to restaurants and bars for the first time. Watch the episodes here.
Changes afoot
We were just announcing the 2020 festival when Covid-19 hit – and we had no choice but to act quickly. Independent businesses needed our support more than ever, and we began signposting customers to operating venues and selling vouchers wherever we could. We created a free magazine full of community contributions – from recipes and games to interviews and features. Our indie directory opened in the spring, and by winter, was serving as the perfect portal for local Christmas shopping.
The homemade takeover
It felt like the perfect time to celebrate home cooking and give chefs a platform to share their craft – and we made it happen in style. There was a cake, cheese and beer event at Kirkstall Brewery and a ‘Big Bloody Brunch’ at Café 164 with proceeds going towards tackling period poverty. We learnt about female pleasure and sensory food experiences by way of a ten-course meal, and put the spotlight on bars for the first time, with new cocktail creations and collaborations across the city.
The year of the collab
With themes of veganism and waste-reduction driving the agenda, 2018 saw half of the festival’s events become free to attend, with 27,000 attendees heading to Leeds and a wealth of new businesses getting involved. Prashad, Ox Club and Bundo joined forces. Mary Jane’s Bakehouse delivered a five course dessert menu and Parmstar took over Laynes Espresso. It was the year of connection and creativity, and the festival was flying.
Diversity and excitement
Our growth journey continued in 2017, when we brought 21,000 people into the city, putting on a record 83 events across Leeds. The allotment at Kirkgate created a new area for community engagement and entertainment, and the iconic beer and doughnut pairing happened for the first time ever. There were food styling workshops, supper dates and school diners. There was foraging, fun and above all – food!
The second helping
From neon cakes in Trinity Leeds to a 50-course dinner for £50, 2016 was the year our festival took flight. We ran 78 events, welcomed 20,000 people and brought £548,000 into the indie community through ticket sales and additional spend. Bundobrunch was born. Keg v Cork began. North Bar’s Magical Mystery Tour came to life – and the future looked bright.
Where it all began
When a meeting of minds brought together some of Leeds’ keenest food lovers and indie champions, Leeds Indie Food was born. After rigorous planning and a successful kickstarter campaign, we launched the biggest celebration of food the city had ever seen. Featuring exhibitions, pop-ups, demonstrations and more this was where the LIF dream started.