Doors open at much anticipated new Leeds city centre restaurant and bar, Kino, as the venue opens for the first time.

Offering an informal showcase of some of the region’s finest charcuterie and cheeses, alongside an extensive wine, craft beer and cocktail selection, Kino is a fresh addition to New Briggate, one of the city’s most exciting, developing areas.

Part of Opera North, Kino is housed in the newly renovated Grade II-listed space below the Howard Assembly Room and adjacent to Leeds Grand Theatre, at the cultural heart of the city. Kino is currently presenting a food offering of sharing boards sourced from the best local independent producers, including cheese from George and Joseph and charcuterie from Lishman’s of Ilkley, as well as North Star Coffee Roasters, Bluebird Bakery, Latitude Wines and craft beers from Northern Monk and Kirkstall Brewery. The restaurant will feature guest chefs and longer-term kitchen residencies over the coming months.

The restaurant is excited to reveal its first pop-up kitchen takeover, the award-winning, Levantine inspired MorMor, for a special supper club event on Saturday 23 July. Bookings for the exclusive event are available now.

Previously MorMor has hosted pop-ups at the incredible space at Todmorden’s Yakumamu and Eat Your Greens in central Leeds as well as having a temporary kitchen space at both Hatch in Manchester and Chow Down in Leeds.

MorMor’s food offer is inspired by a love of the varied flavours and cultures found in the Levant - a crossroads of western Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and North-East Africa. Sharing the independent and sustainable ethos of Kino, they use fresh local produce to create their unique contemporary dishes. Expect a menu of small plates and big sharing platters paired with incredible drinks; their dishes can be anything from Lamb Leg Adan Kebab, Monk Fish with Chermoula, Whipped Feta and Grilled Baby Gem to Batata Kezbara, to grilled fish of the day and softshell crab depending on the produce available.

Kino seats up to 100 covers across 3 floors. The restaurant’s name and design take inspiration from the history of the site and a nod to the building’s former use, with ‘kino’ meaning ‘cinema’ in many languages. Incorporating clean lines, minimalist style and design references to cinema and live music, the restaurant’s interior is relaxed yet welcoming - the perfect place to enjoy a pre-show beverage, a post-theatre bite, or simply a meal in its own right, whether you’re heading to a show or not.

Richard Mantle, general director, Opera North comments: “Following a complex and detailed redevelopment project, we believe Kino creates a vibrant destination in this beautiful historic building on a previously underused part of New Briggate. With Kino, we continue to do what we do best – entertaining through memorable experiences – adding seriously delicious food and drink to our repertoire. We are truly thrilled to partner with so many of the best local producers, and to welcome MorMor for Kino’s first pop-up supper club on 23 July.”

Hugo Moneypenny, MorMor comments: “It’s great to be getting back into a kitchen following such a busy summer full of events, pop up residencies and being in festival fields. We can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best and doing it in the super exciting pop-up at Kino.”

Kino is open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and all day on Fridays and Saturdays.

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