Twenty years of Restaurant Bar & Grill Leeds made a great summer evening of celebration on 2 July.
On Thursday evening, I headed to Restaurant Bar & Grill in Leeds to help celebrate a special milestone- the venue’s 20th birthday. Located right on City Square in the heart of the City, it’s one of those places that always feels like a treat to visit. With the warm summer weather continuing, it couldn’t have been a better evening to celebrate.
Arriving just after 6.30pm, I headed out onto the terrace where I was greeted with a glass of Prosecco. The sunshine, comfortable temperature and views across City Square created the perfect setting to ease into the evening. There were already plenty of guests chatting over drinks, and there was a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to settle in.
Inside, Restaurant Bar & Grill is an impressive dining space. Housed within the City’s former Post Office building, the venue has a real sense of character. The marble floors, striking gold bar and grand interior create an elegant setting that feels welcoming. It’s easy to see why it has remained such a popular destination over the last two decades.
The evening had been designed as a celebration rather than a formal event, with plenty of opportunities to mingle while enjoying drinks, canapés and live entertainment. A DJ provided the soundtrack as guests arrived, bringing laid-back summer vibes before live musicians took over later in the evening and kept the atmosphere going.
Throughout the night, trays of canapés circulated around the room. My favourites had to be the mini cheeseburgers, which disappeared very quickly, along with the chicken skewers that were packed with flavour. They were the perfect bite-sized accompaniments to the drinks on offer.
Speaking of drinks, there was plenty to choose from. In addition to my arrival Prosecco, I sampled several of the cocktails available for the evening. The Strawberry & Tarragon Cosmopolitan was great, tasting fresh and fruity. It was probably my favourite alcoholic cocktail of the night. I also enjoyed the Basil & Balsamic Mojito, which offered something a little different, while one of the standout drinks overall was actually one of the alcohol-free options. The Innocent Kim Sha was refreshing and full of fruity flavours, making it a perfect drink for a warm summer evening.
As the evening went on, the venue filled with a real sense of celebration. It felt like a gathering of people who genuinely enjoy spending time there. Staff chatted with guests, friends caught up over drinks, and there was a lovely sense of community throughout the evening.
The celebrations concluded with a heartfelt speech from Jonathan, the only member of staff who has been with Restaurant Bar & Grill since it first opened 20 years ago. He reflected on everything the restaurant has experienced over the years, from welcoming generations of families through its doors, to navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic. From his speech you could feel his genuine sense of pride and gratitude, and it put similes on everyone’s faces. It was a lovely reminder that it’s the people behind a venue who create the lasting memories.
Overall, it was a wonderful way to celebrate 20 years of Restaurant Bar & Grill Leeds. Great drinks, delicious food, live entertainment and a relaxed summer atmosphere all came together to create an enjoyable evening.
If it’s been a while since your last visit, or you’ve never been before, I’d recommend stopping by!
Photography by Alex Christensen.
