The brand-new hospitality concept, Fearns, is coming to Leeds Dock this May, celebrating the best of Yorkshire.
Head chef, Jade Crawley, brings together the finest ingredients from across Yorkshire in a series of indulgent seasonal menus, with creative influence coming from a mixture of European kitchens. Jade is the former Head Chef at Eat Your Greens and The Tetley Bar and Kitchen in Leeds, and previously worked at The Wild Plum and Baltzersen’s in Harrogate.
The kitchen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, alongside a handpicked drinks list that includes organic wines, beers, cocktails and premium soft drinks. Fearns aims to shine a spotlight on local suppliers and products, including Yorkshire squeaky cheese, Longley Farm butter and Kirkstall Brewery on draught.
Menu highlights include: crispy oyster mushrooms with sage, polenta and a confit garlic sauce, and pulled lamb flatbread, pomegranate, celeriac, pea and marinated summer vegetables, made with a family recipe from Jade’s childhood. As well as adopting a considered approach to sourcing ingredients locally, Jade also prepares a house oil and herb pesto from the vegetable cut-offs that would otherwise go to waste.
Sundays at Fearns are for good food, good mood, and bloody good Marys. The signature Sunday Service menu features small plates to start, followed by a selection of roast dinner options for meat lovers, veggies and vegans. These include roast beef, pulled lamb shoulder with mint sauce, sausage roast, lemon pepper chicken thighs, seitan roast with mint sauce, or straight up veggies with miso gravy. All roasts are served with perfectly crisp hasselback potatoes, a herby-take on the classic Yorkshire pudding, spice roasted beetroot and squash, hispi cabbage and house gravy. To finish, Fearns offers up their sweet specialty: sticky toffee pudding, roasted apples, tonka ricotta and salted toffee sauce.
Alongside the roast dinners, the Sunday service ritual includes Fearns’ Mary menu, including the classic Bloody Mary, the tequila laced Bloody Maria, Camden Hells float Bloody Michelada and the Virgin Mary for the saints amongst us. Also available is the refreshing and sustainable zero waste citrus highball non-alcoholic cocktail.
Enjoy the drinks to the sound of a rotation of local DJs every weekend provided by local independent store, Released Records, and conclude a lazy Sunday with a laidback board game. The whole family, including four-legged friends, are welcome.
Jade Crawley, Head Chef of Fearns: “When developing the menus, I wanted to ensure sustainable processes and local produce were at the forefront. The menus are a celebration of all things Yorkshire, with nods to Leeds specifically throughout. It was important that the menus create talking points, from the interesting suppliers we use to the personal recipes I’ve incorporated from family cooking. We are a region with fruitful produce and amazing small businesses on our doorstep, and I am proud to showcase them at Fearns.”
As well as the kitchen and bar, Fearns houses two revolving pop-up retail stores to support local brands by providing a physical space to showcase their craft. The spaces are currently housed by independent wine retailer 2 Many Wines and sustainable clothing brand Commonsense Clothing.
Fearns also welcomes Robbie Williamson as General Manager from Dakota in Leeds. Robbie: “Our aim is to create a destination for people to dine, drink, shop and lounge in the heart of Leeds Dock. We’re delighted to be surrounded by other leisure amenities such as the Royal Armouries, local independents and the buzzing waterside community of the Dock. Fearns offers a considered experience, for all occasions, but speaks especially to the foodies in our brilliant city. From a mid-week lunch to a weekend unwind with the Sunday Service, we invite all to come and discover something new at Fearns.”
Fearns is taking up residence in the same building as the recently-launched Department, a new coworking space at Department Leeds Dock. The bar and kitchen’s name was inspired by an island in the area’s waterways. The small parcel of land, known locally as Fearns Island, will house an allotment for the kitchen team to grow seasonal produce, herbs, and flora in the coming months.
Visitors to Leeds Dock can make use of the many transport links servicing the area, including the yellow water taxis, cycle routes and bus routes. CitiPark also offers parking directly on Leeds Dock.
Fearns will be open to the public 7 days a week from 20 May. Table bookings can be made online at fearnsuk.com but the venue welcomes walk ins any time. Food service times are as follows:
Monday to Saturday
Breakfast from 8am Monday to Friday (9am on Saturday)
Lunch from 12pm – 5pm
Dinner from 5pm – 9pm
Open til late for drinks
Sunday
Breakfast from 9am to 12pm.
Sunday Service is our roast menu and small plates served 12pm – 5pm (in replace of the lunch menu served throughout the week). No dinner menu.
Follow Fearns on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fearnsleedsdock/
