Leeds’ award‑winning neighbourhood restaurant The Swine Bistro will mark its first anniversary on Wednesday 1st April with a one‑night‑only menu celebrating the journey of founders Stu and Jo Myers from a modest sandwich shop to one of Yorkshire’s most acclaimed dining destinations.
The Headingley bistro will host a celebratory dinner showcasing its hallmark style of bold, seasonal cooking. Priced at £75 per person, the evening begins with a bespoke birthday cocktail created by award‑winning mixologist Meg de Bell, followed by a series of refined dishes including smoked eel gilda, rabbit and wild garlic sausage with celery and apple salad, and a salt cod and caramelised onion tart. Vegetarian alternatives will also be available.
Guests will then enjoy confit pork with puntarelle, roasted shallots and sage, before the evening concludes with Jo’s signature trifle, a fitting finale to the restaurant’s first‑birthday celebration.
The menu will be released first to ‘Friends of the Swine’ members prior to wider public bookings, offering long‑time supporters an exclusive opportunity to join the milestone event. The celebration reflects the community that has championed The Swine Bistro throughout its first year.
Co‑founder, Jo Myers, said: “We’ve always just wanted to cook proper food that people enjoy eating. Looking back at where we started and seeing how far the restaurant has come is incredible.”
The team’s story began in 2012 with The Greedy Pig, a small Leeds café known for its all‑day breakfasts and hearty sandwiches. Pop‑ups and supper clubs soon followed, developing a loyal local following and shaping the evolution into The Swine That Dines, and later The Swine Bistro at its new Headingley home.
Now a 35‑cover restaurant, The Swine Bistro is recognised as one of Leeds’ best, earning a place in the Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Best Local Restaurants, features in SquareMeal, and a listing among the Yorkshire Post’s 50 Best Restaurants in Yorkshire.
A pivotal moment came in 2024, when a crowdfunding campaign to create The Swine Bistro surpassed its target within 48 hours, enabling the move into a larger site and cementing the team’s vision for a true neighbourhood bistro.
Jo added: “None of it would have happened without the people who have supported us along the way, so celebrating with the ‘Friends of the Swine’ feels like the perfect way to mark our first birthday.”
At its heart, The Swine Bistro champions traditional British cooking using the best Yorkshire ingredients, with Stu’s menus rooted in classic techniques, seasonal produce and generous hospitality.
In addition to its main service, the restaurant also offers private dining for groups of 8–12, giving guests an intimate experience of its signature dishes.
The Swine Bistro is located opposite the Arndale Centre on Otley Road, Headingley, and is open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Bookings can be made at www.theswinebistro.co.uk.