A new addition to Leeds’ dining scene, as of early 2026, The Smithfield sits just outside the city centre, where it’s developed a reputation for modern, gastropub cooking that makes the very most of local, quality ingredients. Served on pretty, patterned plates, dishes at The Smithfield reinterpret British favourites and international plates with a modern, confident edge. It’s familiar food done well, offering a reliable spot for sociable dinners that feel current and thought through.
Thanks to large, full-height windows, interiors at The Smithfield feel bright and airy. The ceilings are panelled and painted green, the windows are framed in an attractive red, and seating takes form with classic pub tables and chairs. That said, lighting, colour, and service make this a distinctively modern spot. You’ll find pub-style round tables and stools on the ground floor, with a larger dining space upstairs.
Menus at The Smithfield feel confident, classic and modern - no frills, no pointless additions, just great ingredients treated with classic British technique. To start, you might find the likes of Gordal olives, house focaccia with wild garlic butter, and whipped cod’s roe with radishes to nibble on. Then, moving on to small plates and starter-sized dishes, the menu broadens to include grilled leeks with romesco, Wye Valley asparagus with poached egg and pecorino, and Shetland mussels with wild garlic cream.
More substantial options might offer up the likes of cauliflower with mushroom lentil ragu and walnuts, native breed pork collar with a peppercorn and cider sauce, and roast coley with fennel drenched in a butter sauce. Then, alongside braised lamb shoulder with pearl barley and salsa verde, there’s a beef and stout pie for two and a whole roast plaice with lemon and butter. To finish, expect to see desserts like sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch and vanilla ice cream, caramelised whey tarts with creme fresh, and a chocolate terrine served with brandy snaps.