Opera company restaurant to open at renovated premises this summer

Opera North, in Leeds, has confirmed an opening date for its new restaurant – Kino.

Located on New Briggate in the historic, newly renovated Grade II-listed Opera North space, Kino will open its doors and start serving up a range of food and drink from 6 July with an informal offer showcasing some of the region’s finest cheese and charcuterie over the summer.

A wine list, craft beer and cocktails sit alongside an evolving food offering sourced from local producers and featuring guest chefs and kitchen residencies over the coming months.

From September, the restaurant will provide a full food offer and a residency from a Leeds pop-up brand.

Kino will seat up to 100 covers across three floors. The restaurant’s name and design take inspiration from the history of the site and is a nod to the building’s former use, with ‘kino’ meaning ‘cinema’ in many languages.

The restaurant’s local suppliers and producers include Leeds’ George & Joseph, North Star Coffee Roasters, Latitude Wines and Northern Monk in addition to Darlington’s Acorn Dairy, Lishman’s of Ilkley and Bluebird Bakery.

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

It will host a selection of pop-ups and guest chefs in the coming months, and it all starts with charcuterie this July. This means diners can sample a range of locally sourced cheeses from Chapel Allerton’s George and Joseph and meats from Lishman’s of Ilkley.

Richard Mantle, general director, Opera North, said: “Opening Kino is the final piece in the puzzle following our transformative £18m redevelopment programme, Music Works.

“Located next to Leeds Grand Theatre, where Opera North is a resident company, and below the Howard Assembly Room, the most eclectic music venue in the north of England, Kino will be the perfect spot to enjoy drinks and a bite to eat before a performance, or as a destination in its own right.”

Nicholas Chandler, assistant manager, George & Joseph, added: “George & Joseph Cheesemongers are very excited at the news of yet another great restaurant opening in our great city and we are even more excited and proud to be collaborating with and supplying Kino with a great selection of local artisan cheeses.

“The more places people can enjoy cheese the better in our eyes. Roll on July when Kino opens.”