By Angela Harrison and Sam Gillinder
A much-loved and popular pub near the border of Kirkstall and Horsforth, the Vesper Gate, is under new management.
The new owner, Ryan Edwards, has taken the reins and is ready to steer this community pub into a bright new future.
Mr Edwards, from London, purchased the Vesper Gate as a FreeHouse and is excited to bring some fresh changes to the pub, starting with a fresh new menu, which WLD were invited to sample.
Over the next month, the pub will undergo a fresh makeover, while keeping the main original features such as wood panelling and fixtures. New carpets are on the way!
Mr Edwards plans to hold regular farmers’ markets on the grounds. And every Sunday, chef Jacob will be cooking up traditional roasts.
Mr Edwards’ team, including friend James, will be on hand to help run the pub. They already ran The Mustard Pot on Stainbeck Lane in Chapel Allerton and James said: “The locals have been really welcoming and are proud of the pub’s roots. We are not looking to be anything slick, and we will trial things and see if they work by listening to people.”
Entertainment will be on offer at weekends, which James looks after and is called Catch A Star Entertainment (who are available for hire anywhere). We were treated to Etta James, George Michael and Elton John!
There will be weekly live music from Catch a Star, and DJ Randall playing 80’s music and funk n soul.
Now, back to the menu:
Mr Edwards found food inspiration while at tapas restaurants in Ibiza.
The tapas on offer at Vesper Gate is a modern take on traditional dishes. Food is fresh and made from scratch. As it’s in season, the menu will change weekly.
WLD was invited to a tasters event to give feedback on the new menu before it goes live in two weeks’ time.
We were treated to 11 tapas items, and entertainment while we ate.
Here is what we had (or most of it, as it was a lot!)
- Hasselback potatoes with bacon and blue cheese (delicious warmed blue cheese to add to the well cooked potatoes and crispy bacon)
- Mini pie of the day (a rich chicken tarragon and mushroom with dried mash pie with a slight hint of black pepper)
- Black pudding scotch egg (perfectly cooked yolk in an innovative version of a scotch egg)
- Spiced cauliflower with salsa (perfect for people who love their stuff very spicy)
- Brisket bon bons with chimichurri mayo (nice beef bites with chimichurri inspired mayo)
- Chorizo and black pudding with bread (another tasty tapas meal with black pudding)
- Onion bhajis (as good as any indian restaurant you’ll visit)
- Lamb chops with pomegranate (well cooked lamb with a great addition of pomegranate)
- Mac and cheese croquettes with burnt onion ketchup (mac n cheese in croquettes)
- Grilled lettuce wedge with raunch dressing and bacon (tasty cooked lettuce with added flavours)
- Cod goujons with tartar sauce (fish and chip style cod in a tapas meal)
Overall, we think locals and all visitors will enjoy visiting the Vesper Gate under its new management and will be pleasantly surprised on all there is to see, hear and eat.
It’s never a dull moment for a culinary treat and to let your hair down at the weekend in a beautiful and unrivalled setting overlooking Kirkstall Abbey parkland.
Price structure for the tapas menu is:
- £7.50 for one dish
- £18 for three dishes
- £30 for five
WLD can confirm the price is value for money, and if you have five dishes, you will not need to eat again for quite some time!
Sponsored content
