Good Food Guide Today, the annual announcement 100 Best Local Restaurants The hugely popular awards, which celebrate the best food in the UK, recognise the best independent restaurants from Scotland to Cornwall, Norfolk to North Wales. Bavette’s in Horsforth, Leeds, Britain’s best local restaurantsThey beat out competition from across the country to claim the prestigious 2024 title.
this year, of good food guide Diners across the country were eager to support their favourite restaurants and submitted an astonishing number of nominations. An unprecedented 60,000 votes were cast, and the Guide’s team of expert inspectors took on the joyous task of anonymously dining at a huge number of restaurants across the country. The results offer a glimpse into extraordinary local creativity and talent, personal hospitality and true community spirit.
Bavette, the model of the perfect local restaurant
Run by experienced husband and wife team Sandy Jarvis and Clement Cousin, Bavette opened in February 2024 and has quickly won the hearts of Horsforth locals and customers across the Leeds metropolitan area.
Bavette’s customers and anonymous inspectors Good Food Guide “We were impressed by the natural ease and warm hospitality of this vibrant French bistro, and this is backed up by Jarvis’s menu of authentic and beautifully presented French cuisine. Overall, we believe the restaurant has elevated the dining experience in and around Leeds and set the standard for the perfect local restaurant. This award is truly impressive and well deserved.”
Chloe Hamilton, Associate Editor Good Food Guideelaborates on why Bavette deserves the award. “Sandy and Clément have experience in top London restaurants (largely influenced by the terroir where they met), so opening a restaurant just the two of them on the outskirts of Leeds seemed like a great plan on paper. But it’s the way they’ve brought it to life – the fantastic bistro food, the adventurous and enticing wine list (which includes bottles from Clément’s organic winemaker’s family from the Loire), and the energy and warmth of the team – that makes it so magical. They’ve had first and 90th birthday parties here – it’s brightened up the local area.”
Reflecting on their victory, Sandy and Clement said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win Best Local Restaurant! Just making it into the top 100 in our first few months is an incredible accomplishment, but winning the overall award is a huge honor and a testament to the hard work our team has put in since day one, so this is dedicated to them. Although the sign above the door says ‘Neighborhood Bistro,’ being a great local restaurant is what we wanted for Bavette. Thank you to everyone who has visited us over the past five months. You all have made Bavette what it is today.”
