The Banksia, Leeds – Restaurant Review
By Steve Crabtree, September 2025
On a Monday evening in Leeds, my wife and I found ourselves heading down to Call Lane to the corner of Lower Brigitte. Opposite Revolution de Cuba, tucked underneath the Hotel Indigo, sits The Banksia. A new restaurant that’s part of this new hotel – close enough to the main bustle of the city centre, yet far enough from the frantic rush hour chaos.
We were looking forward to this one, we were intrigued with what tonight might bring. Hotel restaurants can sometimes feel more function than feeling, but it didn’t take long to know that The Banksia has got it right. It bills itself as “a stylish sanctuary in the heart of Leeds. Relax, unwind, and enjoy curated cocktails in a chic, laid-back setting.”
And you know what? They’ve nailed that.
“Warm welcome”
Walking in, the place looks lovely. Metal touches sit alongside hanging greenery, velvet seating contrasts with marble-effect floors. Even the toilets looked spectacular when we visited later.
Add to that a warm welcome into The Banksia from our server for the night – friendly, smiley, and instantly reassuring – things were already off to a good start.
The restaurant was fairly quiet to begin with, so we picked a booth rather than a table in the middle of the floor when asked where we’d like to sit. The layout is generous, so even those central spots wouldn’t have suffered from walkways and interruptions. From the booth, though, we had the best of both worlds – cosy and private, yet still part of the atmosphere.
Settling in with water for the table, our waitress explained the concept: small plates, with a Mediterranean theme leaning heavily into Turkish and Greek influences. Fish, meat, vegetables – a big, intriguing menu broken into sections like Nibbles, Mezze, Meat, Seafood, Soil, Signature Dishes and Sides. We were told to go for two or three dishes each and share. That’s always how we’ve done tapas, so we were fully on board with that.
“Smells and aromas”
After a fair bit of deliberation – the menu does take some reading – we ordered Mediterranean breads and tzatziki to get us going. Then came the spread: Beef Brisket Pachanga, Roasted Pomegranate Chicken, a 6oz rump steak (well done for Alex), Tempura Squid, Hummus Kavurma with spiced chicken, and Caramelised Cauliflower for good measure.
Greedy me then added Batata Harra – a patatas braves style of dish as a last minute addition when we ordered. My wife laughed at me, as usual, for ordering more than we needed. But I’ve never been good at judging small plates.
We were really comfortable in this springy seating, and it was nice to catch up about our day. The smells and aromas from the kitchen had hit us too, and we were really excited for what we were about to receive.
First to arrive was the Beef Brisket Pachanga (£11). Turkish-style spring rolls filled with slow-cooked brisket, peppers, cheese and herbs. These were substantial and meaty. A touch dry perhaps, but this was saved by the slightly spicy tomato base they were served on.
Alongside came the Hummus Kavurma (£15) – and this was sensational. Tender chargrilled chicken, rough-and-smooth hummus, tangy onions, and the lift of pomegranate molasses. It was our favourite dish of the night, with varied flavours, textures and we could both happily order that again.
“Looked after without fuss”
Vibe-wise, everything was spot-on: upbeat background music at just the right volume so we could talk, but the sound was there adding something. (I’m a bit picky about that!).
All night, our waitress was excellent. Knowledgeable about the entire menu, happy to explain, and with that balance of being attentive without hovering. She was cheerful, friendly, and the sort of host who makes you feel looked after without fuss. It was part of our whole experience.
Next dish to land was the cauliflower (£11), partnered with matbucha, zhoug, and yes, more pomegranate. It was enjoyable, even if it wasn’t a standout plate, but rounded out the mix well. The squid (£10), however, was firmly mine. Lightly battered, perfectly cooked, with a squid ink aioli to dip into – Alex doesn’t do fish, so I happily polished off the lot.
By now the restaurant was filling up and friendly chatter rose steadily. We had a room that was alive without being overwhelming. A really good atmosphere, and with that our Roasted Pomegranate Chicken arrived. Sweet peppers, courgette, sumac mushrooms and beautifully cooked chicken – tender, flavoursome, and one of those dishes that makes you pause mid-conversation to take it in properly.
“Lovely dish”
The Batata Harra (£6), came at the same time and these were perfect. A really nice aioli topped the well cooked potatoes and crispy fried shallots were sprinkled over them to turn a simple side in to a delight.
By this point, our table was packed. Had I ordered too much? Well…the tastebuds didn’t think so…and then Alex’s rump steak (£20) came out aswell! After a bit of rearrangement of what we had in front of us, that plate went down and was cooked exactly as she likes it – properly well done. Too many places struggle with that, but The Banksia delivered. Pink peppercorn sauce was promised on the menu as its accompaniment, though what arrived was more of a brown affair. No complaints though, it worked. She even let me try a piece, and I’ll admit it was delicious.
Between bites we kept glancing around, noticing how many diners had chosen to come here on a Monday night. It wasn’t just hotel guests either – the crowd was diverse, a mix of couples, groups of friends, and after-work diners. It was good to see this wasn’t a “hotel-only” spot.
“Chosen wisely”
By the time desserts were offered, I was comfortably beaten. Alex, on the other hand, had saved room for Karidopita (£8) – a warm spiced walnut cake with salted caramel, strawberry and white chocolate. Generous, beautifully presented, and exactly the sort of dessert you want to finish on. I managed a nibble, and it was wonderful. Once again, she’d chosen wisely.
So, nearly 90 minutes after we walked in, we’d been fed an absolute feast. From the thoughtful service to the variety of exquisite dishes, The Banksia had impressed us on every level. And as we lingered, the smiles and happy atmosphere in the room said it all. Worried about a hotel restaurant? No need to be. Not here. As soon as you arrive, you don’t even think about the hotel above.
Would we return? Absolutely. In fact, Alex was already messaging her friends to line up another visit before we’d even made it home.
The Banksia set out to be a stylish sanctuary, and that’s exactly what it is. A winner, all round.
The Banksia, Hotel Indigo, 2 Lower Briggate, Leeds LS1 4AE
Mon – Sun 7am–2am
ihg.com
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
