'We’re just honoured': Leeds restaurant named among UK’s 10 best by Time Out

‘To now be named among the best in the whole UK is really great’

A Leeds restaurateur said he’s “honoured” to be named among the UK’s ten best restaurants by Time Out.

Bavette in Horsforth ranked number 10 on the prestigious list published this week.

Sandy Jarvis said he’s “honoured” be ranked among the UK’s best restaurants.placeholder image
Sandy Jarvis said he’s “honoured” be ranked among the UK’s best restaurants. | Yorkshire Evening Post

The French bistro, run by head chef Sandy Jarvis and front-of-house Clement Cousin, was praised for its neighbourhood feel and “relaxed, but show-stopping” cooking.

“It feels really good,” Jarvis told the YEP. “We had no idea the list was coming out - sometimes you get a bit of a heads up, but not this time. We’re just honoured to be on such a strong list of amazing places.”

Bavette was named the best local restaurant in the UK by the Good Food Guide in 2024, just a few months after opening.

Since then, the bistro has earned a Bib Gourmand and features in the Michelin Guide. Time Out crowned it Leeds’ top eatery in 2025.

“To now be named among the best in the whole UK is really great,” said Jarvis.

“No one does this job just to make lists, but it gives everyone a real buzz. The whole team is super proud of themselves and of each other. It’s a really nice way to be recognised.”

Describing Bavette, Time Out’s food writer wrote: “This small but mighty French bistro in the leafy Horsforth suburbs is already considered a proper destination spot in Leeds for great dining.

Bavette on Horsforth’s Town Street.placeholder image
Bavette on Horsforth’s Town Street. | Yorkshire Evening Post

“The Gallic eatery was named the UK’s Best Local Restaurant 2024 by the Good Food Guide and received a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide.

“It’s easy to see why Bavette has become such a stalwart of Leeds’s dining scene, with classic French dishes cooked to perfection by head chef Sandy Jarvis, who co-owns the place with his husband, and French native, Clément Cousin.”

Time Out’s best restaurants in the UK for 2026:

  1. Gwen, Machynlleth, Wales
  2. Queen of Cups, Glastonbury, Somerset
  3. Skof, Manchester
  4. The Sportsman, Whistable, Kent
  5. Halisco, Brighton
  6. Osip, Bruton, Somerset
  7. Moss, Edinburgh
  8. Brett, Glasgow
  9. The Muddlers Club, Belfast
  10. Bavette, Leeds
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