Inside new Leeds restaurant Madre promising 'real moments of Mexican hospitality'

A new restaurant promising “real moments of Mexican hospitality” has opened its doors in Wellington Place in Leeds - just weeks after its sister venue, pool and tequila bar Salon Madre, arrived on nearby Wellington Street.

Madre, which already has a strong following in Liverpool and Manchester, launched its Leeds site on April 17. Co-founder Owain Williams said Leeds was the natural next step after Liverpool and Manchester.

“I suppose that kind of age-old Leeds–Liverpool canal route made sense for the business,” he told the YEP. “For me, the independence and quality of the food scene in Leeds has just been fantastic to see. Customers in Leeds really value quality. They vote with their feet.”

Unlike many Mexican restaurants in the UK that focus on casual street food, Madre offers a more immersive, sit-down experience. The menu centres on corn tortilla tacos, classic cocktails and a wood-fired grill, featuring dishes inspired by renowned mariscos (seafood) restaurants in Mexico City.

Williams and his partners work closely with Mexican chefs and travel to Mexico “at least once or twice a year” to keep up with how the cuisine is evolving. Rather than getting “stuck” in a rigid idea of tradition, the team aims to mirror what’s happening in contemporary restaurants across Mexico.

That approach is reflected in the menu, Williams explains, which draws on influences from states including Baja, Oaxaca and Yucatán. Baja brings light, fresh, seafood-led plates, while Oaxaca contributes rich moles and salsas with deep pre-Hispanic roots.

Both flour and corn tortillas feature, alongside a sizeable selection of mezcal sourced from across Mexico.

“We don’t tend to get too preachy about it or bombard people with a load of information,” Williams said. “It just is in the menu. If you want to dig a little deeper, you can. If you don’t, it’s just right there.”

The Leeds restaurant is also designed with “sobremesa” in mind - a style of social dining common in Mexico, where a meal can stretch to several hours of shared plates and drinks. The menu is organised by style of cooking rather than strict courses, and there’s a “Madre’s Table” option, where the team curates a full experience for diners.

At the same time, Williams said the restaurant works just as well for a quick bite. Office workers at Wellington Place can drop in for “a pair of tacos and a soft drink” on a tight lunch break, while Taco Tuesday and lunch deals are aimed at broadening Madre’s appeal.

Situated just outside the heart of the city centre, Williams pitches Madre as a destination rather than a walk-by spot - but one that’s still only a short walk from the railway station. The hope is that guests will soon treat the two venues as a double act: dinner at Madre, followed by cocktails and a game of pool at Salon Madre.

With a largely new Leeds-based team - including several Mexican chefs - Williams said the focus for the first year is simple: “Just planting our roots, finding our feet and becoming part of the community in Leeds.”