Fearns at Leeds Dock: The all-day brunch venue named after an island in Leeds Dock waterway
Fearns Island is located in the middle of the River Aire. It was once home to the Sea Scouts before being abandoned.
This ‘secret island’ continues to inspire people’s imaginations; however, so much so that a trendy bar and kitchen nearby named itself Fearns.
Our reporter Sophie Mei Lan went to Leeds Dock to try Fearns’ new menu.
Fearns is hidden inside the Department at Leeds Dock, a stylish co-working, hot-desking, and wellness venue where members gain access to a range of wellbeing, creative services, and offices to rent.
So, would this be just another office canteen, albeit somewhat upmarket?
Fearns is based at the front of Department, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows showcasing this modern bar and kitchen.
The tiled counter displays a range of cakes and pastries. It was the new all-day menu, however, which had drawn us here on a grey, miserable day.
The menu is filled with a range of waffles, French toast, flatbreads, salad bowls, and cooked breakfasts, it was right up my street.
When looking up from the menu, I realised how my friend and I were the only ones who’d brought kids with us. Everyone else was either hot desking with headphones on, having a meeting, or having a quiet coffee with a friend.
The staff were lovely and accommodating. We ordered coffees, including a matcha latte and an americano. My friend opted for the five-a-day poke bowl at £8.95.
I always like to try something different from the person I’m dining with, so I went for the Fearns veggie breakfast priced at £13.95.
The colourful poke bowl arrived with a poached egg, asian slaw, edamame beans, cucumber, carrot, red cabbage, and pickled onion.
This was stacked on top of sushi rice, accompanied by homemade teriyaki sauce and mixed sesame seeds. Meat eaters could have had soy and ginger marinated chicken breast instead of the egg.
I had massive food envy, that’s for sure. I normally love poke or acai bowls when eating out for brunch, and this was a great portion for the price.
Thankfully, my breakfast was just as colourful. It included a Moving Mountains plant-based sausages, sauteed spinach & red pepper, peashoots, a crispy hash brown, free-range fried egg, baked beans, and locally-sourced vegetarian black pudding served with toasted bloomer.
It was beautifully presented and a decent size for me, although I’d say this was a medium full English rather than a large breakfast.
The sausages were moist and tasty, and so was the black pudding. I always like greens with my food, otherwise it’s too bland for me.
I much prefer spinach like this for brunch to the usual smashed avocado. My toddler loved the hash brown and toast.
It was a great way to enjoy Leeds Dock in a stylish yet inclusive place, and definitely a nice treat to enjoy after riding Leeds Water Taxis and looking around Royal Armouries.