A new HOME – the fine-dining restaurant lays foundations for the future

Liz Cottam’s prestigious dining experience, HOME, is looking forward to the relocation of a lifetime, with a move this November to Brewery Wharf. 

A new waterfront venue means big things for HOME, which is set to benefit from increased footfall as it welcomes new business and leisure diners from Leeds and beyond.

HOME opened its doors in 2017, and since then has cemented its reputation as one of the city’s most coveted restaurants. Serving up a high-end mix of experimental cuisine, innovative flavour combinations and new takes on the traditional, the restaurant has been wowing diners with a seasonally changing menu and epic wine list from its current spot near Kirkgate Market.

But now, it’s time for a change – and evolution comes in the form of the former home of Oracle Bar. With stunning views across the River Aire and ample space for outdoor seating on its exclusive terrace, the venue is preparing for a grand opening later this month, after which it’ll be opening its doors from Wednesday to Sunday.

The new space is designed to create a range of different experiences, with the terrace area dedicated to special occasions and a brand new wine room perfect for showcasing unique flavours from the enhanced menu. With the kitchen situated in the middle of the room, the atmosphere is welcoming, communal and centred on the food, which can be ordered from the main menu or bar menu. More details on the space are soon to be announced, but rest assured that bookings for all Liz’s ventures are available now, including the last tables at HOME’s original Kirkgate venue.

Liz Cottam, Chef Patron at HOME, said:

“We’ve had some amazing times on Kirkgate, but now we’ve outgrown the restaurant and think it’s time to continue our new journey in a space that really suits who we are now and what we do. We want to be at the heart of new developments in Leeds, and this is the perfect space to expand our offer, welcome in new guests and keep doing what we do best. With its unique terrace, central kitchen and riverside location, Brewery Wharf is just the start of an incredible new chapter for HOME – we can’t wait to get started!”

Brewery Wharf is one of Leeds’ most exciting developments, with recent innovations being led by property investors, Rushbond PLC. Located south of the city centre, the project has been pivotal to the comeback of the whole waterfront area – not to mention the South Bank district as a whole.

It’s an exciting time, both for HOME and its brand new home, which has already received awards and acclaim for the quality of its space, design and character. The fresh digs will not only give the restaurant greater visibility and presence in a high-potential part of the city, it will also bring in a range of new customers – both corporate and residential.

Richard Baker, Head of Leasing at Rushbond PLC, said: 

“We are really delighted to be welcoming HOME which is a huge coup for the community and re-affirms Brewery Wharf as one of the great places to be in Leeds.

Brewery Wharf has developed into a thriving work and leisure district with a unique community feel and buzz, thanks to its unique waterside location, its quality public spaces and most importantly its people, whether it be those who live or those who work there. It’s brilliant to see the likes of HOME, who are at the top of their game, now eager to establish themselves in this fantastic location. We have been working hard to make a great place even greater, refurbishing spaces and investing further in the public realm, ensuring that the spaces can offer what modern businesses are looking for. Bringing HOME into the community is such good news and will be a great addition for its neighbours and the wider City to enjoy.”

Through the pandemic: HOME, The Owl, and CORA

2020 began as the biggest year yet for Liz Cottam’s flagship restaurant HOME, and the newly-opened gastro pub, The Owl in Kirkgate Market. When lockdown hit, Liz and her business partner, Mark Owens, decided to divide responsibility between the two venues, with Mark overseeing The Owl and Liz focusing on HOME.

The Owl had already made a significant impact on the UK food scene, and plans were in motion to launch an experimental ‘Oyster Loft’ in the space above it. The Kirkgate Market gastro pub adapted to stay in operation during the pandemic, launching ‘Owl @ Home’, which offered a series of four-course set menus for delivery or collection. Each one sold out since launch, with demand increasing week by week. Now restrictions have lifted, Liz and Mark are revisiting the Oyster Loft plans, and preparing to launch a range of merchandise featuring The Owl’s mascot, Eric.

Liz celebrated HOME’s fourth birthday in August, using the extra time and space created by lockdown to carve out and refine a new identity for its food. The restaurant reopened successfully at the end of July, with a menu inspired by the natural mise-en-scène of summer.

Summer 2021 marked another pivotal moment for Liz, with the opening of contemporary bake house, dining room and wine cellar, CORA, in Boston Spa. Offering secret, eight-course dining experiences on Friday and Saturday evenings alongside bakery and patisserie-based brunches, lunches and afternoon tea, CORA has been met with great acclaim from diners and critics alike.