CrowdedHouse review: I went to the launch of Leeds' newest rooftop bar - and was blown away by these views
This gleaming new rooftop restaurant could be the hottest perch in Leeds this summer, with free flowing champagne and the skyline stretching out in every direction.
CrowdedHouse, the new multi-level restaurant and bar perched atop Trinity Leeds, has finally flung open its doors - and if the launch night is anything to go by, it’s destined to become the city’s go-to spot for sunset spritzes.
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The lift from Boar Lane opens directly into the hum of the party, with waiters moving through the crowd carrying trays of wine glasses and hors d’oeuvres. From the elegant roof terrace, Holy Trinity Church catches the last of the sun.
Its a space that somehow makes the bustle of central Leeds feel a little softer, a little dreamier. The design is pitched halfway between a slick urban loft and a decadent drawing room: dark tones, brass accents, plush velvet chairs.
We didn’t get to road-test the full menu on launch night - nibbles floated through the crowd instead, delicate bites that nodded towards the kitchen’s ambitions. Each of them were gone in two bites, but enough to hint at a serious food offering waiting in the wings.
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The real star of the evening was the setting - and, naturally, the champagne. Glasses were rarely empty, as we sipped above street level, making everything feel cinematic.
What CrowdedHouse gets right is the sense of occasion. Leeds has no shortage of good bars, but few that can claim this kind of stage. Even as temperatures dipped, the crowd held its ground outside.
The space itself is cleverly zoned: downstairs, a restaurant that feels intimate without being stiff, and above it, the rooftop bar that’s pure theatre. Glass walls make the most of the views while keeping the British weather at bay, though on a clear night the pull of the terrace is irresistible.
CrowdedHouse isn’t shy about aiming high. The presence of Simon Jewitt in the kitchen, with his stellar reputation for good food, shows that when the menu is in full swing, the food will match the setting.
But even without a formal meal, the launch proved that this is a place where you could happily spend a whole evening - start with snacks and fizz on the terrace, slip inside for dinner, then head back out for a nightcap under the stars.