Opera North is to open a destination restaurant at its new headquarters in Leeds city centre this summer. Kino will accommodate up to 100 covers on three floors, with an evolving line-up of local pop-ups and guest chef residencies.

The restaurant is in the Howard Opera Centre in New Briggate and Harrison Street, which opened last year to provide the opera company with rehearsal studios, offices, educational facilities and the Assembly Room performance space.

Richard Mantle, general director at Opera North, said: “Opening Kino is the final piece in the puzzle following our transformative £18m redevelopment programme, Music Works. Located next to Leeds Grand Theatre, where Opera North is a resident company, Kino will be the perfect spot to enjoy drinks and a bite to eat before a performance, or as a destination in its own right.”

The restaurant space will open on Friday 6 July for cheese and charcuterie alongside wine, craft beer and cocktails, with a full food menu and a residency from a Leeds-based pop-up following in September. 

The Howard Opera Centre was built thanks to an £11 million gift from Yorkshire publisher, cricket fan and philanthropist Dr Keith Howard, who died last year. He had served as president of Opera North. New Briggate, the historic entry to the city, has been earmarked by Leeds City Council for funding as a heritage action zone.