The story
Horsforth-born chef Matt Healy, known from MasterChef: The Professionals, has brought his expertise back to Leeds with Forde. The restaurant’s tagline is “Just F*#king Good Food!” – and the cooking lives up to it. Healy built his reputation on bold British cooking with a Mediterranean edge, earning a Michelin Plate in 2020 and a spot in The Good Food Guide. Today, Forde holds a Michelin Recommended award for 2026, a testament to the kitchen’s consistent quality.
The menu is built around small plates designed for sharing, alongside a selection of fine wines, craft beers and cocktails. The cooking is seasonal and direct – two-Michelin-starred judge Marcus Wareing described Healy’s sauces as “some of the best he had ever tasted”, while Jay Rayner’s Guardian review captured the spirit with a characteristically blunt “Bloody hell, that’s good”. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming: you can come alone with a laptop (free WiFi is on offer), bring family for lunch and afternoon cocktails, or gather friends for a spread of Yorkshire meats, cheeses and world wines. On Sundays, the format shifts to a celebrated roast with seasonal starters and mains.
Once a month, Forde hosts Foundry X Forde – a revival of Healy’s legendary Foundry restaurant. For one night only, guests enjoy an exclusive six-course tasting menu with optional wine or cocktail flights. It’s a chance to experience the refined, seasonal creativity that first put Healy on the map. With its Michelin Recommended status and a kitchen that delivers on its promise of “just bloody good food”, Forde has become a destination for Mediterranean-influenced dining in Leeds.
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