Oracle, Brewery Wharf, Leeds.

This year’s favourite recipe is as follows: - Take one part Leeds nightlife entrepreneur and one part events management guru, gently mix and allow to ferment. The result, a brilliant concoction. Oracle.

Stephen Hawkins renowned for over a decade in these parts for projects such as Inde Joze, MPV and Townhouse teamed up a few months ago with Deborah De-Vittoris of Hairy Lemon Ltd., the events management company to makeover the former Tetley Brewery Wharf building.

This waterfront venue is now a two level affair.

Oracle First Floor is a member’s only lounge aimed at the Leeds, 25+ high fliers. Deborah has built up an impressive contacts list in the past so do not be surprised to find television personalities and sports stars making their way upstairs to the luxury bar where they can relax in sumptuous surroundings. Membership is free, but as I understand it, by invitation only. Rules me out then! 

The ground floor bar is a very different affair, light and airy, bustling with young life. The décor here is minimalist and modern. The immaculate island bar is the focal point, that is, until the food arrives.

The menu boasts 18, yes 18, gourmet burgers. The cheery young staff were knowledgeable and helpful with their recommendations.  I chose The Oracle Works Ultimate Burger at £5.75. This comes with bacon, Monterey Jack cheddar and Oracle relish. My wife ventured further and plumped for the Smoked Salmon Bagel Burger (a snip at £5.50) complete with soft cheese and sweet mustard cream, baby spinach, smoked salmon and a caper relish.

Oracle uses only 100% ground Yorkshire beef in its hand made beef burgers. The bread is baked each morning in their off site bakery. These are not burgers of the instant kind so expect a short wait whilst your dish is created.

One can only assume the chef uses a scaffold to assemble the towering burgers, skilfully skewering them before dispatching to unsuspecting diners. One could not leave hungry.

Home made chocolate brownies and home made pecan pie, both served with ice cream duly followed (£3.95each).  Neither let us down.

“Would you care for a coffee sir, madam? We have 10 different types.” At this point I waved the white flag, “I surrender, I surrender”

The good service experienced here filters down from the top. General Manager is Matt Buckingham (Flannels Restaurant and Browns), Floor Manager is ex Malmaison, Armi Matharu and Sarah Windsor, formerly of Townhouse, is Food Manager. If the shaken cocktail excites you, Devi Zion (ex cocktail chief extraordinaire, Momo’s London) may pop your cork!

Oracle is able to hold 600 people over the two levels with outdoor seating for 100 overlooking the River Aire.

Sundays at Oracle look set to become the regular haunt for city dwellers to partake of fodder between 10am to 5pm. The Brunch menu has a delightful collection of dishes ranging from apple pancakes with maple syrup to scrambled egg with smoked salmon or even stuffed Portobello mushrooms.

Oracle is on to a winner with this upstairs, downstairs set up, appealing mainly to the young at heart. Now how can I get an invite to the Members Lounge?

Reviewed by Howard Richardson

Contact Details

Oracle
3 Brewery Place
Brewery Wharf
LS10 1NE

Tel: 0113 246 9912
E-mail: louise@oraclebar.com
www.oraclebar.com