Bistro beats 60,000 to best restaurant title

A TRADITIONAL French bistro carved out of a former pub has beaten some 60,000 venues to be voted the best local restaurant in Britain - just five months after opening.

- Robert Kellaway

Customers rushed to recommend Bavette in Horsforth, Leeds, after being wowed by its classic Continental cuisine.

It was opened in February by head chefs Sandy Jarvis, 39, and Clement Cousin, 32, who met while working in top-end London diners. Both wanted to open their dream restaurant, but outside the capital.

Leeds is Sandy's home city and he said: "One of the nicest things about being outside of London is that you're not having to cram as many tables in. We have around 35-40 covers [although] there's space for a bit more."