Yorkshire Life lunch at Palm Court, the Queens Hotel, Leeds. Guests enjoyed lunch at an iconic hotel which continues to change and grow to ensure its rightful place in the hospitality industry

It was only a few weeks ago when more than 300 Yorkshire Life guests poured into the Queens Hotel, Leeds, for our annual Food & Wine Awards. This time we returned to enjoy a much smaller scale Yorkshire Life lunch held in the hotel’s elegant Palm Court.

Chef Chris Walsh and his team were cooking for us once more after successfully entertaining guests at the awards dinner including many of the county’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers and food and drink producers. That was no mean feat and he didn’t disappoint us at lunch either.

The menu was simple but delicious, including light hazelnut crusted goat’s cheese for starters, tender fillet of beef for the main course and a melt-in-the-mouth rhubarb and ginger cheese cake for dessert.

But there was also exciting news announced at the beginning of lunch by general manager David Kanarens who said that further refurbishment of the Queens, owned by Leeds based QHotels, will begin in January.

New executive suites will be created on the top floor of the hotel together with business suites and an exclusive executive lounge where guests will receive VIP treatment and enjoy the luxury of a private patio overlooking the city.

The redevelopment of the eighth floor, including the Lord Mayor’s suite and former staff quarters, follows a �10m makeover at the Queens which enabled the four star hotel to become a major player in the UK conference market. It has the largest conference room in West Yorkshire, the Queens Ballroom which caters for up to 600 delegates. Today the Palm Court, where its once signature afternoon tea was served, is the hotel’s second largest conference room.

Annie Stirk, our food and wine consultant, described the Queens as iconic. ‘This hotel is about the people, friendliness, helpfulness and dedication that we have experienced whenever we have been guests here. ‘What a crack team Chris has in the kitchen, their hard work and dedication are inspirational.

‘The surroundings are beautiful and elegant, all in all it was a terrific meal, a wonderfully elegant lunch.’

The Queens, City Square, Leeds. LS1 1PJ.

0113 243 1323.

www.qhotels.co.uk.