Bavette brings a slice of France to Town Street in Horsforth

Horsforth has never been short of places to eat, but few have made a name for themselves as quickly as Bavette. The French bistro on Town Street has become one of the most talked-about restaurants in the Leeds area, and it has done so by keeping things refreshingly simple.

The restaurant is run by a husband-and-wife team in the truest sense of a family business. Head chef Sandy Jarvis cooks in the kitchen, while his husband Clément Cousin, a French native, looks after the dining room and service. Between them they have created a place that feels personal from the moment you walk through the door.

The cooking leans unashamedly towards the Gallic classics. Rather than chasing trends, Sandy focuses on the kind of French bistro dishes that reward care and good ingredients, and reviewers have described the approach as overtly French, which is exactly the point.

The recognition arrived early. Within a few months of opening, Bavette was named the best local restaurant in the UK by the Good Food Guide in 2024, a remarkable achievement for a neighbourhood bistro still finding its feet.

More followed in 2025. The Michelin Guide awarded Bavette a Bib Gourmand, the inspectors' distinction for restaurants offering particularly good quality, good value cooking. It was one of only two restaurants in the Leeds area to receive a Bib that year, alongside Prashad in Drighlington. Time Out also crowned Bavette as Leeds' top eatery in 2025.

The momentum has carried into 2026, with Time Out placing the bistro at number ten in its list of the best restaurants in the whole of the UK. For a small restaurant on a suburban high street, that is quite a journey in a short space of time.

Part of the charm is that Bavette still feels like a local. It sits at 4-6 Town Street, in the heart of Horsforth, and draws in neighbours for a relaxed meal as readily as it attracts food lovers making a special trip across the city. Its Sunday offering has its own fans too, with one reviewer praising the way it brings a touch of je ne sais quoi to the weekend.

Given the attention, it is wise to plan ahead. Bavette can be found at 4-6 Town Street, Horsforth, LS18 4RJ, and booking in advance is the best way to secure a table at one of Leeds' most celebrated bistros.