Iberica, Leeds

I’ve driven along East Parade countless times and barely noticed the old  Bonham’s auction house, a wonderful sandstone building of Victorian Gothic and Grade II listed. Now thanks to Iberica the Spanish chain (5 in London one in Manchester) who have spent squillions on it, it has a new life as a restaurant and deli. And we think it’s fabulous.

The dining room manages to look very grand yet relaxed with its gorgeous curved ceiling papered in dramatic Prussian blue, a big roof light, mirrors, paintings, banquettes, the de rigeur frilly lampshades and dressed down with rustic wooden tables.

The menu offers platters of meat and cheese, mains like Spanish sausage and mash and beef and pork patty. Large dishes  for sharing such as a paella  for 2 or 15 and for a real blow out, crisp roast suckling pig for 6-10 at £195.

We ate modestly on tapas and the squid, chorizo lollipops, grilled lettuce, fideua were all excellent.

Helen our wine writer has already raved about the sherries, the Cava, the Asturias cider and most of all the wine list.

They do hot and cold takeaway dishes and downstairs is the deli where you can sit and have a plate of wine and cheese and upstairs a glorious private dining room.