Head over to Horsforth and check out Hoc Loco for a tipple you won’t soon forget.
After standing vacant for years, a site on New Road Side, Horsforth has had a fresh lease of life, thanks to passionate owner Emma Kerrawn. We caught up with her to discover more about the Mediterranean-inspired experience that Hoc Loc will be serving up.
Hoc Loco flourished out of a dream and a ‘To Let’ sign Emma couldn’t stop thinking about. With a wealth of experience in hospitality under her belt – including running a craft beer shop and brewery tap room in Horsforth – she decided to take the plunge and open her very own bar.
“I’ve been walking past that venue for three years going ‘that would make a really good little bar’”, Emma told us. “The windows, the light it gets, the area it’s in. And it’s been one of those things that I keep walking past and going ‘I should have that’. My boyfriend eventually turned around and went ‘why don’t you?’”
But that was just the start. This neglected little spot needed a lot of love and hard work for Emma to realise her holiday-vibe vision.
“When I took it on, the walls were bright yellow and there was about 500 holes. It was covered in holes. So the first job was getting it looking half decent again.”
Emma got to work taking out two internal walls to open up the space, agonising over the ideal paint and even developing Hoc Loco’s very own scent for max welts. All this adds up to a breezy and relaxed atmosphere that feels like you’ve been picked up and dropped into a Venetian city break.
“I decided very early on that I wanted to go for quite a Mediterranean feel – like when you go on a little city break in Europe and you come across those lovely little bars. They’re really cosy and intimate, but full of rich tones”, added Emma. “I very much wanted to have that feel to it. I wanted it to feel really warm and welcoming.”
And of course, you need a glass of vino or three to complete the vibes. So, what’s on the Hoc Loco menu?
“We have all sorts of smaller batch, locally produced stuff. I’ve got Wayward and Barrique – Wayward will be sorting out my natural wines and Barrique is sorting me out with more traditionally made wines. There’s going to be quite a big wine selection.”
We adored the orange Marquesa wine from Wayward – a great one to tantalise the palette all year round. But there’s plenty more to try here. Hoc Loco will be offering a small selection of wines by the glass, with the bottles being regularly swapped out.
Plus, there’s a bottle shop with fine ciders and craft beers you can grab chilled from the fridge if you’re not much of a wine fan.
In true Mediterranean fashion, Hoc Loco will also be dishing up Cicchetti. Don’t worry if you can’t get your lips around the pronunciation – you’ll certainly be wanting to get your lips around these Venetian-style small plates.
Freshly baked bread, cured meats, cheeses, seasonal veggies – alongside charcuterie – it’s the exact sort of food that pairs perfectly with a glass of wine in your hand. But it’s more than just fine tipple, tasty bites and cosy interiors that Hoc Loco has to offer.
“I want it to be a place where people come on their own if they want, or with a group if they want. They can make new friends. They can try some flavours they’ve probably not tried before,” said Emma. “You’re going to be welcomed in the door and it’s going to be a place of community.”
Hoc Loco, 100 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 4QB.
