A bar in Leeds has come up with a 'sweet shop' cocktail menu and we're absolutely here for it.
Mad Frans on Wellington Place is a cute little cocktail bar and restaurant, dishing up a host of classic and signature cocktails plus a good range of spirit mixers and beers too.
But the thing that's really caught our eye is their sweet shop selection, inspired by all of our tuck shop favourites - with everything from giant strawbs and fruit salad chews, to parma violets getting a look in.
Photo credit: Mad Frans
Some of the quirkier drinks on the new menu include a meringue-topped 'fruit salad' cocktail made with raspberry, pineapple, white rum, citrus and sugar; and a 'lemon sherbert' drink comprised of sharp limoncello, lemon sorbet, prosecco, sugar, citrus and lashings of lemon sherbert.
They've also infused their own gin with parma voilets to create a purple-hued (and lethal-sounding) sour that combines the sweetie-flavoured spirit with vanilla vodka, apple, cirtus, sugar and egg white for a drink that will knock your socks off.
Mad Frans has a whole host of classics on its menu as well as the sweet shop cocktails / Image: Mad Frans bar
Elsewhere, other drinks include a candy floss-inspired creation with gin, apple liquer, apple juice, lemonade and grenadine, and a 'cola bottle' drink; made with orange marmalade, spiced rum, bitters, caramel and soda.
The drink that really catches our eye, though, is their 'sour cherry one', which pits vodka and cherry liqueur together with cherry jam, bitters, sugar, lemon and egg white for the ultimate sweet-meets-sour treat.
Photo credit: Mad Frans
As well as offering plenty of fun drinks, Mad Frans also has a good kitchen offering tasty scran throughout the week and bottomless brunches and roasts during the weekend.
Head down during happy hour to make the most of your money here, with all their cocktails priced at 2 for £12 between 12 and 6 pm Sunday and Friday, and 12 - 4 pm on Saturdays.
Find Mad Frans at Building 6 Wellington Place, Whitehall Rd, Leeds LS1 4EQ. For more information, head over to their Instagram page here.
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Deliveroo to bring robot food deliveries to Leeds in major UK rollout
Deliveroo and Coco Robotics are set to bring robot deliveries to Leeds through a new strategic partnership.
Next time you order a takeaway...let's just say, it could look a little different.
In the new exclusive partnership, Deliveroo and Coco Robotics are launching in multiple locations, beginning with Canary Wharf in London this October, before launching here in Leeds as well as Milton Keynes, Stockton on Tees and Nottingham in the coming weeks and months.
The rollout marks Coco Robotic's entry into the UK, extending the company’s broader expansion across Europe.
While the majority of orders will continue to be fulfilled by Deliveroo’s rider network, Coco’s fully electric robots are suited to short-distances and navigating urban environments, offering additional flexibility to local businesses on Deliveroo’s platform.
The robots operate at walking place, meaning they're able to move safely through busy streets whilst carrying orders directly to customers.
Image: Supplied
Miki Kuusi, CEO at Deliveroo and Head of DoorDash International: “London is where Deliveroo was born, so it feels fitting that we’re launching our first UK autonomous delivery service with Coco Robotics here before expanding our exclusive partnership to more towns and cities nationwide, building on our partnership in other geographies.
“We see huge potential in autonomous delivery and we are looking forward to working with Coco to bring more flexibility to our delivery network, helping local restaurants and shops meet increasing consumer demand. We firmly believe that robot and drone technology should benefit High Street businesses of all sizes, helping them remain competitive and meet consumers in new ways.”
Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said: "Our council is determined to embrace the opportunities offered by emerging technology. This approach has already helped establish Leeds as a location for hosting and advising on robot delivery trials.
“Supporting innovation means attracting investment. That's why we are now pleased to be working with Coco Robotics regarding the city’s future involvement in the UK rollout of their partnership with Deliveroo.
“We look forward to exploring the benefits that the rollout can bring to Leeds and its residents.”
Tesco unveils Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026 and confirms official launch date
Emily Sergeant
Tesco has officially unveiled its Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026, and has revealed when it’ll be arriving in stores.
Spooky season may not have even arrived yet, but it won’t be long before the most wonderful time of the year is here and most of the UK’s major supermarkets have already started stocking their shelves with Christmas food, drink, and gifts galore.
Tesco has now unveiled all the sandwiches and snacks forming part of its iconic lunchtime meal deal selection.
10 new seasonal mains and sides have been launched this year, as well as some classics and returning fan favourites too.
Images: Tesco
The retailer says its food on-the-go experts have worked hard to bring a variety of festive flavours and great-quality ingredients together this year, with something on offer to cater to all tastes and preferences.
Available in stores and online from next week, with Tesco Clubcard members paying just £3.80 or £5.50 to upgrade to a Premium Meal Deal, some of the all-new main options you can choose from in 2026’s festive lineup include the Fully Loaded Chicken, Stuffing, Braised Red Cabbage & Cranberry Sauce Sandwich, the Christmas Triple Sandwich, and the Pork Meatball Wrap with smoky sage and onion mayonnaise.
Other returning favourites include the Brie and Cranberry Sandwich, the Currywurst Sausage Sub, and the absolute classic Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich.
For veggies and vegans, there’s a new Tesco Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap, and for those who follow a gluten free diet, you can grab the Gluten Free Festive Chicken & Trimmings sandwich.
When it comes to snacks to accompany those mains, the festive Mini Pork Pies and Pig in Blanket Sausage Rolls are returning to the lineup this year, alongside some new additions like the Pretzels with Salted Caramel Soft Cheese Dip, and Mini Cheese Twists.
The 2026 Tesco Christmas Meal Deal range will be in stores across the UK from Monday 12 October, and there’s thousands of combinations to try.
Georgina Pellant -
26th August 2021 
