News

5 vegan Christmas dishes in Leeds to check out this December

100% plant based festivities.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 1st December 2021

Restaurants across Leeds have really outdone themselves this Christmas with their vegan menus- check out our top picks this December.

Long gone are the days when we would have to scour the internet to find a restaurant that offers at least plant-based dish on the menu or live on salad, because getting in vegan alternatives 'wasn't worth it because they're too unpopular to sell'.

Christmas is the only time of the year where it feels as if this sense of dread can return: for some reason, everyone seems to think turkey is for everyone- it's not. Not even many meat-eaters like it either.

Luckily, in Leeds we are inundated with vegan friendly restaurants that will be serving up some of the best plant-based Christmas menus around: some with sprouts, some without.

We've rounded up our favourite dishes in Leeds city centre so whether you're looking for a pre-Christmas hearty dinner or somewhere with a plant-based menu for the big day itself, we've got you covered.

Headrow House

Headrow House know how to throw a good vegan dinner party: the popular venue replace the mundane small talk with laughter, a chilled ambience and flavoursome dishes. Their new Christmas Bratz menu isn't just vegan friendly, but takes up almost 50% of the menu.

Opt for the classic Vegan Brat topped with crispy onions, sauerkraut and curry ketchup or go for the Vegan Loaded Pretzel Box which features a giant toasted pretzel, celeriac remoulade, seitan bratwurst sausage and curry ketchup. Pair either of these with a nice pint of german lager and you're on your way.

Yuzu Street Food at Thor's Tipi

The Snowboard Sharing Platter is available as meat or vegan dishes. / Image: Yuzu Street Food

An evening at Thor's Tipi is always a festive night: whether it's the smell of smoke that wafts around the tent, no matter how far you are from the fire or the mulled wine that never seems to leave your hands: it's a Christmas-must-do. This year, the pop-up have teamed with Yuzu Street Food to offer some delicious snacks, with plenty of vegan options available.

Our favourite has to be the Snowboard Sharing Platter. Not only is it served on an actual snowboard, but it's full of tasty small plates like Katsu fries, vegan Yuzu chicken sushi, veggie gyozas and Japanese fried tofu bao buns.

The New Conservatory

the new conservatory christmas menu vegan
The New Conservatory have had a festive makeover too. / Image: The New Conservatory

Who says you have to go to an all-vegan restaurant to get great tasting plant-based dishes? The New Conservatory offer almost everything on the menu as a meat and vegan option, so naturally their Christmas menu is no different.

There's Creamy Garlic Mushrooms on toasted ciabatta on the menu, but it's the Traditional Nut Roast with a homemade red onion marmalade and served with roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots, herb mash, yorkshire puddings and red onion gravy, that's got us booking a seat at the table.

Bundobust

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Bundobust is entirely a veggie restaurant, with plenty of vegan options to choose from. The Indian eatery was popularised after the Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was spotted with Indian actress Anushka Sharma at the restaurant in the summer, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

This Christmas, we'll be eating their Sprout Bhaji Butty. We're talking about a sprout, broccoli and onion bhaji patty spiced with fennel and chilli, salad and cranberry chutney in a vegan brioche. Plus, £1 of each butty sold goes straight to a charity to support local causes: a winning combo in our eyes.

Read More: The Leeds Christmas dinner with a sprout bhaji butty and coconut hot toddy on the menu

Manahatta

Take a bite of an All American Christmas dish from Manahatta's festive menu. / Image: Manahatta

We've all pictured ourselves living through a winter in New York at some point or another. Whether your dream is to feature in Home Alone or simply take a brisk walk through Central Park with snow falling down as we wander through the city on Christmas Day and Manahatta is helping to bring this dream to life with an American-inspired festive menu.

The All American Hot Dog is ten inches of meat-free goodness and available on the Festive Bottomless Menu. We're talking about a Moving Mountains plant-based dog in a brioche bun, vegan cheese, pickles, jalapeños and all the sauces you need: ketchup, French’s mustard and mayo, served with fries.

Read more: The Leeds’ Korean-Japanese bottomless brunch with unlimited fizz and apple sours

News

Claire’s shutting down all standalone shops in UK and Ireland

Danny Jones Danny Jones Claire's shutting down permanently

In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.

Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.

A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.

Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.

Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.

With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.

Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.

However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.

They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Credit: Savills

For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.

It is also worth noting, on the other hand, that an estimated 350 concession stands within the likes of Asda supermarkets will remain open - at least for now.

More importantly, it's never good to see people being made redundant, and we send all of our love and support to those impacted by the developments.

Do you have any lasting memories of visits to Claire's here in Yorkshire?

Read more:

Featured Images — chrisinplymouth (via Flickr)

News

Slam Dunk festival’s statement in full as director steps down amid sexual assault allegations

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Slam Dunk festival has shared a statement confirming one of its directors has stepped down, in the wake of sexual assault allegations.

The popular punk festival takes place next month across two sites, one of which is here in Leeds.

This year's line-up is set to include headline performances from the likes of Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime, and Taking Back Sunday.

But Slam Dunk has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week after allegations against one of its directors came to light.

Slam Dunk said in its statement, which did not get into specifics about the nature of the allegations, that the festival 'remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers'.

They added that the director has stepped down, but 'strongly refutes' the allegations.

The statement then promised 'transparency and honesty' and said that more updates would be provided when appropriate.

Slam Dunk wrote: "We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors. We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community.

"Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority.

"While he strongly refutes these allegations, the director in question has agreed, in consultation with the board, to step down from Slam Dunk operations while this matter is ongoing.

"Slam Dunk remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers.

"Our values and culture are fundamental to how we operate, and we are committed to upholding them.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on an ongoing legal matter.

"However, we promise transparency and honesty to our Slam Dunk community and will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so."

Slam Dunk returns to Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday 24 May.

Read more:

Featured image: The Hoot Leeds

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