Five locations. Five delicious flavours of mulled wine, hot cider and hot chocolate.
Mulled wine is a Christmas essential. At what other point in the year do you get to boil some booze and sprinkle fruit over a cauldron of treacle-like sweet concoction?
There are plenty of places to grab a cup of mulled wine in Leeds city centre and beyond, that's nothing new- but its trendy new companion, mulled cider, is emerging at a small, but increasing, number of bars and restaurants around the city.
Here's our top spots to grab a seat by the fire and unwind with a mug of mulled booze.
Grön Kafe, Roundhay
Image: Grön Kafe
Believe it or not, when lockdown hit last year, Grön celebrated with takeaway mulled wine. Well, either that or making the most of a bad situation. Located in Roundhay and Harrogate, this clean-eating Scandi cafe know a thing or two about seasonal produce.
Their winter menu is paired with an array of exciting (and very Instagrammable) dishes, what better way to wash it down than with a mug of mulled wine? The only difference is that this year, you can finally drink one in store.
Green Room
Image: Green Room
Designed to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the Leeds German market, Green Room's beloved rooftop was completely transformed into a cosy winter hideaway as soon as the temperature started to drop. Think roaring fire pits, state of the art heat lamps covering the entire decking and Yorkshire wool blankets for guests to snuggle into and get comfy.
Their mulled wine is boozy, warming and delicious. Their limited edition Christmas Cocktails don't disappoint either, choose from a Spiced Apple Whiskey Sour, After Eight Martini or a Cherry Bakewell Mai Thai. Or you can set up shop and make your way through the menu, it would be rude not to.
Thor's Tipi, Millenium Square
Image: Thor's Tipi
Thor's is known for its laid back vibes and open fires. After their 2019 success of selling over 125,000 cups of mulled wine and 55,000 cups of hot chocolate, the tipi company have diversified their menu for the 2021 season.
Now you don't just have to choose from a standard glass of mulled wine with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and spices, but you can also grab a mug of Hot Apple Punch or even a shot of flavoured chocolate and boozy favourites like Karamel vodka and coconut rum.
Mustard Pot, Chapel Allerton
Image: The Mustard Pot
The Chapel Allerton favourite is locally renowned for its festive decor and warm boozy drinks. Grab a mug of mulled wine, topped with a huge slice of orange or taste Pimms with hot spiced apple: the perfect winter alternative to the hot-weather drink.
The Mustard Pot play host to a giant tipi every Christmas where you can take a seat or browse market stalls from independent Leeds creatives on selected days during the Christmas countdown.
Banyan Tipi, City Square
Image: Supplied
Just moments from Leeds train station, the all-new Banyan tipi encompasses all those cosy, warm festive feelings and showcases the best of the changing of the seasons inside a huge tipi, complete with an outdoor bar and open fire pit.That means you don’t need to wander far to get a drink or grab a seat by the fire- no fear of annoying heaters turning off mid conversation here!
Whilst you let your toes warm, there will be plenty to snack on to turn get the most Grinch-iest of your group in the mood for Christmas. Think mince pie pancakes and specially themed bauble cocktails, and staple drinks like mulled wine and hot chocolaes of course.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Popular TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Think it's too early for 'C word'? Never mind, you've already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn't exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner - but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right - Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there's arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that's charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it's now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films - including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
Sophie Smith -
13th December 2022 
