Botanical themed bar, The Botanist, have released a new cocktail menu inspired by the lifecycle of plants.
With summer on the horizon, we are all on the lookout for that perfect tipple to enjoy as we relax into those dreamy long summer evenings. And luckily for us, The Botanist's new cocktail menu is everything we'd hoped for and more.
Known for their innovative and imaginative creations, the venue has delved deeper into the art of botany for their most recent range. Think weird and wonderful ingredients mixed together to make curious cocktails and perfect pairings.
The new menu is split into three different sections to allow the customer to sample the full lifecycle of a plant.
First up we have the 'Roots and Shoots' cocktails; herby, aromatic and infused with the flavourings found in leaves and roots.
For this we sampled the Passionfruit and Basil, made with Amaretto, Drambuie, yuzu liqueur and muddled together with passionfruit syrup, orange juice and basil leaves. A refreshing tall drink with a herby hit of basil which balanced the sharp citrus flavours perfectly.
Image: The Botanist
Next are the 'Flowers', a range of light and refreshing cocktails which are perfect for a hot summer's day. The Poppy and Berry punch was just as beautiful as it was delicious, served with an edible flower and radiating a romantic, crimson hue. Made with Beefeater pink gin, poppy liqueur and fresh raspberries, we could definitely see ourselves drinking a few of these to cool off in the sun.
Last but certainly not least are the 'Fruits', a list of concoctions that are zesty, vibrant and celebrating the freshest fruits of the season.
We went with the bartender's recommended Hawaiian Rum Punch which is made with spiced and dark rum, passionfruit syrup, pineapple liqueur and pineapple juice. One sip of this and you'll be transported to a tropical beach and you'll definitely be back for more.
Image: The Botanist
All this and we only just scratched the surface. There's a huge selection of exciting drinks to try including a massive non-alcoholic range which still boasts incredible flavours so that you won't feel like you're missing out.
Kelly Harrison, Head of Bars at The Botanist commented "Our non-alcoholic offering has been designed and created to showcase all the flavours of the liquid without any alcohol. Rather than creating great cocktails and subsequently trying to remove the alcohol and maintain the flavour profile, which can be a big challenge, we start with a strong recipe for an alcohol-free drink then find the perfect alcohol to enhance the existing flavours."
Image: The Botanist
With a fantastic outdoor area as well as a beautiful interior covered with potted plants and twinkling lights, The Botanist on Boar Lane is the place to be this summer for a delicious drink or two.
One of Leeds' most popular independent bakeries has addressed a recent one-star review, which slammed them for being sold out of sandwiches.
Silver's Bakehouse, which comes from the same team behind Silver's Deli, suggested that the reviewer should 'work on their manners'.
The review hit out at the Farsley bakery for being sold out of sandwiches by the time they travelled 'an 80 minute round trip', describing owner Chris Riley as a 'silly man'.
The reviewer said they have been 'loyal high-spending customers since the first one opened' but wrote that they won't be visiting Silver's again after being left empty-handed.
They wrote: "It's all very good being mr instagram but things can go south very quickly silly man, make more sandwiches if you are going to be sold out in the first hour, don't risk the disappointment!!!"
Silver's Bakehouse has now publicly shared and responded to the review, stressing that they won't tolerate 'rudeness' and detailing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
He said: "Let me explain again for you, David…
Inside Silver's Bakehouse in Farsley. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
"We start baking at 5am and rarely finish before 6pm. Everything is made fresh, by hand, often taking days to prepare, in a very small bakery. You can literally see how small it is - and we utilise every inch.
"We make as much as we physically can. Sometimes we sell out earlier than we’d like, and we’re incredibly grateful that so many people want what we make. But there is, unfortunately, a limit to how much we can produce.
"For the record, I’m not overly enthused about being “Mr Instagram” - what a truly horrendous phrase to conjure up. I managed to avoid it for years, but needs must and all that.
"I am genuinely grateful for your custom, David. Rudeness, however, I’m considerably less enthusiastic about.
"So yeah, we’ll keep working hard. You keep working on those manners."
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Thomas Melia
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.
Clementine Hall -
1st June 2022 
