Asda is bringing back its popular cafe ‘winter warmer’ £1 meal deal to support the over 60’s during the colder months.
As the rising cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt nationwide, with those over 60 found to be some of the hardest-hit when it comes to financial pressures, Asda has decided to relaunch one of its most successful and widely-praised cafe meal deals this year to support those who need it most as the temperatures drop.
The supermarket is, once again, offering all over 60s the chance to enjoy soup, a bread roll, and unlimited tea and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes across the UK.
The offer is now running all day and every day, right through until February 2024.
The retailer first launched its ‘winter warmers’ initiative back in November 2022 in a bid to support older customers who it said were “disproportionately affected by the spiralling living costs”, and after research found that those aged between 65 and 74 experienced a £163 year-on-year drop in disposable income in August 2022.
Image: Asda
The initiative was so popular it saw more than 650,000 £1 meal deals served throughout the two months it was running for, which is why the supermarket has decided to extend the offer for an additional two months this time around.
“We know winter is set to be incredibly hard for thousands of pensioners as they continue to worry about how to keep themselves warm in the face of rising living costs and on a fixed income,” explained Kris Comerford – who is Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“Last year, we served over 650,000 meals to the over 60’s in two months.
“So by bringing the initiative back for 2023 and extending it until February, we hope it will prove just as impactful across the winter months for those who need it most.”
Image: Asda
In addition to the Winter Warmers initiative, Asda’s Kids Eat for £1 meal deal is also running at cafes nationwide, and continues to be popular with families – having now served over 2.6 million meals since it’s launch back in June 2022.
On top of both of these initiatives, selected Asda store cafes are also running a ‘Community Cuppa’ campaign by creating space for community groups who may otherwise struggle to meet up due to rental costs or high energy costs.
Spaces at these community groups are available on weekdays in November and December from 2pm to 6pm, and everyone who attends will also get unlimited free tea or coffee.
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.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has confirmed it'll be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK - but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues 'for all their hard work' throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That's not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a 'special' 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it's important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to 'ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day'
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year's Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: "Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
"Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
"We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them."
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2023 
