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.
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
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.
Sophie Smith -
13th December 2022 
