After nearly five decades of tingling tastebuds with its “totally tropical taste”, the Coca Cola Company has announced that Lilt is to be discontinued.
One of the UK’s most iconic retro fizzy drinks has been discontinued after nearly 50 years to make way for a rebrand.
As of today, Lilt has been relaunched as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit, reports The Manc.
Lilt launched in 1975 and went on to become a household name, largely because of its advertising.
One famous television advert in 1988 featured a parody of a milkman known as the ‘Lilt Man’, who delivered Lilt in a ‘Lilt float’ on a Caribbean beach, and then in 1998, the drink was promoted again with advertisements featuring two Jamaican women, Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer, who became known in the media as the ‘Lilt Ladies’.
The new Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit flavour / Credit: Coca Cola Company
The fizzy drink was only sold in a handful of countries outside the UK – including Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Seychelles.
But now, the brand name has been stripped from shop shelves.
Lilt has today relaunched as the brand-new Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit, which the Coca Cola Company assures is “still bursting with tangy tropical flavours” just like Lilt, only it’s “just got itself a new name.”
Iconic tropical fizzy drink discontinued and rebranded after 50 years / Credit: Coca Cola Company
New Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit – which will be sold in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles, and two-litre bottles in both the original and zero-sugar version – featuring “the same totally tropical taste” as Lilt will start to roll-out in shops nationwide today, and feature “a graphic nod to the totally tropical taste of the product’s roots”, according to Coca Cola.
“Our main priority with this announcement is to reassure Lilt’s loyal fanbase that absolutely nothing has changed when it comes to the iconic taste of the drink they know and love,” says Martin Attock, GB VP of commercial development at Cocoa Cola Europe.
“It’s still bursting with tangy tropical flavours. It’s just got itself a new name.”
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Emily Sergeant -
14th February 2023 
