Hands up if you don’t want to do any washing up this year on Christmas Day. Us too. Luckily, there’s plenty of bars and restaurants across the city that plan to open on December 25th. Choose from fancy five courses with Champagne or find a laid back turkey dinner at your local pub - whatever your preference, it’s still available on Christmas Day.
Miller & Carter
Outside The Light, The Headrow | £89.95 per person for five courses
Image: Miller & Carter
Where: The Light, 56-58 The Headrow, Leeds City Centre, LS1 8TL
The perfect alternative Christmas dinner for steak lovers, Miller & Carter offers a choice of 30-day-aged prime Fillet 8oz and 12oz Ribeye in addition to your usual festive turkey dinner.
Princes Avenue, Roundhay | Menu from £68.95 per adult
Image: The Roundhay Fox via Facebook
Where: Princes Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds, LS8 2EP
There's three courses and a whopping eight different mains to choose from (and that's just one turkey dinner, seven different meat and veggie alternatives), this has got to be one of the cosiest spots in the city for Christmas Dinner.
With Moët & Chandon Impérial Champagne as your welcome drink, you know this is going to be a fancy dinner to remember. Choose from five different options for starter, main and dessert and polish the night off with a cheese board or truffles and mince pies.
Deer Park Leeds
Street Lane, Roundhay | £89.95 per person for five courses
Image: The Deer Park
Where: 68 Street Lane, Roundhay, Leeds, LS8 2DQ
Hand-carved turkey, lemon sole, rack of lamb, fillet of beef wellington and roasted celeriac steak are all on offer at The Deer Park this Christmas.
Find out more here.
Malmaison
Swinegate, Leeds City Centre | £99 per person
Image: Malmaison via Facebook
Where: 1 Swinegate, Leeds City Centre, LS1 4AG
Four courses and a glass of Champagne come alongside choices like dry-aged beef fillet, creamy gnocchi ricotta bake and the classic free range turkey dinner at Malmaison - and its city centre location makes it ideal for large groups meeting up for the big day.
The Lawnswood Arms
Otley Road, Adel | £10 deposit per adult required
Image: Hungry Horse via Instagram
Where: Otley Road, Adel, North Leeds, LS16 7PH
Traditional Christmas dinners, Sizzling 10oz ribeye steak and free welcome drinks, The Lawnswood Arms will be open this Christmas Day and has a packed menu of festive favourites and tasty alternatives to choose from.
Christmas dinner using fresh, local produce never tasted so good. Over two sittings choose from a combination of new dishes, traditional favourites and festive classics.
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
Leeds Christmas Market is getting two brand-new themed bars for 2026 – including a Scottish Highland Lodge
Clementine Hall
Organisers of the Leeds Christmas Market have announced it will host two new bars for 2026.
Yes, we know it's only October...but is it too soon to be getting excited about Christmas? We think not.
The Leeds Christmas Markets are going to look a little bit different this year, as the owners of Thor's Tipi will be running the festivities at City Square for 2026.
Completely new for this year, the market on City Square will introduce two bars with different themes - a Scottish Highland Lodge and a Folie Ski Bar.
Image: Supplied
Firstly, the Highland Lodge will welcome visitors into a spacious tipi filled with snug seating, twinkling lights, roaring fires and plenty of tartan.
Designed to welcome large groups, the lodge will have space for 280 guests inside and a further 100 outside, whilst the drinks menu will feature Highland favourites including Scottish beers and ales, a selection of whisky and even Iron-Bru.
Over at the Folie Ski Bar on Quebec Street, expect a relaxed festive retreat with the feel of an alpine chalet, complete with rustic wood detailing, fairy lights, faux fur throws and roaring fires.
The bar can accommodate 180 guests inside and 50 outside, serving mulled wine, boozy hot chocolates, Kirkstall Brewery beers and a selection of low and no-alcohol drinks.
Image: Supplied
THORS’s director, Amanda Monaghan said: “We’re excited to bring two new bar experiences to Leeds Christmas market this year. Having hosted THOR’s tipi in the city for many years, we’ve had plenty of practice creating festive spaces and entertainment, so we know what customers love.
“We’ve listened to lots of feedback on what people would like to see at the market and we want to make sure we give visitors and residents of Leeds plenty of reasons to stay with us long after they’ve finished their shopping or a day at the office.
“The new venues have been created to cater for all ages and tastes and will be perfect for passing visitors, after work drinks or planned Christmas get-togethers. From the lively Scottish spirit of Highland Lodge to the cosy alpine atmosphere at Folie, there’s going to be a spot for everyone to settle in and enjoy drinks by the fire and plenty of festive fun.”
Sophie Smith -
16th October 2023 
