The new alcoholic phenomenon has been given its own festival.
A festival dedicated to all things Seltzer is coming to Leeds in January 2022- and this is your last chance to get tickets.
Whether you're new to the Seltzer's game or you've been longing to combine your favourite booze with flavoured carbonated water to create your own seltzers for years, this festival is the perfect opportunity to taste the finest drinks around.
A hard seltzer is alcoholic sparkling water. / Image: Drty Drinks
Gather your seltzer squad and explore along a one-way tasting route, lined with your favourite hard seltzer brands for you to test and rate for flavour, alcohol content and presentation.
The entire festival will live up to its fun-loving name, and the day will be filled with plenty of music, photo opportunities that'll be a perfect 2022 Instagram debut, and there will be a tonne of games throughout the day to get involved with.
Hidden, the organisers of the event have said:
"SeltzerFest is fizzing with excitement because the nationally touring seltzer festival will be coming to Leeds, presenting you seltzer paradise!
"Join us at a secret location in Leeds for bubbles and fun, tasting heaps of seltzers and snapping Insta worthy shots at branded booths!"
Tickets are needed to gain entry to SeltzerFest. / Image: Hidden Leeds
Win a giveaway and party like it's 2022- because it this festival is set to combine all favourite carefree hobbies into one day of drinking and dancing.
Each ticket entitles a person to a whopping 25 samples each, as well as participation to games and activities held at the Seltzers Fest. There will also be an array of tasty treats to keep your drink down from local food vendors.
You won't find this one on the maps, as it's held in a secret location in Leeds that will only be announced to ticket holders closer to opening. Tickets cost £55 each and are down to their final few, as the event is due to take place on the 22 January 2022.
Please note this date could change if further Covid-related restrictions are implemented in the United Kingdom.
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Sophie Smith -
22nd December 2021 
