Cocktails made from Skittles, Pancetta and Haribo: this is the cocktail menu you never knew you needed in your life.
Pastel is a new cocktail bar with a lot of never-seen-before drinks on the menu- and we're obsessed with the concept.
Rattan chairs, pineapple tables and decorative features in pink, mint, cream and a teal green: this pastel paradise is going to be an Insta-worthy bar that brings that summer feel-good feeling to the everyday.
Opening on Saturday 12 March to the public, Pastel will be serving up beautifully decorated cocktails and handpicked spirits to Leeds in a rather decorative setting.
Located in the beating heart of Leeds metropolis, Kirkgate, Pastel is combining the euphoric feeling of day drinking with the playful romanticism of evening tipple.
Their cocktail menu is all that the company have chosen to reveal at this stage, but it's more than enough to get us down the moment the doors open.
Essentially, you're looking at classic cocktails with imaginative twists and carefully-decorated glasses. The Pastel Fizz, for instance, is a delectable concoction of Bacardi Raspberry, raspberry liqueur, fresh lime juice with cream, egg white, soda and topped with 'Pastel Dust' that gives it a rather frothy appearance.
Image: Pastel Leeds
The Wray of Sunshine is likely to be our drink of choice. El Jimador Tequila, Wray & Nephew with Sunshine Syrup, fresh lime, basil, pineapple juice and Skittles: this is going to be the perfect post-work drink once the sunshine returns and we're basking in the rays mid-heatwave.
Then there's some rather unusual combinations, just like the Curd Your Enthusiasm cocktail. Portobello Road Gin, fresh lemon juice with lemon Curd and topped with pancetta and a single Haribo Egg. Yes, eggs and meat on a cocktail: not for the faint-hearted, or vegetarians.
Image: Pastel Leeds
Speaking about their cocktail bar concept, Pastel said: "We are a venue inspired by a playful and fun drinking culture and aim to deliver a fun and unique drinking experience to push the boundaries of wet-led service standards."
"From daytime hustlers to nighttime goodtimers we have the perfect oasis of pastel hues and laid back atmosphere for both work and play. The core of what we do is to take all guests on a journey from early to late, serving cool signature cocktails alongside classic cocktails, handpicked spirits and Monmouth coffee."
More information will be released closer to the opening of the bar. To keep up to date with all the exciting revelations, you can nosey on the their Instagram page.
Because one Fern Modern Sushi wasn't enough, we've now got two.
And guess what? It's even better than the first.
Fern Modern Sushi located in the unassuming Central Arcade has become a firm foodie favourite after opening just a couple years ago.
Run by the wonderful Chef Fern, who you could say is somewhat of a local celebrity at this point, the restaurant is known for serving delicious sushi with the freshest fish possible and traditional Japanese dishes with modern flair.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Full with hungry punters no matter the time of day, it's no surprise that Chef Fern has just opened Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 on Park Row.
This beautiful new space is serving up all the classic Fern dishes, from stacked donburi bowls and perfectly rolled sushi to miso glazed cod and hearty bowls of ramen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Different for this location, though, is their exclusive cocktail menu - so you can wine and dine to your heart's content.
The interior has also levelled up, complete with a huge open kitchen so you can pull up a chair and eat whilst watching the magic happen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this isn't all that Chef Fern is up to, after opening Tori Nori on Vicar Lane a few months ago this will be her third restaurant in the city centre, and that is no easy feat.
She's even got another restaurant imminently opening in the Central Arcade which will be focused on traditional katsu dishes, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if she had something else lined up in the pipeline.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 officially opens on 19 November, but is open now for soft launch with limited bookings.
Independent Leeds matcha stand forced to close by council despite 3,000 people signing petition
Clementine Hall
An independent matcha stand in Leeds has been forced to closed due to council concerns.
You may remember back in August when the whole of Leeds rallied to save Sips Matcha over in Headingley.
The front garden matcha spot has become a firm favourite for students and locals alike over the past year, gaining more than 12,000 followers on Instagram.
The self-proclaimed 'tiniest matcha stand in Leeds' is located in the residential area of Little Woodhouse and is run by the lovely Matt and Julia.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
However, in August their retroactive planning application was rejected by the council and they were given 28 days to remove the shed.
In a published document via Leeds City Council website, multiple reasons were listed for the decision to refuse planning permission for the bright-green matcha shed.
The electronic letter signed by Martin Elliot, Chief Planning Officer, listed spoiling the property's character, increased footfall, and a failure to comply with numerous development and design policies.
In response, Matt and Julia launched a petition urging people to save Sips Matcha, labelling the painted wooden shed-turned-coffee shop as a 'Community Stand'.
Despite over 3,000 signatures, Sips Matcha have announced on their social media today that the shed must be removed by the end of November.
The statement reads: "our retrospective planning was declined, we appealed, and the appeal was dismissed. then the dreaded email arrived: the shed has to come down by the end of november.
"we don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re working out what happens next. over 3,000 of you signed the petition and it meant the world. thank you for every sip, share and signature. come say hi while we’re still here."
We're absolutely gutted for them, so make sure you pop by for a matcha before the end of November to give them a proper farewell.
Sophie Smith -
3rd March 2022 
