Beloved Indian street food brand and brewery Bundobust has just launched their desi Christmas menu for 2023 and it's so delicious we're not sure we'll be able to go back to standard roast dinners.
From banging Bundo bhajis and mince pie parathas, to chai spiced mulled wine and clever twists on classic seasonal cocktails, they're doing their best to make this Christmas a memorable one.
It can be very easy to just stick to the classics when it comes to the holiday season — pigs in blankets, turkey and stuffing sandwiches, a ridiculous amount of roasties and gravy — but Bundobust genuinely makes us feel like we want to pull our finger out and reinvent Christmas food every now and again.
Serving their wintery menu right up until 31 December, the Indian street food stars aren't just reworking familiar festive dishes with an extra bit of spice and native ingredients, they're giving veggies a genuinely viable option when it comes to their dinner this holiday season. We can finally put that bloody nut roast to rest.
Credit: The Hoot
From sprout bhajis packed with crispy onion, broccoli, fennel and chilli — a festive favourite that has been dunked in their incredible spiced cranberry chutney umpteenth times since 2014 — to their spiced sprout butties on vegan brioche and mince pie paratha (yes, you heard us right), there are some seriously clever creations on this menu.
The newly rebooted biryani balls, which were a favourite from their first-ever menu, are back for 2023 and are tastier than ever, with each crispy rice ball spiced with mint, saffron, ginger and rose, before being served with crispy onions and a rich tomato sauce. Phwoar.
If you're looking for a more substantial take on a Yuletide main, you won't anything more warming this winter than a cosy pot of festive dhal and rice: a warming, earthy lentil curry which is smoked and spiced with black cardamom, clove and cinnamon. Good grief, we might have to do this every Christmas from now on.
And then you've got your puddings. The sour cherry kheer is a creamy rice pudding flavoured with cardamom, sour cherry and rose gulkhand, and the Bundobust’s Kulfi has also received a Christmas makeover spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and orange peel. Either is the perfect sweet treat to end on.
As tasty on the tongue as they are pretty on the eye.
There's no lack of choice when it comes to drinks either, as whether you want to try their brand-new Python beer, the returning 'Bundo Snowball', a decadently smooth sloe gin sour, their take on a 'Grasshopper', or the alcohol-free 'Ginger Tom', you'll be smacking your lips and begging for more.
God, we're dead thirsty all of a sudden — and bloody starving, come to think of it. It's a good job that anyone in Leeds can go and get their hands on some of the incredible desi food on the Christmas menu at the popular Mill Hill restaurant now, with parties of up to 50 of you available for bookings.
All this talk of digesting something different this holiday season has got us thinking about all the other cuisines doing festive twists on Christmas classics over the next month or so. Believe us, there's plenty of them.
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.”
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2023 
