A bird's-eye view of Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire
X
Leeds
Independent gift ideas for Leeds’ foodies from the city’s best small businesses
Food and drink related gifts are always a winner, so we've rounded up our favourite foodie gifts from Leeds indie sellers that you can pick up this weekend
If you've not had a chance to cross off your Christmas shopping yet this year, we've got you - especially when it comes to finding the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.
It really does feel as though Christmas crept up on us this year, either that or we've all just been too busy with dealing with whatever the world throws at us to find the time to go out and buy those all-important gifts.
Whilst Amazon might seem like an easy option, chances are your local indie brand will appreciate your custom much more - and even better, there's a genuine human smile at the end here.
Given the insecurities for small businesses over the last two years, it's important now more than ever to support our locals, and what better opportunity than just before Christmas?
Food and drink-related gifts are always a winner, so we've rounded up our favourite foodie gifts from Leeds indie sellers that you can pick up this weekend, so all you have to do is go from A to B to collect all your Christmas shopping.
Their rum business has gone from strength to strength in 2021, but the team has stayed humble, promising to help everyone get the gifts they need. The company recently stated that "you can count our ambience to either help tick off that Christmas list with military precision or think 'oh s**t I better get going'. All welcome no judgment here."
Find them in Victoria Gate until Thursday 23 December.
Who doesn't love a cheese board around Christmas time? The Cheesy Living Co. is one of Leeds' best lockdown success stories and their small business truly deserves some love over the festive period.
It's the only time of the year when it's acceptable to eat cheese for breakfast, dinner and tea, after all. You'll find them at the Leeds Briggate Farmer's Market on Sunday 19 December, but you can also easily order all their products online.
Stuzzi, an authentic Italian restaurant, and a very good one at that. Listed in the Good Food Guide 2020 no less, the team here is offering fans the chance to buy pre-packaged Christmas hampers to help share some festive cheer this season.
Each hamper is individually priced at £35 – £100 and comes with all you need for an Italian feast at home. The popular hampers can be designed to suit your needs or you can choose from premade packages created in-house by the staff.
It turns out that even your dog can support a local Yorkshire business this Christmas. These beer biscuits from Brewski's are made from leftovers from Brewdog's Punk IPA but the treats contain no hops or alcohol, so they’re perfectly safe for your dog to eat.
The Doggy Deli in Beverley stocks two variations of the tasty dog treats, including the original Punk IPA and a 'Hoppy Xmas' version.
If you're really pressed for time, there's nothing like a last minute Deliveroo order to sort out those Christmas gifts.
The Savvy Baker recently launched on the delivery platform, so you can get those orders at the very last minute and nobody will know. Choose from gooey brownies, brookies and more, all available as festive sets or standalone gifts.
If you're looking for a gift that will keep on giving well into 2022, Grön, like many other cafes around Leeds is offering out gift vouchers this year for Christmas. You can also take away their coffee for those friends and family that need caffeine to get through the days- they will certainly thank you for this present once they're back at work.
Simply choose your blend and the staff will wrap it up in store. But whilst you're there, you may as well grab a festive mulled wine or boozy hot chocolate to get you in the Christmas spirit,
The full details of the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been released - and the action will be kicking off right in the heart of Leeds.
Preparations have moved up a gear this week, with the full map of the first stage revealed, which will see the world's leading female cyclists setting off from none other than The Headrow.
Leeds will make sporting history on 30 July next year, when we host the start of the world's biggest women's professional cycle race.
When our city was added to the 2014 Tour de France route, around 230,000 people packed into the city centre, with another two million lining the rest of the Yorkshire route - so we're expecting even bigger scenes next year.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will move from the centre of Leeds to travel through communities including Headingley, Kirkstall, Bramley, Farnley and Drighlington.
Now, an interactive map has been published that gives people the chance to see for the first time exactly which streets will be in the thick of the action next summer.
Riders will set of from The Headrow before travelling down Briggate and Boar Lane - then they'll head via via Woodhouse Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Otley Road into Headingley before travelling west on North Lane and Kirkstall Lane.
Key roads on the rest of the route include:
Bridge Road at Kirkstall, which will take the riders across the River Aire;
Broad Lane, Waterloo Lane, Lower Town Street and Henconner Lane in Bramley;
Butt Lane between its junctions with Pudsey Road – near Farnley Reservoir – and Tong Road at Farnley;
Whitehall Road, from its junction with Back Lane at New Farnley, to Drighlington.
From Drighlington, the riders will cross into Kirklees and then head over the Pennines into Manchester.
Leeds City Council will be keeping people fully updated about the planning involved to host the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, including road closures and other traffic management measures.
Following its visit to Leeds, the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will run from Manchester to Sheffield on July 31 before finishing in London on August 1.
The event will make Leeds the first place outside mainland Europe to host the start of stage one of a Grand Départ for both the men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "The Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift promises to be a great occasion for Leeds and one that will raise our profile on the international sporting stage while also delivering a boost to the local economy.
“Today’s announcement of further route details is a reminder that the countdown to July 30 is well and truly on, with a huge amount of planning and preparation work already taking place.
“As part of that work, we will be doing our utmost to ensure residents and businesses have all the information they need about the arrangements for the day.
“People in Leeds are famed for the passionate support they show when the city hosts major sporting events and I’m sure this one will be no different. Roll on next July!”
A new bar dedicated to Guinness and games is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Expect live music, a load of craic and plenty of Guinness at Leeds' brand-new bar.
Opening on Leeds' bustling Merrion Street, 'Love, Jackie' is the latest concept from the team behind Roxy Ball Room and King Pins.
Love, Jackie will be taking over a 7,000 sq ft space,and will be promising proper prints, late nights and plenty of Irish charm.
Pouring will be the holy trinity of Irish stouts - Guinness, Beamish and Murphy's.
Image: Supplied
These will be served alongside Leeds' own Kirkstall Virtuous IPA and a vast whiskey selection that celebrates the best of Ireland.
Games wise, try your hand at crazy pool, interactive darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The opening comes as Merrion Street enjoys a new wave of investment and hospitality openings, helping bring new life to one of Leeds' best known night life attractions.
Image: Supplied
Matt Jones, CEO of Professionals at Play, said: “Everyone knows a Jackie. She’s the one who gets everyone together, convinces you to stay for another and makes sure there’s never a dull moment.
“We wanted to create a pub with that same personality. Somewhere with brilliant drinks, live music, plenty of games and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you were only popping in for one.
“Merrion Street is coming back to life, and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. We think Jackie will fit right in. And because Jackie’s never been one to turn up empty-handed, the first drink’s on her."
We'll keep you updated on opening times as and when we find out, but for now you can sign up here for a pint of free Guinness. Cheers to that!
Sophie Smith -
16th December 2021 
