Libations Rum has opened its doors right here in Leeds and you can now see how one of the city's favourite indie rum suppliers creates its award-winning spirits.
Founded in 2019, by ex-industry professionals Chloe Potter and Rory Armstrong, the pair have been slowly bringing the city a whole new spirit experience, sharing their name with pop-up events aplenty over the past few years.
Now settled in their very own distillery, you can take a peek behind the closed doors once a week and find out exactly what goes into making the popular spirit.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Every Saturday you can grab your mates and head over to a rather unassuming trading park in Armley and head through the deep blue doors to find a true hidden gem.
Every rum tour that takes you through exactly how Libations creates its small batch rum, and naturally there's a little taste testing included too so you can find out which of its signature blends are your favourite.
There's three staples to choose from: the Spiced Rum, the original and often most popular choice amongst crowds with lovely notes of butterscotch, oak, vanilla, dried fruit; the PiƱa Edition - originally a limited edition flavour that sees diced pineapples soaked in rum for a whopping six weeks before being bottled; and the Golden Rum, a good old fashioned favourite that's got plenty of fans across Leeds and beyond.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Find out how these guys are paving the way for a truly revolutionary distillery. Everything is created in house, right down to the labelling and bottling, and all the products brought in are from just a few miles away.
Owners Chloe and Miles are passionate about being carbon avoidant rather than having to offset emissions afterwards - even taking care to use up all their fruits used in their rum and offer out the leftovers to local restaurants like Liz Cottam's The Owl to minimise waste wherever possible.
The owners will explain everything you could possibly want to know about rum - and you can even take a peek at the experimental warm room, where they're preparing some special limited edition barrels - currently ageing in old port and Kentucky bourbon barrels.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Once you've explored the makings, it's time for tastings - and you can even shop with a 15% discount on any rum you want to take home with you.
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This is the perfect Saturday trip for any spirit lovers - and an opportunity to support a lovely local independent at the same time.
You can find out more about Libations Rum, including how to book onto the next tour on the Libations Rum website here.
Feature Image - The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, Iām a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that weāve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for Ā£1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for Ā£1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Sophie Smith -
8th June 2023 
