Mince pies are one of the best things about Christmas. The burst of clementine, cinnamon and mincemeat makes this once-a-year treat one of the best around.
In Britain we assume that mince pies are a tradition of our own, however, the idea actually started in the middle east back in the 1200s.
Still, since the invention was brought over to the UK, we've had plenty of time to perfect our mincemeat recipes and make just about every variation under the sun.
Leeds' mince pie concoctions come in all shapes and sizes this year, ranging from bao buns and french toast, to pancakes and more
There are plenty to choose from, but we've put together our favourite Leeds-based creations below.
Keep reading to discover the ones you absolutely need to try before Christmas
It doesn't get more festive than a lazy Sunday afternoon in a coffee shop and this Brew and Brownie seasonal special is all you need to get in the Christmas spirit. We're talking mince pie brioche french toast with Bailey's cream, marzipan crumble and spiced orange syrup - the ultimate festive indulgence.
Brew and Brownie is an indie family run cafe that serves a huge variety of homemade cakes and speciality coffee. Of course, their brownies are delicious, but with a festive mince pie combination available as either french toast or on a pancake stack, there's a chance these might become new cafe favourites.
Nothing tastes quite as good as a homemade mince pie, and that's where Sift in Otley comes in. Made with Rosebud preserves, orange and almond mincemeat, made-in-store pastry and dusted in icing sugar, these sweet treats make an ideal afternoon snack whilst hiding from the winter drizzle.
The vegetarian cafe and bakery is open Tuesday to Sunday with varying opening times, depending on the weekday. Make sure you plan ahead to make sure you get there in time to try out a mince pie or slice of cake.
The addition of deep-fried mince pie bao buns to the Christmas menu here was a fine choice in our eyes. The collection came shortly after the Little Bao Boy X Doh'hut menu.
This bao bun is deep-fried and tossed in sugar before the middle is crammed with mince pie filling to give it a crunchy, yet still chewy, texture. If you needed any more excuses to get yourself a never-seen-before festive treat, this is it. On the menu, you’ll also find a savoury option with everyone’s favourite Christmas dinner dish: pigs in blankets.
If you're not yet acquainted with C.R.E.A.M in Halifax, you should be. Not only do they offer an incredible bottomless brunch menu with unlimited espresso martinis and an all-you-can-drink remote workers offer with a free post-work pint, but they also have a unique Christmas menu.
Their mince pie on french toast is a festive staple that can be found alongside all the best winter warmer meals like stacks of pancakes, pigs in blankets and Baileys hot chocolates.
Every year, Chapel Allerton residents make their lists and pass on their Christmas baked goods orders to Crust and Crumb's Nicola. Available only as a pre-order this Christmas, mince pies are featured alongside her special cranberry and orange baked cheesecakes - another local favourite.
A feast for the eyes and the belly, with a keen eye for detail this coffee shop knows exactly what the public wants. If you're looking for a gift for 'the person that has everything', Crust and Crumb will have you covered with Christmas coffee gift sets from locally roasted and hand blend coffee beans.
Following one of the most iconic returns to music late last year, Lily Allen is heading to Leeds with her West End Girl UK tour.
The 'Nonmonogamummy' herself will be performing at the First Direct Arena in Leeds this weekend, following a run of intimate gig dates up and down the country earlier this year.
The demand for this British pop star to add more dates was inevitable and that's exactly what Allen did, as she now kicks off an arena tour across the UK.
Once wasn’t ‘Just Enough', and we've been blessed new Lily Allen dates, including her gig at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Sunday 21 June.
Although the 'Smile' singer refrains from playing some of her older smash hits, this gig is still remarkable, with the Hammersmith-born singer performing the previously mentioned tongue-in-cheek LP in full.
Meet us at the ‘Pussy Palace’ for an evening of messy lyrics and quality vocals, fulfilling all of our nosey desires, she even provides text receipts for us to read.
Expect to feel like you’re having your friend relay the truth about their toxic relationship post-break up and then celebrating them finally leaving that loser - Lily just gets us.
Gig Guide | Lily Allen at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Lily Allen returns to Leeds for a gig at First Direct Arena. Credit: Henry Redcliffe
Lily Allen UK tour dates
16 June – Newcastle Utilita Arena
17 June – Glasgow OVO Hydro
19 June – Manchester AO Arena
20 June– Manchester AO Arena
21 June – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
23 June – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
24 June – Cardiff Utilita Arena
26 June – Birmingham BP Pulse Live
27 June – London The O2
30 June – Dublin 3Arena
Are there tickets left for Lily Allen at First Direct Arena?
Yes and it’d be a real ‘Shame For You’ to miss out on this one.
On Sunday 21 June you can get seats for £49.85, £66.35, or £88.35, or standing tickets for £66.35 - see the latest HERE.
Seriously, ‘What You Waiting For?’ - get it booked.
Lily's gone for a rather novel support act on her West End Girl tour, which is proving to be quite a laugh at arenas so far.
She's pulled in Dallas Minor Trio to warm up the crowds, a trio of cellists who perform a setlist of Lily Allen's biggest hits from through the years.
And if that's not enough, they put the lyrics on screen too, so it's like a true karaoke moment.
Lily Allen setlist for 2026 tour
The show ‘Lily Allen Performs West End Girl‘ will see the singer/songwriter play her brand-new album in its entirety, in the order the songs appear on the record:
West End Girl
Ruminating
Sleepwalking
Tennis
Madeline
Relapse
Pussy Palace
4chan Stan
Nonmonogamummy
Just Enough
Dallas Major
Beg For Me
Let You W/In
Fruityloop
Stage times for Lily Allen at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Lily Allen has announced a gig at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Credit: Charlie Denis
These are the only times that are confirmed, but it's expected that Lily Allen will be on stage around 9pm:
Doors open 6pm
Starts 7.50pm
Getting to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide
Clementine Hall
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Sophie Smith -
15th December 2021 
