The Botanist in Leeds have introduced a new budget friendly menu with all items priced below £10, with the aim to encourage socialising during the cost-of-living crisis.
The menu comes during rising concerns surrounding the ongoing cost of living crisis across the UK which sees the price of everyday essentials like energy bills and groceries rising faster than average household incomes.
The Botanist's new fixed-price lunch menu is aimed at encouraging people to continue to socialise in restaurants and bars without worrying about spending too much money.
The menu will consist of warming, comfort-food dishes as well as signature Botanist dishes all priced at £9.95 each.
Diners can expect lovingly crafted dishes made from scratch upon order by the talented in-house chefs, think home-cooked comfort food classics but reimagined with a modern, innovative twist.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Dishes include a Philly steak sandwich with peppers, onion, melted cheese and onions served with lashings of peppercorn sauce, the British staple of fish and chips with mushy peas and tartar sauce, and a lighter dish consisting of crispy panko chicken served with Katsu sauce and noodle salad.
The Botanist's famous hanging kebabs will also feature on the menu, guests can opt for Chicken, Lamb Kofta, or Vegan Meatball, all served on a board with a grilled flatbread, hummus and salad with a sauce of your choice on the side.
If you can't decide what to choose then do not fear, go for the lunch board and select three of your favourite small plates which include salt and pepper chicken, super green hummus and tater tot poutine.
Image: Supplied
Everything on the menu will cost you less than a tenner and fries can be added for an extra £2.95.
The menu is available Monday to Friday from 12pm to 4pm.
James Scott, Executive Chef at The Botanist said, “People see our venues as their sanctuary, and we want them to feel they still have somewhere to come for respite, to forget about their day-to-day worries for a few hours, especially during this extremely tough time.
"Our new lunch menu offers the same home-cooked comfort food that diners have come to know and love when visiting our restaurants, at a fraction of the cost of our main menu items – giving them value for money but the same fresh, quality, seasonal ingredients."
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at The Botanist's website.
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Clementine Hall -
6th October 2022 
