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 much-loved independent restaurant in Leeds has announced it will be closing its doors.
Kuala Lumpur Cafe opened its doors in Headingley in 2019 by Bart and Hirman, who wanted to bring authentic Malaysian cooking to the city of Leeds.
Throughout the years, they'd built up a reputation for their beautiful curries and vibrant street food dishes, all of which were made using Hirman's family recipes.
So much so, that in 2024 they opened a kitchen inside White Cloth Hall in the city centre when the Grade II listed food hall first opened.
Their kitchen sadly closed a year later, but their Headingley restaurant remained open serving the students and locals with their famous beef rendang, nasi lemak and more.
Sadly, Kuala Lumpur Cafe have taken to social media to announce that they will be closing their doors for good as of this Saturday 17 October.
Their statement reads: "Thank you to all our customers and team that made Kuala Lumpur Cafe possible across the last few years. After a long consideration, we have decided that our last trading day will be Saturday 17 October.
"If you have a booking after this date, we'll be calling you over the next few days to try to move it to an earlier date before we close.
"It's been our pleasure to serve Malaysian food to the community. Best regards, KL Cafe."
Of course, in true Leeds fashion, local businesses and customers flocked to the comments to express their sadness and show their support.
One comment reads: "Such a shame. This was genuinely the best Malay food I had outside of Malaysia. Will be missed greatly", whilst another thanks the cafe for "all the delicious food over the years".
If you want to visit Kuala Lumpur Cafe one last time, then you have until this Saturday to do so. Go and wish them a proper farewell.
A Miami-inspired deli serving Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and cigars has opened in a Leeds suburb
Clementine Hall
After making a name for itself over in Leeds city centre, Alfonso's Deli 2.0 has touched down in Horsforth.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonso's Deli in Leeds' beautiful Grand Arcade serve up some of the best sandwiches in the city.
They've built up such a good reputation in fact, that they have now opened a second deli in the up-and-coming suburb of Horsforth.
Located in a prime location on New Side Road, this deli has a slightly different look to their original space, complete with a beautiful red awning and stuffed to the brim with American memorabilia.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Here you can find fresh Cuban coffee which goes wonderfully with their authentic toasted Cubano sandwiches, perfectly crafted with their house-made bread which are then pressed made-to-order.
New for Horsforth, they're now serving New York deli sandwiches on brand-new house schiacciata bread.
And the bread is as fresh as it gets, made in their own bakery downstairs alongside a selection of New York deli bakes.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Stuffed with toppings such as smoked deli meats, cold cuts, fresh cheese and whatever else you fancy.
Oh and it doesn't stop there, you can also buy a cigar if you fancy it alongside a selection of merch, hot sauces and provisions like tinned fish.
So whether you're stopping by on your way to work for a morning coffee or treating yourself to a stellar sandwich for your lunch, Alfonso's Deli is here to whisk you away to Miami for the afternoon.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They're officially opening their doors to the public this Thursday 15 October, and we just know it's going to go down and absolute storm.
Make sure to pop down and give them a big warm welcome to the neighbourhood.
Clementine Hall -
6th October 2022 
