To celebrate Leeds Light Night, The Ivy are offering a special cocktail menu with live entertainment that will truly brighten up your evening.
Light Night is one of those magical experiences that we look forward to each year. Until Sunday, The Ivy are helping us to make this year's Light Night one to never forget.
Throughout the week, The Ivy will be serving an array of illuminating cocktails, inspired by the neon lights that will surround the city.
Northern Blues is a refreshing delight that resembles an aurora borealis of blue light. This boozy drink is made up of Koko Kanu, Coconut Rum, Blue Curaçao, lemongrass, lime, pineapple and topped with coconut milk.
For a taste closer to home, NQ Lights is an illuminated taste of the tropics in the Northern Quarter. A concoction of Midori, Banana Liqueur, coconut and lime will get the chance to shine in this tropical mix of flavours.
These cocktails are certainly going to brighten up your evening. / Image: The Ivy Leeds
You can't go to a light festival without experiencing a bit of fire, right? The Bright Spark cocktail is all about igniting those embers with a heady mix of Havana Club Three Year Old Rum, Aperol, Passoa, passion fruit and grenadine, tipped with flaming Wrap and Nephew Overproof Rum.
These incredible cocktails will be accompanied by incredible light displays and live music on both nights of the UK's largest light festival.
On Thursday and Friday, there will be nothing subtle about the illuminating entertainment on offer.From stilt walkers pacing around the grand bar space to hula hoopers and saxophonists playing late into the night, each evening will be spectacular.
All entertainment will take place between 7pm and 10pm, but booking is advised for all Light Night experiences as The Ivy is anticipated to be a popular destination for anyone visiting the light festival in the city.
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.
Sophie Smith -
13th October 2021 
