Botanical themed bar, The Botanist, have released a new cocktail menu inspired by the lifecycle of plants.
With summer on the horizon, we are all on the lookout for that perfect tipple to enjoy as we relax into those dreamy long summer evenings. And luckily for us, The Botanist's new cocktail menu is everything we'd hoped for and more.
Known for their innovative and imaginative creations, the venue has delved deeper into the art of botany for their most recent range. Think weird and wonderful ingredients mixed together to make curious cocktails and perfect pairings.
The new menu is split into three different sections to allow the customer to sample the full lifecycle of a plant.
First up we have the 'Roots and Shoots' cocktails; herby, aromatic and infused with the flavourings found in leaves and roots.
For this we sampled the Passionfruit and Basil, made with Amaretto, Drambuie, yuzu liqueur and muddled together with passionfruit syrup, orange juice and basil leaves. A refreshing tall drink with a herby hit of basil which balanced the sharp citrus flavours perfectly.
Image: The Botanist
Next are the 'Flowers', a range of light and refreshing cocktails which are perfect for a hot summer's day. The Poppy and Berry punch was just as beautiful as it was delicious, served with an edible flower and radiating a romantic, crimson hue. Made with Beefeater pink gin, poppy liqueur and fresh raspberries, we could definitely see ourselves drinking a few of these to cool off in the sun.
Last but certainly not least are the 'Fruits', a list of concoctions that are zesty, vibrant and celebrating the freshest fruits of the season.
We went with the bartender's recommended Hawaiian Rum Punch which is made with spiced and dark rum, passionfruit syrup, pineapple liqueur and pineapple juice. One sip of this and you'll be transported to a tropical beach and you'll definitely be back for more.
Image: The Botanist
All this and we only just scratched the surface. There's a huge selection of exciting drinks to try including a massive non-alcoholic range which still boasts incredible flavours so that you won't feel like you're missing out.
Kelly Harrison, Head of Bars at The Botanist commented "Our non-alcoholic offering has been designed and created to showcase all the flavours of the liquid without any alcohol. Rather than creating great cocktails and subsequently trying to remove the alcohol and maintain the flavour profile, which can be a big challenge, we start with a strong recipe for an alcohol-free drink then find the perfect alcohol to enhance the existing flavours."
Image: The Botanist
With a fantastic outdoor area as well as a beautiful interior covered with potted plants and twinkling lights, The Botanist on Boar Lane is the place to be this summer for a delicious drink or two.
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 -
1st June 2022 
