Ready to sing, dance and jive, having the time of your life?
The Dancing Queen bottomless brunch is the latest themed brunch from Explore Hidden and it's full of Mamma Mia themed activities- so much so that booze will be the last thing on your mind, it's all about the singing, the dancing and the fancy dress here.
If you don't know the words to Mamma Mia yet- we'd recommend re-watching the movies before you head over to this bottomless, it's for hardcore ABBA fans only.
The brunch is themed around the hit-musical, Mamma Mia. / Image: London Theatre
Not only will you be able to spend ninety minutes in the company of likeminded Mamma Mia lovers, but you and your Super Troupers will be singing your hearts out to all the classic Dancing Queen Hits sang by an ABBA tribute band and you will be tried and tested on your Mamma Mia knowledge in the Quiz of all Quizzes- there's even cheeky little prize for the winners.
Fancy dress is highly encouraged and many do dress up, so get your Donna dungarees on, dig out your flares, adjust those wigs, grab your feather boas for the 'BEST' dressed will be winning a prize.
All this singing and dancing is bound to work up an appetite and this Mamma Mia brunch has plenty of delicious options available that aren't far from what we'd expect Donna and Sophie to snack on in Greece.
Fancy dress is highly encouraged. / Image: Wikicommons
Choose from an Avocado Brunch with smashed avocado on toasted sourdough, topped with tomatoes, chilli flakes, coriander and Sriracha sauce or opt to try the Blueberry, Banana and Nutella Pancakes.
Alternatively, there's a classic Brunch Grill with Free-range fried eggs, crispy bacon, sausages, charred plum tomato and fried mushrooms, served with baked beans and toast for a classic treat that can't be beat.
Pancakes are just one of the brunch options. / Image: Unsplash
There's drinking options aplenty, both soft and boozy, which will vary at different bottomless brunch experiences. At the alcoholic bottomless brunch, you'll find a spread of Aperol Spritz, Ketel V&T, Blank Canvas, Amstel, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Heineken 0.0% and selected soft drinks available.
Bloody Mary cocktail. / Image: Richard Allaway, Flickr
At non-alcoholic sittings, as expected, there's no booze on offer, but instead the cocktails are replaced by mocktails and beer with 0% alternatives. Think Strawberry Lemonade, Cucumber and Apple Coolers, 0% Woo Woo, Tropical Fizz, 0% Heineken, Red Bull and all your standard soft drinks too.
All drinks are available for the full ninety minute setting- we recommend booking quickly for your chosen alcoholic or alcoholic sitting though as both are expected to sell out quickly.
For more information, including how to get your ticket booked before this exciting Mamma Mia brunch reaches capacity, visit the Explore Hidden website.
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
A cafe dedicated entirely to matcha gelato has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
Matcha is well and truly taking Leeds (and the country) by storm.
You're probably bored of hearing us talk about matcha, and to be honest we're getting a little bit bored writing about it.
But, this time it's different.
This is M Plus Matcha, a brand-new matcha store that's just opened near Leeds University who not only serve your classic matcha lattes but also bucket loads of freshly-churned gelato.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And to make things even better, they've got four on offer all at different percentages to suit your taste.
Soft and grassy, smooth and creamy, full and velvety…or deep and bold (they said it, not us) - this spot is truly a matcha lover’s summer paradise.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're not sure what flavour you fancy, the lovely staff are on hand to help and can offer tasters of each percentage before you commit to a cone or a tub so you're not left disappointed.
The space is gorgeously light and airy, complete with matcha-coloured walls and plenty of matcha-coloured seating for you to perch and enjoy your treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Right opposite the Parkinson Building, we can see M Plus Matcha becoming a fantastic hub for students to whack their laptops out for a couple of hours whilst getting their caffeine fix.
The drinks menu includes iced matcha lattes, hot matcha, matcha lemonades and loads more. Basically, if you're of the opinion that matcha tastes like grass then we do not recommend you going.
But if you love it like us, then you're in for a treat.
Sophie Smith -
17th January 2022 
