Four new cocktails are available at All Bar One as part of their collaboration with Hotel Chocolat.
If you thought that the Leeds foodie scene was all set for Christmas, think again.
All Bar One have just launched a range of festive cocktails with none other than confectionary giants, Hotel Chocolat.
The new menu mixes Hotel Chocolat's 'Velvetised™ Cream' with traditional Christmas flavours like clementines and salted caramel and boozy flavours like rum, vodka and amaretto.
All Bar One boasted on their website that the cocktails are 'every chocolate and cocktail lover's dream'. The brand-new range are truly the epitome of Instagrammable cocktails and there are four luxurious flavours to choose from.
All Bar One X Hotel Chocolat cocktails. / Image: All Bar One
The Chocolat Martini is a great starting point. Think Hotel Chocolat Velvetised™ Chocolate Cream blended with indulgent De Kuyper Crème de Cacao, Havana Club rum, milk and cocoa powder.
Plus, its served with a milk chocolate shard and chocolate flakes to make it feel like a cross over of a hot choc and sophisticated cocktail.
Forget dessert wine or After Eights, The Midnight Tiramisu will be your favourite new post-dinner drink.
Made from Hotel Chocolat Espresso Martini Velvetised™ Cream with a kick of Tia Maria, Disaronno amaretto and oat milk; this delicious dessert-drink is finished with a milk chocolate shard and a dusting of cocoa powder.
It really is the season of chocolate orange and Hotel Chocolat X All Bar One are giving Terry a good run for its money and the Clementine Chocolat Martini is just one example of this.
We're talking about a creamy concoction of Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel and Clementine Velvetised™ Cream with Cointreau, milk & cocoa powder. Finished with an orange swirl garnish for a citrusy twist and, of course, the signature milk chocolate shard and chocolate flakes.
Clementine Chocolat Martini cocktail. / Image: All Bar One
The final cocktail, the Mint Royale is no humbug.
The after-dinner pick-me-up features Hotel Chocolat Mint Chocolate Velvetised™ Cream, Ketel One vodka, salted caramel syrup and oat milk. Topped with a milk chocolate shard, chocolate flakes and a mint leaf garnish.
Priced from just £9.95 each, chocolate and cocktail lovers can gather at All Bar One for these tempting treats seven days a week.
If you want to be able to recreate these mesmerising cocktails at home, the All Bar One team are also holding cocktail masterclasses to teach you how to shake and stir all year round. Priced at £30 per person, this experience should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
For more information, visit the All Bar One 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 -
25th November 2021 
