And no, Brewdog are not collaborating with Ronald McDonald this Christmas.
If you're not feeling festive this year, or would simply rather forego the hassle of cooking an entire turkey dinner- Brewdog have come up with the ultimate solution for Christmas dinner.
Embrace your inner child and opt for a very grown up 'Hoppy Meal' box to enjoy over the Christmas period.
Similar to a McDonald's Happy Meal, the takeaway meal is served from a cardboard box and complete with fries, a burger and a toy.
Image: Brewdog
To make it a festive box, the brewery giants haven't just popped a bauble on the box, but they're serving their special Blitzen Burger: a monster meal in a burger that features all your Christmas favourites, and all the trimmings.
No reindeers included.
Instead, think buttermilk fried turkey, roast gammon, sausage, stuffing, brussel sprout slaw, turkey gravy dipping sauce, garnished with a pig in blanket.
Image: Brewdog
Or for vegans, a plant-based alternative is available that's just as tasty. Derived from a Beyond Meat patty and served with vegan chipotle slaw, vegan gouda cheese, roasted red peppers, baby gem and pickles, all encased between two slices of vegan beetroot brioche buns.
To complete the Hoppy Meal, guests will also receive either sweet potato fries or regular fries and an eco-friendly cracker.
To wash it all down with and to differentiate your meal deal from a Children's portion, the Hoppy Meal also comes with a festive-flavoured drink to wash it all down with: the Hoppy Xmas beer.
Image: Brewdog
Of course, to purchase the entire Hoppy Meal, you must be over 18 and within distance of one of the Brewdog stores to collect from participating stores.
Here in Leeds we have two Brewdogs, one on North Street in the city centre, and the other in Headingley on Otley Road and although neither store have actively promoted the Christmas Hoppy Meal, the stores both stock the non-festive version, so it's fairly likely the staff will accommodate your Hoppy Meal over the Christmas period.
Feature Image- Brewdog
Leeds
Leeds’ first sauna and ice bath cafe is coming to the city centre this spring
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Sophie Smith -
20th December 2021 
