We've rounded up the best festive burger specials you need to try in Leeds before Christmas.
From maple-based Southern fried turkey at Fat Hippo to vegan Buttermilk fried Turk’y at Döner Summer, it has to be said one of the best things about the Christmas period is seeing what unreal specials your favourite restaurant will come out with.
Leeds has really taken it to the next level this year- that's obvious from these burgers.
With only just over two weeks to go until the big day, run (don't walk) to go get your hands on these delicious burgers.
Döner Summer has established itself as the elite for wowing us all with unreal specials and Christmas is no exception to this.
The festive AF burger is not only stacked with festive toppings, it's 100% plant-based so this one is for the vegans. Vegan brioche, Rocket slaw, Buttermilk fried Turk’y pattie with rosemary and thyme, Smoked cheese, Christmas pickled cabbage, DS burger sauce with a hint of thyme, Pot of house made Hendos gravy.
While Fat Hippo is still pretty new to Leeds, they haven't been shy in making themselves known and the place to go for a big juicy burger.
The Hans Gruber-ger is a beef patty, pork stuffing patty, American cheese, maple-based Southern fried turkey, cranberry jello and Christmas slaw, served with festive fries. Now I bet you're wondering what are festive fries? dirty cheese and gravy on fries - you really can't go wrong.
The restaurant also has a festive vegan option, the fairytale of no pork. A Southern fried plant based patty, deep fried vegan halloumi, cranberry jello, maple fakon and Christmas slaw - again served with festive fries.
We can't really be recommending burgers in Leeds and not mention Almost Famous, the chefs here really know what they're doing when It comes to stacked burgers.
Cheeseburger, sausage patty, buttermilk fried chicken, AFC gravy, sweet spiced BBQ sauce, bacon jam, bacon ketchup + brandy buttered peppercorn mayo. And the best part is the topped with a cheddar jalapeño and chorizo sausage roll and a pig in blanket. Just in case that wasn't enough it's also served with a pot of rich buttery gravy for extra dippin’.
MEATLiquor have a lot to like on their menu but their Christmas burger is a true winner, winner chicken dinner- well, it's a turkey dinner, but still. Santa's Little Gobbler is the ultimate festive burger for anyone looking for something a little different this Christmas without compromising on the helpings of turkey or cranberry sauce.
On the burger itself, we're talking deep-fried turkey, drenched in red eye mayonnaise, sprout slaw and cranberry hot sauce. The tasty menu also includes Pigs in Blankets with mustard BBQ sauce: we like to think of it as the cooler, spicier alternative to your traditional turkey dinner.
Box are serving up a turkey feast this Christmas. If you're looking for a festive meal for one this December, grab the Christmas Burger: a turkey burger with bacon, sage and onion stuffing, melted Brie, cranberry chutney, pig in blanket, lettuce and mayo.
If all this yuletide spirit has got you in the mood for sharing, the aptly-named Festive Feast is the perfect combination. Think mini turkey burgers, spare ribs, crispy popcorn chicken, sage and onion stuffing balls, pigs in blankets, Christmas meat feast pizza, halloumi fries and triple-cooked chips.
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News
Leeds speakeasy crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world by industry experts
The beloved Domino Club is receiving its flowers, and rightly so.
Rapidly becoming one of the industry’s most respected accolade of excellence, The Pinnacle Guide is a worldwide ranking of the best bars across the globe.
Based on a thorough self-application process, rigorous assessment modules, followed by a series of spot check interviews and anonymous in-bar reviews, it's no easy feat to get a spot on this list.
Which is why it makes The Domino Club's achievement all that more impressive.
Known amongst locals and visitors alike as basically one of the coolest bars in town, the hidden speakeasy invites you through a barbershop in the Grand Arcade where downstairs you'll find a dimly lit jazz and cocktail bar oozing sex appeal.
Not only are the cocktails exceptional, but their live music listings is something to behold playing everything from jazz and funk to cabaret and disco every Wednesday - Sunday.
Announcing the news to Instagram, The Domino said: "Listed by The Pinnacle Guide. The Domino Club has been recognised on the global list of the world’s best bars.
"What began as a hidden basement bar in Leeds, built around live music, cocktails and atmosphere, is now being recognised alongside some of the finest bars in the world.
"A huge thank you to our team, musicians, suppliers and every single guest who has supported us over the years. This means a lot. Leeds belongs on the world cocktail map."
We absolutely could not agree more and if you haven't ventured behind the barbershop and discovered the magical Domino Club, then we very much recommend you do.
2:22 A Ghost Story at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House: When silence becomes the scare
Declan Kelly
The supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story arrived at Leeds Grand Theatre as part of its UK tour, bringing Danny Robins’s hit production to a packed audience.
Since its West End debut in 2021, the play has become known less as a straight horror and more as a gripping psychological debate wrapped in a ghost story.
At the centre of the story is one key question: do ghosts actually exist? Set during a dinner party between two couples, the drama unfolds as Jenny becomes increasingly convinced their home is haunted, claiming she hears strange noises every night at exactly 2:22am.
Her husband Sam dismisses her fears as irrational, while friends Lauren and Ben challenge both sides, turning the evening into a lively clash of belief and scepticism. What begins as a conversation gradually becomes something far more tense, as personal fears and buried tensions rise to the surface.
Image: Supplied
Rather than relying on traditional horror, the production focuses on atmosphere and psychological tension. The script builds unease through sharp dialogue, awkward silences and shifting power dynamics between the characters. Instead of delivering constant shocks, it keeps the audience questioning what is real and what might simply be a coincidence or imagination.
That said, the play does use theatrical jump scares effectively. Sudden loud noises, abrupt lighting changes and eerie sound cues interrupt the dialogue at key moments, creating jolts of tension without ever fully tipping into outright horror. These moments are brief but impactful, designed more to unsettle than to terrify.
Image: Supplied
The cast works strongly together to maintain this balance. Shvorne Marks brings emotional intensity to Jenny’s growing fear, while James Bye plays Sam with grounded scepticism that slowly begins to crack. Natalie Casey adds sharp humour and bite as Lauren, and Grant Kilburn provides openness and curiosity as Ben, keeping the debate lively and unpredictable.
The production design is another standout element. The modern, stylish home feels realistic and lived-in, but subtly shifts in tone as the story progresses. Careful lighting and precise sound design ensure the space never feels entirely safe, even in silence, reinforcing the idea that something might be just out of sight.
Image: Supplied
As the final moments unfold, the play returns to its central idea: the waiting. The quiet anticipation of night, the smallest unexplained sounds, and the creeping awareness of time passing.
Ultimately, 2:22 A Ghost Story succeeds because it is not really trying to scare its audience traditionally. Instead, it plays with uncertainty, asking viewers to decide what they believe and how far they trust their own senses. And let’s be honest, you might find yourself thinking what might happen if you were still awake when the clock strikes 2:22.
Running until 16 May at the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House - tickets available here.
Abbie Bartlett -
8th December 2021 
