A huge rum festival is coming to Leeds next month and it sounds incredible.
Hosted by Leeds-based events company Rolling Social, this year marks Rum Fest's fifth anniversary - which means they are pulling out all the stops.
Expect hundreds of rum expressions, professional masterclasses, cocktail-making classes, a bottle shop, live music and entertainment – all centered around bringing the Carnival vibe to Leeds.
With appearances from fifteen of the very best rum brands, from Plantation to El Dorado, The Duppy Share and Diablesse, there's a whole host of exciting rum brands taking part - joined by mixer sponsor The London Essence.
Whether you’re a rum aficionado or simply partial to a quality cocktail, this sounds like a great day out with loads of different rum drinks to sample throughout.
Image: Leeds rum festival
For £30, your ticket will include entry to the festival and a range of different rum samples, plus workshops and entertainment.
Elsewhere, there'll be a top-quality cocktail bar in action to continue your rum education and a whole host of street food traders to help you line your stomach with some of Leeds' tastiest scrans.
Leeds-based events company, Rolling Social, has been bringing digital celebrations of food and drink to the city throughout lockdown – and now, as the world comes back to life, the fun is set to continue with the hotly anticipated Rum Fest on Saturday 9 October.
Image: Leeds Rum Festival
Whether you’re a rum aficionado or simply partial to a quality cocktail, this spirit spectacular – set in Leeds’ historic Corn Exchange – might just be the ideal day out for you.
Lee Jones, Creative Director Rolling Social Events, said:
“After the success of our digital rum festivals, we’re incredibly excited to be back at our home in the Corn Exchange for what will be our fifth birthday.
"This event will be the perfect chance to welcome back old friends and embrace some new ones. We’ve got a whole host of exciting brands lined up, and we’re excited to be announcing some of the headliners today.
"Our main sponsors are The Duppy Share, Diplomatico and The London Essence are main sponsors, and they’ll be joined by Hampden Estate, Nusa Cana and loads more to come!”
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Georgina Pellant -
3rd September 2021 
