We've found Santa Claus in Leeds: where will you visit him in the lead-up to Christmas?
Wandering around Leeds trying to find Father Christmas sometimes feels like a game of Where's Wally.
Think about it.
They both dress in white and red, have hats and glasses. The two special characters also are extremely hard to find year-round.
Unfortunately, nobody will tell us where Wally really lives, but we have managed to get the lowdown from Santa's elves about the whereabouts of the big man in red himself.
Rumour has it he's actually living in Leeds and you can go and visit him before he gets on his sleigh and heads back to the North Pole to pick up all those Christmas presents.
Here's where you'll find Father Christmas around the city before the big day.
White Rose Shopping Centre
Since White Rose is essentially a giant present factory, it only seems fitting to find Santa here. Arriving this weekend, you can let the little ones tell Santa all about how great they've been before heading off for some Christmas shopping.
White Rose will have a resident Santa Claus from Friday 11 November - Saturday 24 December.
Stockeld Park
Magic is made and adventure begins in Santa's Grotto at Stockeld Park. / Image: Stockeld Park
The rustic cabin and twinkling lights at Stockeld Park make this Leeds location Santa's home-away-from-home but there's enough here for a full family day out. Get lost in the snowflake maze or gaze at the winter illuminations in the award-winning enchanted forest.
Father Christmas will be visiting from Saturday 19 November - Saturday 24 December, tickets from £13.
If you want the full Christmas experience, visiting Santa's Elf Village at Lotherton Hall is worth a visit. Their 'Under the Wishing Tree' experience lets the little ones meet all the elves under a magical wishing tree for story-time, collect magical reindeer food and post their letter to the North Pole before paying Santa Claus a visit.
Father Christmas will be visiting the Elf Village at Lotherton Hall from Saturday 26 November - Saturday 31 December, prices from £8.50.
Ackworth Garden Centre
Harpin's Christmas grotto is decked out with more festive gear than we knew existed, all in honour of the big man in red. Visit Santa at his grotto at Ackworth Garden Centre but don't forget to help him find all of his reindeer along the reindeer trail and grab a chocolate-flavoured reward if you can find them all. Once you've handed over your wishlist and saved Christmas by finding the reindeer, you can also choose your Christmas tree before heading home.
Santa Claus will be visiting Harpins, Ackworth Garden Centre from Saturday 3 December - Saturday 24 December, prices from £20.
Middleton Railway Santa Specials
Santa Specials run up and down the country, but this is your chance to meet Father Christmas onboard in Leeds. / Image: East Lancashire Railways
Didn't you know travelling by sleigh is so last year? With the price of petrol ever-increasing it appears that Father Christmas has been temporarily converted to travelling by train. From 9.15am - 3.45pm, get on the Santa Special at the world's oldest working railway and take advantage of the festive displays and seasonal drinks on offer.
Santa will be visiting Middleton Railway Station from Saturday 3 December - Saturday 24 December, tickets from £10.
Tried and trusted Sheffield indie spot Baker's Yard is expanding its Kelham Island site and potentially dropping its "micro-bakery" title.
Opening just three years ago, Baker's Yard has become a sweet-treat staple in its Sheffield neighbourhood, Kelham Island, so much so, the owners have taken to social media to announce some very big plans.
Known for keeping Kelham Island visitors satisfied with their key lime pie and cheesecakes to loaves of bread and freshly baked pastries, now Baker's Yard is expected to continue doing so on a larger scale.
After putting out a call-out post earlier this month to recruit more front of house team members, the bakery waited just one more week before sharing its latest news.
What was once a "micro-bakery" is now about to undergo a particularly large transformation, as revealed in a new announcement via social media by the Baker's Yard team: "Our bakery is growing, into next door!"
Explaining this decision in further detail, the Kelham Island hotspot has said: "You can expect a greater variety of bakes, breads, pastries and cakes, including bespoke celebration and wedding cakes".
Already known for their bakery and coffee shop-hybrid, as well as the bespoke cake services they offer too, now Baker's Yard are covering all bases with an all-new venture.
Life just got a whole lot sweeter, as you'll be able to get your Baker's Yard fix all-day-long with the arrival of a restaurant, with the team promising, "Baker's Yard Bistro, a French inspired neighbourhood eatery" later down the line.
This year has been nothing but positive for this independent Sheffield business, as back in March Baker's Yard found itself included in The Good Food Guide's Top 50 Bakeries in the UK - Huge congrats.
Sheffield's beloved Baker's Yard is expanding its Kelham Island site / Credit: The Sheff
Anyone up for sampling some sweet treats or savoury selections that Baker's Yard has to offer can currently find them at 1 Baker's Yard, Sheffield (and very soon 2 Baker's Yard too) or online HERE - Good luck guys.
Featured Images - The Sheff (supplied)
News
The popular Manchester brunch spot serving all things viral is coming to Leeds
Clementine Hall
A brunch spot made famous across the pond is opening a site in Leeds.
If you're a fiend for all things brunch, then this news is going to get you a little bit excited.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its innovative watermelon sandwiches.
Oh, and they also went viral for serving a Labubu French Toast...but we'll let the photos do the talking on that one.
Images: The Manc Group
They've currently got one site in Manchester city centre with one more almost ready to open its doors, and now they're making their way across the Pennines and opening their first Yorkshire cafe right here in Leeds. Aren't we lucky.
Announcing the exciting news to Instagram, Bruncho said: "We’ve been keeping a HUGE SECRET, but now it’s finally time to share… LEEDS CITY CENTRE WE’RE COMING FOR YOU!!
"Keep your eyes peeled on our socials, we’ll be announcing our opening date SOON!!"
Images: The Manc Group
With queues constantly forming at their cafe in Deansgate, Manchester - we're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
It's not the first brunch spot to make their way over, with Federal opening on Boar Lane earlier this year that has been packed out ever since.
We'll of course keep you in the loop with opening dates as and when we find out but for now, Bruncho we can't wait to welcome you to our city.
Sophie Smith -
30th November 2022 
