Attempting Dry January but you're tired of the lousy options of the alcohol free world? Look no further than Otley’s exclusive watering hole.
Introducing The Functional Drinks Club, a beverage distributor that made its mark mid-2023 as the new kid on the block. They have a largest range in North Yorkshire of luscious non-alcoholic products that are set to leave your mouth-watering such as: kombucha, non-alcoholic beers, ales, lagers, ciders, botanical spirits and more.
The shop's mission is to offer delicious alcoholic beverages that not only tantalise the taste buds but also have nutritional value. The Functional Drinks Club has open arms for all who wish to come in the doors, they welcome people who in its essence just wish to have a better lifestyle.
The 'bar' explains that it shares the struggle of finding supermarkets options, so they provide more choice for those wishing for an alcohol free experience.
Founder Kevin Gillespie, aims to create a safe space that people can come to and speak to an expert in the non-alcoholic business to make their crossover seamless to the non-alcoholic world.
“Too many people go through life on autopilot, and before you know it you're 70 years old wondering why you didn't do the things you wanted to do. I was in danger of being that person, and if you're looking at yourself thinking the same, then do something about it.”
The Functional Drinks Club provide Kombucha tasting classes to provide people with different ways to improve gut health and fully embody the ‘New Year, New Me’. During this class you taste eight different Kombuchas and you can take home two to get you started on your Kombucha journey.
The owners have also partnered up with Shadow Brewing to put together a Dry January event on the 27 January 6pm-10pm. It is a taste-testing extravaganza for their new range of non-alcoholic beers. You can even bring your own bottle and take it to go!
There is a wide range of drinks to buy on the night from the Mash Gang, Clean Break Brewing and Harrogate Brewing. The fan favourite is set to be Blue Blood, a tasty blend of pale ale and Earl Grey tea: a harmonious infusion for both tea and spirit lovers.
It's a must-try event for the news year that is welcome to all ages and people, even those who wish to purchase alcoholic drinks on the night as well.
“We're not "either or" type of people, we're more John Lennon, and imagine all the people living in harmony.”
So come down to The Functional Drinks Club located on Manor Square in Otley on Fridays from 10am - 5pm, Saturdays from 9.30am - 5pm and the last Sunday of the month between 10am-1pm.
For more information visit here.
Feature Image - The Functional Drinks Club via Facebook
News
Ireland’s famous fast food phenomenon, the spice bag, has landed in Leeds
You can now get your hands on the iconic takeaway staple right here in Leeds City Centre .
Pour yourself a cold glass of water, because it's about to get real salty up in here.
The spice bag is an Irish delicacy that is often devoured after a few Guinness on the streets of Dublin, for example.
It consists of shredded and battered chicken, chips, onions and peppers - all deep fried, loaded into a bag and tossed in lashings of salt and pepper seasoning.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Oh, and of course dipped or lathered in a sauce of your choosing. The classic being curry sauce, obviously.
It's never been available to buy in Leeds before, until now.
Located inside Trinity Kitchen, Doles Dirty Bags are serving up...well, dirty bags I suppose.
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
They're bringing the spice bags to the people of Leeds and we're absolutely over the moon that they are.
They've got a couple of options for you to choose from, including the classic chicken spice bag as well as the garlic spice bag which has lashings of garlic butter inside - yum.
There's also a BBQ beef spice bag as well as a vegan tofu one, so absolutely no one has to miss out on the deliciousness.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
They're also serving up a selection of burgers if that's what you fancy.
But if you want to sample a spice bag for yourself, then you're going to want to be quick as Doles Dirty Bags will only be cooking inside Trinity Kitchen until Sunday 29 March.
So have a couple pints down the road at Whitelock's and get yourself to Dole's, we assure you they'll sort you out good and proper.
Loyle Carner to headline Kirkstall Abbey as part of new all-day music event
Clementine Hall
Loyle Carner has been announced as the headliner for ‘Above All Else’ a new curated event that will form part of the Live at Kirkstall Abbey concert series.
Boy oh boy are we excited about this one.
An all-day celebration of music and culture is coming to Kirkstall Abbey, ‘Above All Else’ is a new event from independent Leeds promoters Futuresound with forward-thinking curation at its heart.
And who better to headline its debut than Loyle Carner.
Released last summer, Loyle Carner’s fourth full-length album Hopefully! reasserted his position at the forefront of the UK’s emotionally-charged hip hop movement.
Images: Supplied
First finding his voice in 2013 with the A Little Late EP, it was Loyle Carner’s debut album 2017’s Yesterday’s Gone that brought the artist to national attention and earned himself a Mercury Music Prize nomination and BRIT award nominations for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist at just 23 years old.
Joining Loyle Carner at ‘Above All Else’ will be a full supporting line-up including acclaimed Grammy and Ivor-Novello award nominated songwriter Jordan Rakei and Kokoroko, the London based sextet.
Completing the line-up is much-hyped Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone and rising Dublin collective Bricknasty.
Also announced for Live At Kirkstall Abbey 2026 are revered British multi-hyphenates The Streets, reunited Leeds indie heroes The Sunshine Underground, art rock royalty The Maccabees will be performing their only northern gig and the hugely successful Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival is gearing up for a return featuring Dara Ó’Brien, Jason Manford, Lucy Beamount and more.
Kirkstall postcode pre-sale for local residents (LS4, LS5, LS13 & LS18) will open at 10am on Wednesday 28 January here with general sale opening at 10am on Friday 30 January here.
The Hoot -
19th January 2024 
