Dine under snow-dusted cherry blossom trees and dazzling light murals at this show-stopping contemporary Chinese restaurant.
Tattu, located on East Parade, is a sophisticated restaurant and bar serving up modern Chinese cuisine and innovative cocktails in a beautifully elegant setting.
When we heard they were offering a special seasonal dining experience for the festive period named 'The Great Snow', we simply had to head down there to try it out for ourselves.
The Great Snow is intended to reflect the Chinese proverb ‘a fall of snow gives promise to a fruitful year’, the interior of the restaurant has been given a magical icy hue complete with sparkling light projections of the Northern Lights adorning the walls.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
As soon as you walk through the grand entrance you are greeted with hanging cherry blossom trees coated in glittering snow and decorated with frosty icicles, within seconds our coats were taken and we were shown to our seats; we knew this was going to be a magical evening.
Known for their impressive cocktails, we started our night by sampling their new Aurora cocktail, crafted specially for the winter season to reflect a luminous night's sky.
A delicious concoction of Grey Goose vodka, white chocolate and sparkling cherry, complete with a dome of smoke which when released reveals an encapsulating, wintery nutmeg aroma.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Everything at Tattu is meant to be shared and enjoyed amongst friends and family, with the dishes arriving as and when they are ready.
We started with the Chicken Truffle Shumai and Lobster and Prawn Toast dumplings, both were absolutely sensational and packed so much flavour inside perfectly formed, small bites of deliciousness.
The truffle dumplings were a standout dish for us, each topped with a thin shaving of black truffle that was strong but certainly not overwhelming.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Next up was the Szechuan Rock Shrimp, lightly battered prawns sprinkled with sancho pepper which gave a warming, fragrant aroma that had us going back in immediately after the first bite.
Another standout dish was the Sticky Beef Short Ribs, recommended to us by our brilliant waiter Paulo who clearly knew what he was talking about, as these were absolutely divine. Cubes of succulent beef covered in a sticky soy glaze that fell apart effortlessly at the poke of a chopstick.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
For our mains we opted for the Chinese Barbecue Chicken and the Shanghai Black Cod. Both were cooked to perfection and went amazingly alongside the XO Fried Rice with shrimp, chicken and pancetta.
Now for the desserts, these were just as much a show-stopping spectacle as they were a delicious end to the meal. Tattu's famous Cherry Blossom dessert has been reimagined for the festive period and wow, it did not disappoint.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Icy blue candyfloss is balanced on a delicate chocolate trunk, grounded in a light and airy chocolate, cherry mousse which is presented on a bed of dried ice that cascades over the table as you tuck in.
Another newbie to the menu is the Mount Heng Flambé, their innovative take on a Baked Alaska topped with Maraschino cherry, hazelnuts and coconut that is set alight at your table.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Both desserts looked almost too pretty to eat, but we of course tried our best and our tastebuds certainly thanked us for it, as did our eyes as we gazed at the piece of theatre taking place right in front of us.
Overall the experience was fantastic, the food delicious and the service impeccable. If you're looking to spend a special night with loved ones this Christmas then Tattu is the place to be, 'The Great Snow' offers an unmissable dining experience unlike any other.
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at the Tattu website.
Slam Dunk Festival is back with another belting lineup.
Slam Dunk, the UK's biggest independent rock festival, has unveiled its first wave of artists - and its a lineup to get very excited about.
Hot on the heels of a milestone 20th anniversary this summer, the festival kicks off with Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sleeping With Sirens, The Used and The Front Bottoms topping the bill.
This time, Slam Dunk is doing things a little bit differently, landing here in Leeds first at Temple Newsam on Saturday 29 May before closing the weekend at Hatfield Park on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Leading the festival are two of pop punk’s biggest festival favourites. Bowling For Soup return following a memorable 2023 appearance, whilst Simple Plan will be rotating headliners, returning to Slam Dunk after 8 years and whose debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls also turns 25.
Elsewhere, ska-punk favourites Reel Big Fish return to Slam Dunk for an exclusive UK reunion show, Less Than Jake are also back on the bill, bringing more than three decades of anthems with them, while The Interrupters join a formidable ska-punk showing and Isle of Wight punks Grade 2 bring a dose of old-school punk to the bill.
And it doesn't stop there, with even more names still to be announced to the already star-studded lineup.
Pre-sale tickets are available via the Slam Dunk app for up to 48 hours (subject to availability) from 10am, Friday 2 October, with remaining tickets on sale from 10am on Monday 5 October through all other outlets. Get yours here.
BBC Introducing announces massive Leeds takeover celebrating the UK’s best emerging artists
Clementine Hall
BBC Introducing and Leeds promoter Futuresound have announced a city-wide takeover this November as part of their ‘Introducing Live’ event.
Taking place in ten towns and cities across the UK, Introducing Live will hit Leeds on Saturday 28 November and showcase some of the best emerging artists in the UK today.
Not only that, but it will be held in some of the city's most iconic independent music venues including The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall and Oporto.
The 450-capacity venue The Wardrobe will be home to an 'Introducing on Radio 1' showcase featuring a packed programme including the Egyptian born, Manchester based alt-pop artist Nxdia, Lincolnshire indie-pop quintet Cherryholt, dark pop artist Precious Pepala, Scunthorpe singer-songwriter Will Parker and many more.
Meanwhile, over at Belgrave Music Hall, Emily Pilbeam from Introducing's Mixtape on 6 Music will showcase black country duo GANS, the local 7-piece project Group A.D., underground group holybones and more.
Oporto, famous for hosting some of the biggest names in music during the start of their careers, will host a dedicated 'Introducing Rock' takeover with Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe, with a line-up featuring Nottingham-formed rock duo Alt Blk Era, goth-grunge alt group Venus Grrrls, indie-pop BRIT School alumna jo from school, post-hardcore band Hollow Bloom, and Sheffield-based electro-metalcore band DUSTHOUSE.
Joe Hubbard, promoter at Futuresound Group, said: “We’re really excited to be working with BBC Introducing to bring this event to Leeds, for the first time! It feels a very fitting partnership after our partnership on Live at Leeds together over the years.
"Between headliners Nxdia, Alt Blk Era, Gans and Jaguar, I feel there’s something for everyone. I’m also really proud of the local offering we’ve got, with strong representation from BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield across the bill. There’s been months of work behind the scenes to make it happen, so it’s a great feeling to finally release the line-up to the world. See you in November!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am and you can get yours here.
Clementine Hall -
23rd November 2022 
