Restaurants across Leeds have really outdone themselves this Christmas with their vegan menus- check out our top picks this December.
Long gone are the days when we would have to scour the internet to find a restaurant that offers at least plant-based dish on the menu or live on salad, because getting in vegan alternatives 'wasn't worth it because they're too unpopular to sell'.
Christmas is the only time of the year where it feels as if this sense of dread can return: for some reason, everyone seems to think turkey is for everyone- it's not. Not even many meat-eaters like it either.
Luckily, in Leeds we are inundated with vegan friendly restaurants that will be serving up some of the best plant-based Christmas menus around: some with sprouts, some without.
We've rounded up our favourite dishes in Leeds city centre so whether you're looking for a pre-Christmas hearty dinner or somewhere with a plant-based menu for the big day itself, we've got you covered.
Headrow House know how to throw a good vegan dinner party: the popular venue replace the mundane small talk with laughter, a chilled ambience and flavoursome dishes. Their new Christmas Bratz menu isn't just vegan friendly, but takes up almost 50% of the menu.
Opt for the classic Vegan Brat topped with crispy onions, sauerkraut and curry ketchup or go for the Vegan Loaded Pretzel Box which features a giant toasted pretzel, celeriac remoulade, seitan bratwurst sausage and curry ketchup. Pair either of these with a nice pint of german lager and you're on your way.
Yuzu Street Food at Thor's Tipi
The Snowboard Sharing Platter is available as meat or vegan dishes. / Image: Yuzu Street Food
An evening at Thor's Tipi is always a festive night: whether it's the smell of smoke that wafts around the tent, no matter how far you are from the fire or the mulled wine that never seems to leave your hands: it's a Christmas-must-do. This year, the pop-up have teamed with Yuzu Street Food to offer some delicious snacks, with plenty of vegan options available.
Our favourite has to be the Snowboard Sharing Platter. Not only is it served on an actual snowboard, but it's full of tasty small plates like Katsu fries, vegan Yuzu chicken sushi, veggie gyozas and Japanese fried tofu bao buns.
The New Conservatory
The New Conservatory have had a festive makeover too. / Image: The New Conservatory
Who says you have to go to an all-vegan restaurant to get great tasting plant-based dishes? The New Conservatory offer almost everything on the menu as a meat and vegan option, so naturally their Christmas menu is no different.
There's Creamy Garlic Mushrooms on toasted ciabatta on the menu, but it's the Traditional Nut Roast with a homemade red onion marmalade and served with roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots, herb mash, yorkshire puddings and red onion gravy, that's got us booking a seat at the table.
Bundobust
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Bundobust is entirely a veggie restaurant, with plenty of vegan options to choose from. The Indian eatery was popularised after the Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was spotted with Indian actress Anushka Sharma at the restaurant in the summer, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
This Christmas, we'll be eating their Sprout Bhaji Butty. We're talking about a sprout, broccoli and onion bhaji patty spiced with fennel and chilli, salad and cranberry chutney in a vegan brioche. Plus, £1 of each butty sold goes straight to a charity to support local causes: a winning combo in our eyes.
Take a bite of an All American Christmas dish from Manahatta's festive menu. / Image: Manahatta
We've all pictured ourselves living through a winter in New York at some point or another. Whether your dream is to feature in Home Alone or simply take a brisk walk through Central Park with snow falling down as we wander through the city on Christmas Day and Manahatta is helping to bring this dream to life with an American-inspired festive menu.
The All American Hot Dog is ten inches of meat-free goodness and available on the Festive Bottomless Menu. We're talking about a Moving Mountains plant-based dog in a brioche bun, vegan cheese, pickles, jalapeños and all the sauces you need: ketchup, French’s mustard and mayo, served with fries.
Veteran Manchester rock and blues band Proud Mary recently announced a limited run of UK reunion shows, including one right here in Leeds.
The seasoned Northern outfit may have seen plenty of lineup changes and a long hiatus of sorts, but now they’re returning for just a small handful of comeback gigs across the country.
Ahead of their seminal debut album turning 25 years old this year, 2026 also seems them steadily creeping up on the best part of three decades as a group in some form or another.
For anyone uninitiated, the native 90s and early noughties name was the first band signed to Noel Gallagher’s Sour Mash Records in 2001.
Their first-ever LP, The Same Old Blues, still remains their most revered work to this day.
Dubbed by the older Burnage brother and legendary Manc musician as “a lesson in songwriting” in an interview with the NME way back when, they started out as long-time friends and turned into fellow studio peers.
As well as supporting the likes of Oasis, Neil Young, The Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, Ryan Adams, Noel’s High Flying Birds and more on various tours over the years, they also famously headlined Isle of Wight Festival in 2004.
Having collaborated with the likes of another Britpop legend, Gem Archer, as well as The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, not to mention gaining plaudits from so many other contemporaries, they’re likely one of your favourite bands’ old faithful bands.
Moreover, in regional terms, rising local indie rock quintet Rosellas are also joining them on the road for their shows.
Proud Mary will be playing at The Warehouse in Leeds on Friday 8 May and you can grab your tickets HERE.
Featured Images — Proud Mary (press shots supplied via Sonic PR)
News
Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure becomes chairman of Sheffield FC
Danny Jones
Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure has officially been confirmed as the new chairman of the oldest football team in the world, Sheffield FC.
He might be a die-hard Wednesday fan, but given the turbulence his lifelong club have been through over the past couple of years, maybe this is the start of a new love affair.
Sheffield FC had teased that important news was coming soon earlier this month, simply writing on socials: "Not long until we can tell all. We’ve been sitting on something big."
As it turns out, the news is that one of the Steel City's most famous and beloved sons is now part of the club's new ownership structure. McClure quickly took to social media to help join in with the announcement as well.
The veteran indie frontman and Day Fever co-founder has continued to branch out from solely music-related ventures, having gone into business not only with multiple names for the smash hit afternoon-into-early evening music festival, but also joining forces with a fellow Sheffielder.
Since November of last year, Jon's has often appeared alongside his brother Chris, who plays the comedy character of 'Steve Bracknall' on the Game's Gone podcast.
A bit like Yorkshire's answer to Alan Partridge, there remains a sporting throughline in pretty much all of the 44-year-old's career at the moment - now so more than ever.
Speaking online, McClure said: "What am I doing at the world’s oldest football club, you ask? Well, meet the new chairman of Sheffield FC.
"Our vision is that we honour the club’s roots and pay homage to its incredible history, whilst restoring it to its former glory." He's already been making his presence known around their home ground.
— Sheffield Football Club (@sheffieldfc) March 3, 2026
While some are still looking for updates on the plans to bring the historic outfit back closer to Sheffield proper - the non-league club currently playing at The Home of Football Stadium in Dronfield, Derbyshire - this fresh start for the now oft-neglected native minnows has still sparked some excitement.
At present, 'The Ancients' are in the process of developing a new 5,000-seater arena at the old Sheffield Transport Sports Club site in Meadowhead, which was initially slated to open this year.
But as for the musician, he went on to add that "There’s a lot to be done, but we’re ready to get stuck in and give Sheffield FC the love it deserves"; McClure and co. have dubbed this "a new chapter" for "the first in the world", and the update will no doubt bring some fresh hope to the organisation.
What do you make of the announcement, and is a local figure like Reverend and the Makers' Jon McClure the right person to help take over this community cornerstone and national institution?
Sophie Smith -
1st December 2021 
