The Corn Exchange is bringing back the one-stop for all your festive needs- and it all kicks off this Friday.
The first Christmas markets have arrived in Leeds, and there really isn't a better place to grab a hot boozy drink, a bite from some of Leeds' most exciting new chefs, and shop for presents from some of Leeds' best independents.
Rolling Social Events, the team behind the known-and-loved Leeds Rum Fest and Leeds Tequila Fest, have been grafting away in preparation to take over the basement floor of Leeds Corn Exchange for seven weeks of festive fun.
Christmas is fast approaching and luckily for us, Rolling Social Events, the brains behind the legendary Leeds Rum Fest, Leeds Whisky Fest, and Leeds Tequila Fest are returning to Leeds Corn Exchange for the 2022 Christmas Market.
Kicking off on Friday 11 November, the beautiful space will be filled with a whole host of festivities to truly get you in the Christmas spirit.
There'll be something for everyone to get involved in, with masterclasses, bars and games set to raise the roof in true festive style. Not only that, but an incredible feast of rotating food and drink will also reside in the lower ground level of Leeds most iconic building.
Image: Leeds Corn Exchange
The space will seat around 200 people and will feature a tasting room, a main bar area and food traders. Not to mention a whole host of stalls for you to stock up on your Christmas presents, sellers from Mahogany Market and Indie Makers will be there plus all the amazing retail already in Leeds Corn Exchange.
After you've done all your shopping you'll definitely need a little pick me up, so head to the festive bar for salted caramel espresso martinis, hot toddies and a selection of draft from Camden Town Brewery.
Get into the Christmas spirit with live music from local artists including The Pretend Beatles, Matt Baxter and Hayley Gaftarnick. Sing along and tap your foot to seasonal favourites with Lucy’s Pop Choir and Joy Choir.
Image: Supplied
This year the market has teamed up with local favourites, The Dijon Boys, who will be serving up an alternative Christas menu inspired by the classics. Think braised ox cheek stew with polenta mash and braised red cabbage, embutido stuffing sandwiches with sauerkraut and gravy, and harissa spiced winter veg pastilla.
Cameron Sohel from Dijon Boys said, “The past few months have been really busy for us and we were just about to start our next project when Lee approached us, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. So many Christmas menus are the same everywhere you go - we wanted to put our distinctive Dijon Boys twist on it - we’re all about big, punchy flavours. I think we’ve really done that with this menu.”
Image: Supplied
Leeds' premier independent wine specialist, Latitude Wines will be providing the perfect pours to match. They'll also be hosting masterclasses in the experience room, talking guests through a range of speciality spirits including Filey Bay whisky and Woodford Reserve bourbon.
In addition to the kitchen residency from the Dijon Boys, a rotation of independent food traders will be bringing their goods including sandwich specialists Don’t Feed the Dog and Middle Eastern Street Food stand Shouk.
A spokesperson fromLeeds Corn Exchange said: "We are delighted to welcome the Christmas Market back to Leeds Corn Exchange for a second year. As a champion for independent retail, we're excited to support even more small and local businesses this holiday season.
"Rolling Social brought the party to the Corn Exchange last year, so we're really looking forward to indulging in more festive fun this Christmas."
The market will be open Friday to Sunday from 11:30am to 8pm, kicking off from Friday 11 November for seven festive weeks. To find out more, take a look at their website.
Feature image - Supplied(Chapter 81)
News
Yorkshire railways to receive huge investment as government unveils £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail project
Regional leaders have confirmed a rail project in the North of England with first improvements taking place in Yorkshire.
The long-awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project will see a whopping £45 billion worth of upgrades.
The first phase will see the construction of a new station in Bradford followed by upgrades in Leeds, York and Sheffield.
The electrification of lines between Sheffield and Leeds, Leeds and York and Leeds and Bradford will be the first priority and is expected to be completed in the 2030s.
The scheme has been described as "a once in a generation commitment to improving transport across the North".
Announcing the scheme, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "I spent three happy years in Leeds as a university student, a vibrant city I was proud to call home, but I've seen first-hand what underinvestment and empty pledges do to cities across the North.
"This government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver real, lasting change for millions of people through a major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services."
"This cycle has to end. No more paying lip service to the potential of the North, but backing it to the hilt. That's why this government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver real, lasting change for millions of people through Northern Powerhouse Rail: a major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services."
Stage two of the plan will include upgrades around Manchester, with the final stage delivering a new railway between Bradford and Huddersfield that wouldn't be delivered until the 2040s.
In a combined statement, the regional mayors of West, South and North Yorkshire said: "The long-term commitment will transform Yorkshire's transport network and deliver improved links across our region and on to Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
"It'll mean we can deliver quicker, more reliable journeys, opening up more choice around work, skills and opportunity for everyone across Yorkshire."
The Boots recycling scheme where you can get £5 off every shop
Thomas Melia
UK high street retailer and healthcare shop Boots has launched an innovative recycling scheme that entitles customers to £5 off their future shopping trips.
If you're still struggling to come up with a New Year's resolution, why not try a spot of recycling and earn some money off your next cosmetics shop while you're at it?
Started in 2020, the Boots Recycling Scheme allows Advantage Card holders the opportunity to get money while also being more conscious about how we recycle our used health and beauty products.
Their third party app Recycle at Boots uses a Scan2Recycle system where users can upload items from various beauty brands by taking a picture of the empty packaging before identifying its form.
This scheme takes items that can't usually be recycled at home such as lotion pumps, toothpaste tubes, lipstick, mascaras, travel minis, make-up palettes and more.
Images: Publicity pictures (supplied)
Once you have five items approved, head over to your nearest participating Boots store, drop off your empties and scan the QR code on the deposit box.
After you've followed all these steps, a voucher will appear entitling you to 500 Advantage Points when you spend £10 in-store, and not only do you have £5 worth of points with your name on it, you're also an eco-warrior.
There's even a dedicated section of the app to recycling empty medicine and vitamin blister packs which gives customers 100 Advantage Points, when you spend £5 in-store - This is brill.
Items dropped into these deposit boxes are taken to MyGroup, a recycling and waste management service which works around the clock to help divert waste from landfill.
These empties will be washed and traditionally recycled into a material called MyBoard, a construction board material most similar to plywood with lots of different uses.
Nearest Boots locations in Manchester running the Recycle at Boots scheme:
Leeds Trinity - 1 Bond Street, LS1 5EY
Leeds Kirkstall - Savins Mill Way, LS5 3RP
White Rose Shopping Centre - Lower Level, Leeds, LS11 8LL
Thorpe Park - Unit 3 The Springs, LS15 8GG
Birstall Retail Park - Batley, West Yorkshire, WF7417 9DT
If you're up for getting money off your next Boots splurge while also helping recycle cosmetics containers and more, you can download the Recycle at Boots app and find your nearest HERE.
The Hoot -
10th November 2022 
