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
Step inside this stunning ultra-modern South Yorkshire home listed for under £1 million
Have alookat this stunning, futuristic family home that's currently on the market.
If you've ever wanted to live in a home that resembles a spaceship, then boy oh boy have we got the home for you.
This is Bennetthorpe House over in Doncaster, a truly impressive architect designed family residence that's so swish it even featured on one of the very first episodes of Grand Designs.
Now that's an accolade.
Images: Rightmove
Set across three floors, the home has a whopping five bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as a gorgeous light-filled reception room. In fact, the whole home is flooded with light due to the sheer abundance of windows.
Designed to impress, the entrance hall doubles as a dining area and showcases some of the property's most eye-catching architectural features, including a striking glass staircase and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass block wall.
Images: Rightmove
Upstairs, the lavish bedroom suite comes complete with a walk-in dressing area and a sleek en-suite shower room.
The lower ground floor features a large bedroom, dedicated sitting area, en-suite bathroom and provides direct access to the property's double garage.
Certainly, it's not the sort of home to snuggle in front of the fire with a good book and get all cosy - but if you're a fan of all things modern and contemporary then it doesn't get much better than this.
Images: Rightmove
The best part? It can be yours for just £850,000...how can one resist? It's a small price to pay to feel like you're the star of Grand Designs every single day of your life.
To have a proper nosey at this one-of-a-kind property then take a look at the listing on Rightmove here.
Featured image - Rightmove (Fine & Country, Bawtry)
News
Here’s five of the best new openings coming to Leeds this year
Clementine Hall
We're almost half way through the year, so let's see what else we've got to look forward to...spoiler alert, it's a lot.
So far we've had everything from ice bath cafes to listening bars open up in Leeds, and it seems like 2026 is the gift that keeps on giving.
Allow us to get you excited about what's coming to the city...
Dishoom
68–78 Vicar Lane, LS1 7JH
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one is a biggun' as the ever so popular Indian restaurant is set to open this August in a beautiful Grade-II listed building on Vicar Lane which was formerly Flannels.
First opening in London, Dishoom now has restaurants dotted all over the UK including a huge site in Manchester. The group is famed for its lavish and grand interiors, as well as its home-style curries, grills and breakfasts including its legendary bacon naans.
Acai and the Tribe
88 Vicar Lane
Image: The Manc Group
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
This Japanese restaurant serves a menu full of sushi as well as grilled meats on sticks, sharing sides and build-your-own hand rolls. All of this is wrapped up in the most gorgeous interior, which you can see from their jaw dropping new Manchester site.
Occupying the Grade II-listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat. Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June.
Okay, this one might not be happening this year...but we still had to mention it so please forgive us.
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
The Hoot -
10th November 2022 
