If you're looking for a brunch that'll impress the one you love, we've found it.
Whether you're celebrating Valentine's day, having a good ol' Galentines date, embracing the rise of Malentines celebrations or simply self-lovin this year- there's every reason to say 'I love you' with food.
It's what us Brits do best. We celebrate Christmas with turkey dinners and pudding, we give people cake when we celebrate their birthdays and pop the Prosecco or Champagne when someone gets good news. We celebrate Easter by giving each other eggs and even the Lunar New Year has brought out an array of impressive dinner menus to share with out loved ones.
Image: Gron
To make Valentine's Day weekend a celebration you and your loved one won't forget anytime soon, Grön Kafe in Oakwood is offering up a two hour session of bottomless booze and Instagrammable brunch options- and it's beautifully designed.
Everything right down to the banana bread is impressive, which takes serious commitment. On the menu, there's plenty more to choose from than loaf cake to tuck into.
Expect pancakes coated in cinnamon sugar and served with homemade granola, soy yogurt and your choice of toppings:, including spiced apple and berry compote, banana, almond brittle and maple syrup, in addition to vegan friendly options like the Breakfast Melt: a white bloomer with smokey coriander butter beans, vegan sausage, vegan mozzarella and wilted spinach.
There's also eggs seemingly unlimited ways: poached, scrambled, royale-style and their toast options are just the same. Expect homemade beans on toast with smokey coriander butter beans, herb crumb and chive oil; garlic mushrooms on toast with cashew mayo or the classic avo on toast with red onion toast.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The french toast is our favourite: cinnamon sugar coated brioche, berry compote, fresh berries, coconut yogurt, mint and maple syrup. It's topped with edible flowers and goes down a treat- if you have a sweet tooth, you already know this dish will be calling your name.
Drinkswise, the bottomless experience includes the likes of mimosas, beers, sparkling wine and Aperol Spritz, so no doubt there will be a beverage for any palate to taste.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Valentines bottomless brunch will take place over two sittings on Saturday 12 February and Sunday 13 February, each at 3.00 - 4.30pm.
For more information, including how to book a seat in advance (prebooked tickets will be required for this one), visit the Grön website.
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times
Clementine Hall
Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?
Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.
The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.
Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
Image: Unsplash
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
Skipton
Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Newcastle: Gosforth
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."
Sophie Smith -
27th January 2022 
