JD Wetherspoons have announced they will be slashing prices of a select number of drinks to just 99p after the budget announcement from Rishi Sunak yesterday.
The popular British pub chain will be reducing the price of Greene King IPA, Beck's bottles and whiskey measures to 99p, amongst other offers.
Between Monday 1 November and Tuesday 30 November, these cheap pints will be available in bars across the UK, though due to minimum pricing in Scotland and Wales, prices will be slightly higher.
Hot drink prices have also been slashed, with JD Wetherspoons introducing 99p refillable tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
JD Wetherspoons are known for their strong political opinions and have used government announcements to promote their pubs for years.
During the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August 2020 and in the following months, the pub chain shared a number of 'Sunak Specials', including £1.29 ales.
Wetherspoons also displayed posters with images of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the phrase: "Rishi Sunak, legend: the man who instigated tax equality between supermarkets and pubs."
Regardless of your political opinion, the reduction in prices will give everyone cheaper pint or whiskey measure throughout November.
Rishi Sunak has been the unofficial face of many Wetherspoons campaigns throughout the pandemic. / Image: HM Treasury
The prices to many alcoholic beverages were changed, including a 3p reduction in tax per pints in pubs and 87p reduction in prosecco tax.
Overall, it appears that there will be a 30p price hike across the hospitality industry after the news yesterday.
However, many taxes rose: red wines, sherry and port face an increase of 47p - £1.09 in tax.
These changes are set to come into effect in February 2023.
On average, the price of a bottle of bin is already charged with 70% tax, so additional tax on high ABV drinks will present challenges to some businesses.
However, it appears that Tim Martin has taken the changes in his usual stride.
The Wetherspoons chairman spoke out about the unforeseen offer, announcing: "our pubs are known for their excellent choice of drinks at value-for-money prices at all times".
Hedley Verity on Woodhouse Lane will be participating in the 99p offer. / Image: JD Wetherspoons
There are 20 pubs within a 10-mile-radius of Leeds city centre, many of which are located in the city centre.
In LS1 customers at Beckett's Bank and The Hedley Verity will be taking full advantage of the price cut to their favourite drinks and undoubtedly the rest of Leeds will be too at their local.
The 99p drinks offer will run throughout the entire month of November. For more information, visit your local branch or the JD Wetherspoons website.
You know the venue, and you know the operators behind it, but things are looking a little different over on Sovereign Street.
Leeds' very own Kirkstall Brewery has teamed up with street food legends Little Bao Boy to totally reinvent the city centre taproom formerly known as North Taproom.
At the all-new The City Taproom, you'll find a way cosier space alongside their sun-soaked terrace, as they aim to reimagine a traditional city centre pub.
Across 16 tap lines there are loads of Kirkstall Brewery classics, like Kirkstall Pilsner, Virtuous and Judicious, plus a rotating selection of guest beers from top British breweries - and Guinness, of course.
The City Taproom will also feature two new cask lines: one serving Three Swords as a staple, and the other on rotation starting this month with Golden Hour.
There's a bigger kitchen for Little Bao Boy too, which means an even larger menu of bao and Asian street food, like loaded fries, noodles, and rice bowls.
Little Bao Boy was founded 10 years ago by James Ooi, specialising in home-made bao buns and traditional Asian street food with a contemporary western twist.
Kirkstall have injected the huge space with the traditional essence of a proper Kirkstall establishment, with that kind of cosy atmosphere you know them for at the brewery's other sites.
Little Bao Boy at City TaproomKirkstall Brewery pints and cocktails
This is yet another of the local brewery's openings in the city centre, joining their recent renovation of The Victoria & Commercial in partnership with Whitelocks, plus their stewardship of the historic Tetley brewery building.
James Ooi, founder of Little Bao Boy said: "We have been part of this venue since day one, through COVID, outside seating, and new owners, and we are so excited for this refurb.
"On the food side, expect more collaborations, faster service, and a better overall customer experience. We are extremely grateful Kirkstall saw the value in this refurb and can't wait to get back open."
Steve Holt, founder of Kirkstall Brewery, said: "We're delighted to unveil a new presentation for the Taproom on Sovereign Street.
"It has been named The City Taproom after a famous but long-gone Leeds pub known as ‘The City’, which was situated where the statue of the Dortmund Brewer now stands. Images of the original City pub are a feature in the new look City Taproom, which can best be described as a 're-imagination' of a traditional city-centre pub.
"The City Taproom celebrates Leeds and its rich pub and brewing heritage. We hope that it will become a popular addition to the amazing and diverse venues that make Leeds such a vibrant City for hospitality and entertainment."
It's all the bits you loved before, just a little bigger and a whole lot better.
The City Taproom opens at 3 Sovereign Street on Thursday 23 April.
Much-loved West Yorkshire cafe announces closure after heartbreaking health diagnosis
Daisy Jackson
A popular cafe and bake house in West Yorkshire has announced it will close at the end of the month, after its founder received a devastating diagnosis.
Lucy's Little Bake House in Halifax has shared the 'very difficult news' that it will be closing its doors in just a few weeks' time.
Founder Lucy Chapple told followers that she has sadly been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
She now plans to step away from the business so that she can 'focus all of my time and energy on treatment and being with my beautiful family'.
Lucy's Little Bake House has been flooded with messages of support ever since sharing the news this week.
Lucy wrote that she will 'always be deeply grateful for every order, every visit, and every kind word' received since launching the cafe.
She was first diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer a little over a year ago, and ever since has been sharing symptoms and warning signs to raise awareness, encouraging people not to ignore any signs that don't feel right.
Announcing the imminent closure of Lucy's Little Bake House, she wrote: "Hi everyone, After a lot of thought, I need to share some very difficult news. News which I never wanted to share.
"Lucy's Little Bake House will be closing its doors at the end of April. This is because I've recently been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel c-ancer
"I need to step away from the business and focus all of my time and energy on treatment and being with my beautiful family.
"Our last day will be Thursday 30th April. Before then we are open as usual so please come and see us. I would love to see you!
"Running this business and serving our Gorgeous customers for the past 7 years has meant the world to me. Your support, kindness, and loyalty over the years have helped make Lucy's Little Bake House so special, and I will always be deeply grateful for every order, every visit, and ever kind word.
"Thank you for supporting my small business and for being part of this incredible journey. With so much love and gratitude, Lucy XXX
"P.S. Please please share this post so I can reach as many customers as possible"
We've got a few weeks left before Lucy's Little Bake House closes for good, so head over to Dean Clough and show them some support.
Sophie Smith -
28th October 2021 
