If there's one thing to look forward to as the year draws to a close, it's closing the day with a chilled evening in the bathtub and tucking into a cheese board.
For some unknown reason, the closer we get to Christmas, the more cheese that enters our fridge. It's the ultimate comfort food, an indulgent dairy snack, or main meal, if you're as obsessed as we are and it is the only accompaniment a night on the wine ever needs.
So when Iceland announced that they are introducing a cheese board made for the bath, you can bet we were all ears.
Imagine sinking into bubbly waters, lit only by candle light with one hand reaching for the cheddar and the other turning the pages of a book.
The Snacking Assistant created by the supermarket chain is the only way you will want to devour all of your favourite cheeses. The design behind the board wasn't just inspired by someone dreaming about the perfect way to relax, there's plenty of science behind the bathtub cheese board too.
The idea is that the steam from the bath will quickly bring the varieties of cheese to room temperature: this improves the texture and flavour as the fats loosen with heat- who knew?
The product was trialled by Love Island's Priya Gopaldas, who admitted “The product shoot took longer than it should, mostly because I couldn’t stop eating all the cheese on set."
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She also added that "Now that I’ve tried it, I can definitely say it’s the ultimate bath time accessory", confirming our suspicions about joining the 15% of Brits that already eat cheese in the bath.
The Cheese Board Bath Rack Set will soon be available on the Iceland website to purchase, costing £10 per set.
All that's left to do now is grab a cheese board and get the taps running.
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Sophie Smith -
14th October 2021 
