Jet2 has just unveiled details of its new "once in a lifetime" trips to Iceland direct from Leeds next winter.Â
It's no secret that Iceland is a country which commonly features on bucket list, and now, with holidaymakers already flocking in their thousands to book flights to this stunning Nordic destination for next winter, the UK’s largest operator of city breaks to Europe has just launched its biggest-ever Iceland programme.
Jet2 says this new Winter 2025/26 programme offers customers and independent travel agents an "unrivalled choice of departure points", as it covers all 12 of its UK airport bases - including Leeds Bradford Airport.
More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UKÂ between October 2025 and April 2026, and there'll be whopping 34,000 tickets to grab.
Jet2 has launched new 'once in a lifetime' winter package holidays to Iceland direct from Manchester / Credit: Nicolas J Leclrercq | Tom Podmore (via Unsplash)
The programme's run dates means trips are available at several key periods during winter 2025 and 2026, including over the October and February half terms, the Easter holidays, and even in the exciting countdown to Christmas too.
Scheduled Monday and Thursday services operating from Manchester Airport throughout the season will run from 2 October to 8 December 2025, and 29 January to 27 April 2026.
As well as providing customers with "plenty of flexibility" when it comes to which month or period they want to travel, Jet2 says the flights are also "perfectly timed" for those are keen to get a chance at witnessing the spectacular Northern Lights in all their glory.
More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UKÂ between October 2025 and April 2026 / Credit: Suhyeon Choi (via Unsplash)
Customers can pick from flight-only or package holiday options within Jet2's newly-launched Winter 2025/26 programme.
Package options with Jet2CityBreaks direct from Leeds Bradford to KeflavÃk International Airport, near Reykjavik, include a guided Northern Lights Tour, flights with Jet2.com, 22kg hold luggage, transfers to and from the airport, and a choice of 3 and 4-star hotels in central Reykjavik, all for a deposit as little as £60 per person.
On top of this, you can also add a choice of excursions to the South Shore, Golden Circle, and Blue Lagoon to your package.
After six years in the city, independent homeware retailer North Home is closing its Leeds city centre shop.
If you're a lover of all things home then you'll have most likely visited the gorgeous North Home shop in the Victoria Quarter.
Stacked to the brim with unique pieces from striking ceramics to stylish soft furnishings, North Home is known for its well-curated stock and great customer service.
Seriously, we've probably spent a good hour in here in awe of all the beautiful pieces.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Last week, curious shoppers noticed the three-storey store was suddenly empty and now the company have confirmed that they have closed for good.
In a statement, they said: "After nearly 6 wonderful years trading in Leeds, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our physical store while we restructure the business and explore the next chapter for North Home.
"Retail has changed significantly in recent years and, like many independent businesses, we’ve faced increasing costs.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"Taking this step now gives us the opportunity to protect what we’ve built and focus on the future of the brand. North Home continues to operate online and all existing customer orders will be fulfilled as normal although delivery times may be slightly extended.
"We’ve loved being part of the Leeds retail community since 2020 and are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received. We hope to share more about our plans soon."
We'll be sad to see them go and we hope this isn't goodbye forever, but you can still shop from North Home online here.
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Clementine Hall
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd July 2024 
