It's not Christmas until you've gone and got a Coca-Cola from the giant red van.
It has been two long years since the Coca-Cola Christmas truck hit the road and drove across the UK to give out refreshing drinks to city dwellers.
Finally, the Christmas truck is returning to our roads as part of the 2021 festivities.
Although the final dates for the van are yet to be announced, we're pretty confident that Leeds will make the cut, given it has appeared on the Coca-Cola Christmas roadmap for as long as we can remember.
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck is one of the Christmas traditions we have come to look forward to each year. / Image: Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Christmas truck dates way back to 1995, where their catchy jingle "holidays are coming" has given soft drink lovers a taste of Christmas in a red bottle.
Their festive packages, paired with real-life visits from the Christmas Truck have made the industry giants an unforgettable Christmas tradition.
In recent years, soft drink lovers have queued to grab a free sample of the drink; grab a selfie with the truck and even purchase personalised merchandise from the company.
The last giant red truck to grace the UK with its festive presence was in 2019, before pandemic-related restrictions were in place.
The van visited 19 locations, including two stops in Leeds during this time, and visitors were given 150ml samples of Coca-Cola Zero.
Coca-Cola have been hinting online that they will announce their UK tour dates soon, but only time will tell when we can see the Christmas truck for ourselves in Leeds.
In 2019, the company partnered with Crisis, the national homelessness charity and made trips to new locations across the UK.
The locations are expected to be made on their social media accounts, along with all you need to know about this year's tour.
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 -
17th November 2021 
