A magical Narnia Christmas wonderland has opened in Yorkshire, inviting guests to 'step through the wardrobe' this season and experience a taste of C. S. Lewis's iconic tale right here in God's own country.
Hosted at Castle Howard in north Yorkshire, just under an hour's drive from Leeds, the impressive building has been transformed into a spell-binding Christmas wonderland with icy twinkling lights and sparkling trees.
The Castle has been transformed into Narnia with the help of lavish decorations, 'dramatic installations, lighting and soundscapes' that help bring the famous story of Narnia to life.
Image: Castle Howard
Promising a full day of entertainment, there's much to see here - from a 25-foot high Christmas tree adorned with over 3,000 baubles in the Great Hall, to an array of indulgent winter treats on offer inside the cafe.
Guests are invited to 'warm yourself by roaring log fires', find a special present in the gift shop or garden centre, and explore the adjoining farm shop for locally-sourced ingredients to enjoy over the Christmas period.
And last but definitely not least, you'll also be able to visit Father Christmas himself - with the Castle assuring visitors that the big man himself will be 'making some very special visits to Castle Howard this year.'
Image: Castle Howard
A listing on the Castle's website reads:
"Step through the wardrobe into an enchanting adventure this festive season. An icy spell has been cast on this mystical land where it is always winter, but will Christmas spirits be restored and will warmth and joy return?
"Whilst Castle Howard is open from 10am daily, Twilight is one of the most magical times to visit. Icy twinkling lights at dusk, sparkling trees against the dark sky, and an indulgent winter warmer in our cafes, all make your Christmas visit that bit more special.
Image: Castle Howard
"See the lavishly decorated interiors of Castle Howard transformed. Enjoy breath-taking dramatic installations, lighting and soundscapes evoking everything we love about this special time of year. Marvel at the 25-foot Christmas tree adorned with over 3000 baubles providing a magnificent highlight in the Great Hall.
"The magical winter world of ‘Christmas in Narnia’ is waiting for you."
Tickets for the Narnia Christmas wonderland at Castle Howards on sale now, available to book via the stately home's website. Prices vary depending on whether you choose to book on a peak or off-peak date.
Leeds has been named as one of the most underrated city breaks in the UK by Time Out.
It's time to cancel your city break to London, Edinburgh or wherever you think the grass is greener...because Leeds is now the place to beat.
A new article by Time Out has crowned Leeds as one of the most underrated locations for a UK city break, and we couldn't agree more.
The article praises Leeds for it's fabulous independent music venues, sprawling green spaces and standout restaurants.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
In fact, they perfectly paint out how your city break in Leeds could look. From seeing a gig at the Brudenell Social Club and enjoying dinner at the critically acclaimed Highland Laddie, to drinking at The Domino Club and exploring the 700-acre fields of Roundhay Park.
But don't just take our word for it, here's what the piece had to say about our wonderful city: "Anyone who has ever lived in Leeds already knows its brilliance. From unrivalled independent music venues to sprawling green spaces to quietly outstanding restaurants, this Yorkshire city has it all.
"But outside of God’s Own County, it’s not necessarily the first place people think of when planning a UK day trip or staycation...For starters, it’s the home of Brudenell Social Club, which Time Out recently crowned the greatest live music venue in the entire UK.
"Leeds’ food scene is something to behold, too. Bavette, with its perfectly prepared French fare, is Time Out’s favourite restaurant there (it recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its excellent value), closely followed by the uber-cool Empire Cafe, the wondrous Ox Club and the intimate Sushi Nakamura."
We agree with absolutely everything being said, and it's got us craving a city break in our very own city. You can read the full article here.
A look inside the trendy Catalonian café and bar coming to Sheffield
Thomas Melia
There's a brand-new Catalonian-inspired café and bar venue coming to Sheffield where you can grab a coffee or a pint at the same time.
This is Cats, a combined café and bar space that's making its way to Broomhill and offering anyone visiting the chance to experience a taste of Spain without having to fork out the cost of a plane ticket.
Catalonia is famous for many notable like impressive architecture such as La Sagrada Familia, legendary performers like Rosalía and phenomenal all-day hospitality which this new site is hoping to emulate.
Although we might not be able to judge their skills as vocalists, when it comes to construction and deconstruction they're excelling, as can be seen in their renovation progress documented across their socials.
Taking shape in the former Nibbles Pizza site on Ashdell Road, although you might not be able to order a 12 inch meat feast anymore, Cats will be offering a range of interesting wines, beers and bar snacks.
In newly-released rendered images, a fitting wine-red colour has been used throughout both interior and exterior, the latter having a small seating adjacent to the front door.
Inside, you'll find lightbulbs dotted around the almost-180 degree-spanning window seating with small warm lights to set the mood.
Directly opposite will be the bar with a muted-concrete countertop that has a coffee machine on one end and draught beers on the other - the ultimate dream.
There's even a cellar area downstairs with banquette seating and those familiar tabletop lamps which help keep the atmosphere as relaxed and intimate as intended.
As the name may suggest, this place isn't exclusively for feline lovers as this Sheffield venue is promising to be a dog-friendly site stocking 'Cats' branded dog treats and water bowls.
Of course, this won't be exactly how this café and bar space will end up looking like as working with an older may pose some potential challenges, but these plans shouldn't differ too much.
We can't wait to get our claws on a glass of vino.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd December 2021 
