If there's something we know how to do here in Yorkshire, it's make a good cup of tea.
Let's face it, nothing beats a good brew and arguably no one knows this more than the builders and construction workers out there.
No matter how you like it, whether it be black, green, with a dash or milk, or maybe even with three sugars, when you’ve got a big manual labour job to be cracking on with, then it’s pretty much crucial to know that you’ve got a steady supply of tea to sip to keep you going throughout the day.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea / Credit: Flickr
But what exactly is it that makes the perfect ‘Builder’s Brew’?
To get to the bottom of this all-important question, Materials Market – a marketplace connecting DIY enthusiasts and the construction industry with materials suppliers – wants to recruit three lucky people to taste test lots of different types of tea in a mission to find out what makes the “ultimate Builder’s Brew” – and they’ll pay you £500 for your efforts.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea.
They’ll need to test out different tea brands, milks, the addition of sugar and sweeteners.
There’s so many different ways to make a brew, and while it may be true that everyone has their own preference, the three successful candidates chosen from those who apply for the role will be paid to sample different types of tea and making methods, and essentially, make an executive decision as to which is the best.
Each ‘Builder’s Brewer’ will record their opinions on each one and report back their findings.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea / Credit: Unsplash
The brewers will also have to judge the tea’s optimal drinking temperature, the best type of drinkware to sip the tea out out, and even what type of biscuits are best for dunking.
“How to make a cup of tea is something us Brits love to debate,” said Samuel Hunt, co-founder of Materials Market.
“There is no doubt we all have our methods and go-to tea brands, but at Materials Market, we want to discover which method and brand is best [and] we hope by hiring a range of people across the country, we will be able to discover the best tasting tea for everyone.”
Fancy applying then?
Fancy making £500 to drink tea? 👀 ☕️ We’re excited to announce that we’re looking for our very first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ as we hope to discover what makes the ‘ultimate Builder’s Brew’! Apply here: https://t.co/mjuazP0Jjypic.twitter.com/5UbDDUFdJ6
There’s no previous qualifications or experience required for the role, you’ll just need to be over 18 years of age, love tea, and get your applications in before the cut-off date on Friday 18 February, so it can be judged internally by the leadership team, before the successful candidates are selected soon after.
As well as being paid £500 for the role, the testers will also be given a free supply of different brands of English breakfast tea, and will also be sent sugars, biscuits, and a range of milks to try out too.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has confirmed it'll be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK - but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues 'for all their hard work' throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That's not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a 'special' 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it's important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to 'ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day'
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year's Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: "Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
"Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
"We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them."
The Hoot -
2nd February 2022 
