Christmas Tipis are everywhere this year, so we've rounded up the best in the city.
Market stalls are so pre-Covid. This year, it's all about the Christmas tipi and Leeds has given us so many to choose from.
Ideally, a pub crawl around every single tipi in town will let you test out the best cocktails, cosiest blankets and warmest spot by the fire. But realistically, once you've sat down with your mulled wine at your first stop, we bet you won't want to leave.
Luckily, all of these tipis will keep you warm and well-fed throughout the night so no matter how many you visit, you'll be able to get into the Christmas spirit in style.
Just moments from Leeds train station, the all-new Banyan tipi encompasses all those cosy, warm festive feelings and showcases the best of the changing of the seasons inside a huge tipi, complete with an outdoor bar and open fire pit.That means you don’t need to wander far to get a drink or grab a seat by the fire- no fear of annoying heaters turning off mid conversation here! Whilst you let your toes warm, there will be plenty to snack on to turn get the most Grinch-iest of your group in the mood for Christmas. Think mince pie pancakes and specially themed bauble cocktails, and staple drinks like hot chocolates and mulled wine.
Get cosy by the fire at this Chapel Allerton tipi. / Image: Mustard Pot
The Mustard Pot's Christmas tipi is a firm Leeds favourite and its back for yet another year. With a cosy place at the fire, grab a glass of mulled wine and embrace the festive treats available from 5pm everyday at the popular Chapel Allerton pub. It's the perfect place to unwind after work with a festive cocktail or even bring the whole team down for a Christmas party.
One of the most anticipated events in the Leeds this year has been Chow Down's Winter Village. Locally renowned open for their open-air bar and eatery, Chow Down have Temple Arches open air space into a Winter Village, complete with DJs and festive tipis. With rotating food and drink vendors, guests can repeatedly return for mulled wine, rooftop curling matches and even meet Santa again and again as we countdown the days until Christmas.
Find out more here.
Thor's Tipi
Victoria Gardens / Briggate | Open from 12pm
The tipi is lit up by fairy lights and the Wheel of Light. / Image: Thor's Tipi
It would be impossible to write about Christmas tipi pop-ups without mentioning Thor's Tipi. In 2019, the popular tipi space reported selling 170,000 pints of beer, 125,000 cups of mulled wine and 55,000 cups of hot chocolate back and they've just gone from strength to strength each year- bringing us two options of tents this year. Take your pick from the Briggate or cosy up by the fire in Thor's Tipi.
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant
Clementine Hall
Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.
Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
Image: Supplied
And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.
The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.
The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.
Image: Supplied
The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.
Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.
“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”
Sophie Smith -
12th December 2022 
