’Tis the season: Chapter 81’s clients try and welcome in the festive cheer

The festive season is well and truly upon us, and here at Chapter 81, we can’t wait for some of the incredible celebrations our clients have planned. After the distinct lack of Christmas in 2020, this year feels like the time to pull out all the stops and come together to enjoy the most wonderful time of year in style. Even if the new variant is trying to stop it. 

So what have our favourite people got in store? You wouldn’t want to miss it:

Masters of authentic Italian small plate dining, Stuzzi, are opening their very own Christmas market, running from 12-8pm every Sunday until the big day itself. Expect exclusive Stuzzi gift hampers and merchandise, plus a range of artisanal Italian food for sale as the mulled negronis and boozy hot chocolates flow. 

Temple Arches’ biggest and best resident, Chow Down, is going all-out with its festive Winter Village, here to give cosiness a whole new meaning. Prepare to be dazzled by a vibrant range of food and drink vendors, plus entertainment, family activities, boozy hot chocolates and curling lanes. Book your place now and prepare to enjoy a transformed, two storey bar – with festive vibes on tap. Also NYE tickets are now on sale too. 

Our old friends Bundobust have their iconic seasonal menu, featuring the likes of Sprout Bhajis, Festive Curry, Christmas Kulfi and a range of seasonal cocktails and beers to boot. Christmas bookings are open for all the Bundo sites now, so get your festive get-together planned and prepare for some classic celebratory sprout-shaped festivities.

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the city centre, Liz Cottam’s high-end dining experience, HOME, has moved to a new, well, home at Brewery Wharf. It’s an exciting new chapter for the restaurant, which is now welcoming diners to the stunning riverside location. With an exclusive outdoor terrace, stunning brand design and a range of different spaces inside, the future’s looking seriously bright for Liz and her HOME team.

Back to Kirkgate for a second, and to The Owl, where Christmas means the chance to get your hands on one of the gastro pub’s exclusive two-day, two-person Christmas hampers. Each one comes packed with enough gourmet delights to make a multi-course Christmas Day lunch and a three-course Boxing Day feast – think smoked salmon, scallops, salt-aged larded bronzed turkey, glazed wensleydale ham and potato pie… and so much more.

After its glorious transformation from Fettle into Fint, Great George Street’s finest Scandi-inspired joint is dishing up a festive feast this year. Offering up two courses for £25 – with the option to add a third for an extra fiver – the menu features scallops with red cabbage and golden raisins, cauliflower and almond soup, vegetable pithivier, belly pork and sea bass, to name just a few. With only the freshest ingredients and a balance of veggie, meaty and plant-based options available, this is the perfect omni festive treat for all adventurous taste buds.

Over at Rolling Social Events – the people who brought you Leeds Rum Fest and Leeds Gin Fair – an exciting Christmas Market experience is taking over the Leeds Corn Exchange. It’s open from Thursday to Sunday right up to the big day, so why not head over to everyone’s favourite round building to discover a rotating lineup of food and drink stalls, masterclasses, bars and festive games galore?

Dapur Malaysia is following the festive trend too, with the launch of a sparkling Christmas set menu offering a mouth-watering selection of dishes for two people or more to share. Highlights include Malabar Duck Curry, Aubergine and Tempeh Sambal, Beef Rendang and classic Vadai, making this a fantastic alternative option when you can’t square up to another Brussels sprout.

Christmas is well and truly here at the Tetley Bar and Kitchen, where the Christmas menu brings a range of festive flavour to keep your spirits up as the temperature drops. Bookings for Christmas parties and celebratory meals are open now, and with dishes like Braised Ox Cheeks, Spiced Squash Risotto, Pigs in Blankets and classic Christmas Pudding on the menu, why would you not get yours in the diary now?  

This year’s Christmas Campaign from LeedsBID comes in the form of an interactive map featuring all the city’s best festive activities. Available in print and online via a dedicated website, the map shows the locations of everything from light displays and fairground rides to family-friendly trails and the unique experiential installation, My Christmas Home, over at Bond Court.

And as for Leeds Indie Food, you can count on a hearty supply of the famous foodie hampers, complete with festive (and non-festive) goodies from all your favourite local independents. There’s also a range of new items available in the online shop, so have a browse and see if you can’t pick up the perfect present. With every penny going right back into the festival, it’d be rude not to.