We all love a Christmas drink and in Leeds there’s lots of venues to enjoy this festive period.
There’s some really unique experiences you can sample in Leeds to have a great Christmas night out. We’ve put together a round up of some of the most eye-catching.
Some are based in Leeds city centre while others are a little further out. Below, you’ll find a little bit of enticing information about each one and how to book.
Read more: 22 Leeds pubs and bars included in prestigious Good Beer Guide 2023
You’ll find yurt experiences, an ice rink and in the absence of the Leeds German Christmas market a couple of alternatives - they all have bars. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to grab steins and Bratwursts in our city this Christmas.
Have a look and see what takes your fancy. Feel free to let us know what your plans are by commenting on this article.
Chow Down
Temple Arches, Leeds, LS11 5QG
A Christmas winter village serving street food delights with a packed entertainment programme and football screenings is happening in Leeds this festive season.
The Chow Down Winter Village kicked off an eight-week programme on Thursday, November 10. You can expect fire pits, heaters and winter snugs to ward off the chill plus a festive bar menu including mulled wine, craft beers, mulled cider and cocktails.
Entertainment includes drag brunches, bingo lingo, comedy nights, Christmas dog social, a Chow Down Quizmass and FIFA World Cup matches being screened. The Temple Arches venue will introduce a new beer hall which will include a big screen and sound system, steins and beer selection, street food, heaters, table service and pre-match anthems.
You can find out more here.
Corn Exchange Christmas Market
Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BR
The Christmas Market is based at the Corn Exchange basement floor. You can expect a mix of rotating food and drink options. There will be masterclasses and drink events running.
Spaces for the masterclasses are limited with them including appearances by The Spirit of Yorkshire, Filey Bay Whisky, Brown Forman with a guide to Whisky around the world, Maison Ferrand fine cognacs, John Roberts Botanic Request and Wolf Bros Gin.
The space will seat around 200 people, with a tasting room, a main bar area, food traders, Christmas stalls from Mahogany Market and Indie Makers running alongside the retail options at Leeds Corn Exchange.
At the festive bar, you can enjoy salted caramel espresso martinis, hot toddies plus a selection of draft from Camden Town Brewery. Get into the Christmas spirit with live music from local artists including The Pretend Beatles, Matt Baxter and Hayley Gaftarnick. Sing along to your seasonal favourites with Lucy’s Pop Choir and Joy Choir.
A spokesperson from Leeds Corn Exchange said: "We are delighted to welcome the Christmas Market back to Leeds Corn Exchange for a second year. As a champion for independent retail, we're excited to support even more small and local businesses this holiday season. Rolling Social brought the party to the Corn Exchange last year, so we're really looking forward to indulging in more festive fun this Christmas."
You can find out more here.
YurtBar
Coal Road, Leeds, LS17 9NH
This isn’t one you have to book in advance but certainly one for the diary. The YurtBar will be in Leeds this Christmas giving guests the full Christmas party experience - complete with log fires, pine trees and lots of mulled wine.
Running from November to January, the YurtBar will be coming to the grounds of Moor Allerton Golf Club. There will be three-course dinners on offer and an entertainment programme.
The YurtBar is decked with roaring log fires, sheepskin rugs, and pine trees, and offers guests hearty alpine meals, steins of beer, mulled wine, and ski shots – teamed with live music and a 360-degree photo booth.
You can find out more here.
Green Room
36 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2DE
Green Room has launched a new winter garden which aims to capture the spirit of a Christmas market beer hall.
The team at the Leeds city centre venue, which opened earlier this year, is aiming to fill the gap left by the absence of the Leeds German market by turning Green Room’s roof terrace into a cosy winter spot.
You will find fire pits, heat lamps covering the rooftop and Yorkshire wool blankets. Guests will also be able to enjoy a limited-edition German-style pilsner, brewed exclusively by Kirkstall Brewery and served in traditional steins.
You can find out more here.
Ice Cube@Christmas
Millennium Square
Ice Cube@Christmas will be returning to Millennium Square and looks like being an ideal treat for families looking for things to do in Leeds this Christmas. The ice rink, and nearby attractions and stalls, will launch on Friday, November 25.
It will run every day, barring Christmas Day and Boxing Day, through to New Year’s Eve. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member economy, culture and education, said: “Following the success of last year’s event, it is great to see the Ice Cube@Christmas back in the city centre animating some of our key public spaces and providing a wide range of festive experiences and opportunities for the families, residents and visitors to enjoy.
“I look forward to seeing everyone out there enjoying a wonderful Christmas and celebrating all that Leeds has to offer.” Alongside the ice rink, there will also be street food stalls and drink available from Alpine-inspired chalet style huts and Christmas themed stalls.
New for this year is the Ski Bar, complete with gondolas, chairlifts, skis and a four metre-high illuminated ski bear. The plans will feature a family funfair extending to Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street.
Thor’s Tipi will also return offering cosy fires, mulled wine and hearty winter treats to those in Victoria Gardens. This will be running from Saturday, November 19.
You can find out more here.
To find out the latest news about events in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
Read next:
Leeds pub and restaurant named city's best kept secret
Canal Club offering lots of tasty Christmas crackers on their festive menu
Two Leeds roast dinners voted the best in the UK
Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa celebrates winning big in global awards
Emmerdale stars and Leeds United players launch new restaurant
