Review: Whites Cafe Bar, Headingley

I recently popped up to Leeds to visit my brother and, of course, I used the opportunity to tick off another new place to eat in the city. Whites Café Bar in Headingley is a trendy café-cross-bar on Otley Road which grabbed my attention thanks to the beautiful images of food on their website so I was excited to check it out with my family:

Whites does a little bit of everything, from coffee to food to alcohol. The range of drinks was surprisingly broad and my Dad was impressed to see a variety of unusual beers on the menu, including his favourite Meantime Porter, and my Mum and I had a glass of wine alongside our delicious coffees. I liked that the deli was a great spot for a variety of situations; a simple coffee, a brunch or lunch date or, in the evening, a spot for drinks.

We decided to share two sharing boards - although I was seriously tempted by the whole menu, including a range of healthy brunch options, such as smashed avocado on sourdough toast, and flatbread sandwiches. However, we settled on the Italian meat board and the vegetarian mezze which was the perfect amount for three people to share at lunch. The meat platter had a variety of meats, including parma ham, prosciutto and spicy salami, accompanied by a tasty salad and slices of artisan bread. It was tasty but the vegetarian platter really stood out. Simply put, it was the best vegetarian platter I have ever had. The hummus, made with lentils rather than the traditional chickpeas, was incredibly smooth and it was delicious with the brown bread. We were also treated to some tasty falafels, a vinegary bulgar wheat tabouleh and grilled halloumi. The platter was fresh, vibrant and like I say, the best vegetarian platter I've had as I find that the veggie option is often overlooked and becomes very cheese focused - it was refreshing to be able to choose such a tasty non-meat mezze busting with flavour.

Whites Deli is a hidden gem in the generally very student-y Headingley but it's well worth seeking out for its delicious fresh produce and tasty coffee. Have you ever tried Whites Café Bar? Where else would you recommend in Leeds' outskirts to eat?

Jess

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Win a £50 voucher to spend at The Broadway, Bradford

Christmas is well and truly on its way and I'm so excited! I am counting down the days to a much-needed break and time with the family. As we head into the final Christmas countdown, I've teamed up with The Broadway, Bradford's new shopping centre, to give one reader the chance to win a £50 gift card to spend there.

Alexandra Burke officially opened the shopping centre on the 5th November and it has been a huge success in Bradford. I haven't had chance to check out The Broadway myself yet but I've heard fantastic things! I'm particularly impressed by the great range of beauty brands, including MAC, Clarins, Clinique and Kiko as well as high-street favourite fashion brands, such as H&M, Topshop and River Island.There are also some fab places to eat, including the delicious Patisserie Valerie and Taco Bell - which I need to try since I never got the chance in New York! 

The Broadway is open in the build up to Christmas from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday. If you love your sales, the Boxing Day sales run from 9am to 6pm.

To be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher to spend on a snazzy New Year's Eve outfit, buy any last-minute festive gifts or treat yourself to a delicious meal, simply:

1. Follow me on Bloglovin

2. Leave your answer to this question in the comments below (visit The Broadway Bradford website if you need any help!)

Which store would spend your £50 voucher in, if you won?

Please leave either your email address or Twitter handle in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner!

This competition will close at midday on Wednesday 22nd December, to be posted to the winner on Christmas Eve. The voucher will arrive just after Christmas, when you can get more for your money in the sales! Good luck! 

*This giveaway is in collaboration with The Broadway, Bradford*

Jess

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OOTD: Roll With It

Oh I do love this season! Roll-neck jumpers under dresses are one of my favourite looks and today I'm sharing exactly that, shot by the lovely Skinned Cartree in Leeds:

Dungaree dress: New Look* Jumper: Primark. Boots: Clarks. Necklace: Etsy. Rings: Primark.

I spotted this dungaree dress whilst shopping in the Manchester Arndale after my wonderful stay at Premier Inn for the Sleep WellShop Well event. I think New Look is offering some fantastic clothes at the moment and I keep finding myself gravitating towards them whenever I want something new yet affordable for my wardrobe. As soon as I spotted this dungaree dress I picked it up and headed straight to the changing room. I initially was unsure whether the style would suit me but I love it, even if I feel slightly like a five year old!

I love this colour for Autumn and Winter and the dungaree style is perfect for layering. Today, I added a simple beige turtleneck which cost just £6 from Primark – it’s warm and chic, and ideal for wearing underneath my summer dresses with thick black tights. Although I talk about my ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ wardrobe, really I just buy clothes which I can wear bare legged in the summer, then without tights and lots of jumpers in the winter. This dress is a cord-like fabric which feels much studier than some of my more summery dress, so it’s a step towards a proper winter wardrobe.

What do you think of this outfit? What have you bought recently from New Look?

Jess

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Revolucion de Cuba, Leeds

Revolucion de Cuba is one of the latest openings in Leeds, situated at the end of Call Lane  Seriously, Leeds always has something new and exciting happening! At the launch, we were treated to an evening packed full of rum and food, which gave me a great insight into the new bar.

Revolucion de Cuba is an off-shoot of Revolution Bars, and I'd had a taster of their style before as the second floor of the York Revolution is Cuban-themed with a huge rum menu. However, I love the idea of giving the Cuban theme a bar of their own and the previous bar Baracoa has been transformed into a gigantic, bright and spacious venue - it feels about twice the size!

On entry, we were split into three groups and asked to rotate round three 'stations,' each with a different activity and focus. I thought this was a great idea as I got to experience the knowledge, cocktails and food in an intimate way and really get a feel for the bar. First, we headed off to a rum masterclass, where our bartender took us through everything you might need to know about rum. I'm not a huge rum drinker so it was interesting to learn more about the spirit, as well as try some expensive rums. My favourite was the 8 Crillo Cacau, which has a totally unique biscuity-chocolate taste, unlike any rum I've ever tried.

We then moved on to make our own mojitos and I was really impressed with how easy it is to make mojitos. We simply muddled some mint, squeezed in lime, added ice and some rum. Then I mixed in the mint some more and topped up with soda. The result was really tasty with just a few ingredients, but I definitely wasn't a natural behind the bar! Although the process for a mojito is simple, I was so slow at muddling the mint, adding ice and topping up with soda - it certainly gave me serious respect for the skilled bartenders!

Finally, we got to try some of the delicious food on offer at Revolucion de Cuba. I used to eat at Revolution fairly regularly as a student, as it's great value for decent food, so I knew the food would be good quality. However, tapas is a tricky thing to get right in chains I find so I was seriously impressed with the dishes. I particularly loved the chunks of roasted chorizo covered in a wine and honey glaze; the sweet overtone balanced perfectly with the rich meaty spice of chorizo. I also thought the aubergine quesadillas were not only a great vegetarian option but a great dish in their own right.  From Monday to Thursday, three tapas dishes are just £13 which I think is great value for a meal, especially when accompanied by a couple of delicious cocktails.

I was seriously impressed with the enthusiasm and passion of the staff and I think Revolucion de Cuba is going to be a great addition to Call Lane for Leeds. It's fun, great value and with plenty of room for big gatherings. Have you tried it yet?

Jess

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Red's True BBQ: Must Visit in Leeds

If anyone I know is heading to Leeds, I always recommend Red’s True BBQ, However, I realised that, although I normally end up in Red’s with my brother whenever I visit him, I haven’t actually reviewed it on my blog so today I wanted to talk about latest trip to the Headingley branch:

I love the motto of Red’s – “let there be meat.” On entry, you are presented with a ‘Meat Bible’ and can choose from a variety of delicious meat dishes. The portions are big, the meat is tender and the atmosphere is one of no-nonsense good food. To start, I chose the swine fries; I am obsessed with pulled pork and sweet potato fries, so I couldn't resist choosing this loaded fries dish, covered in smoked pork, grilled cheese, jalapeños and salsa. It was huge but delicious and bursting full of heat and flavour; the perfect start to my epic meal.

For my main, I couldn't opting for even more pulled pork and chose the Red's Pulled Pork. A huge pile of BBQ pulled pork came with slaw, cracklings and apple sauce. A little like other restaurants, you can choose either two 'humble' sides or one larger 'divine' side. I opted for the giant onion rings and fries; I particuarly love the huge onion rings which are super crispy and gigantic! It's one of my favourite meals at Red's as I love the combination of delicious pulled pork, crispy onion rings and sweet apple sauce.

Red's is definitely a restaurant which thoroughly deserves its place on the Guide to Leeds. Whilst not being typically Yorkshire, it shows what, for me, Leeds is all about - a great atmosphere, gigantic portions and giving London a run for its money in the quality stakes. It is a restaurant with a very clear branding, which I think is vital for success, as well as a business who evidently believes taste is king. 

Have you tried Red's True BBQ? Where else would you recommend to eat in Leeds?

Jess

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OOTD: Fur Baby

I've already blogged about the wonderful Bloggers' Blog Awards, but my worry - along with most of the attendees - was definitely what to wear. I had taken a huge risk and not even packed an outfit for the Awards when I left Cambridge, relying on a last-minute shopping trip in the Trinity Centre the night before the event, but luckily H&M came up trumps. After we had finished setting up, I grabbed Corrine from Skinned Cartree to take some snaps outside of Lamberts' Yard of my last-minute outfit:

Dress: H&M. Faux fur gilet: H&M. Rings: Primark. Earrings: Platform 9 3/4, Kings Cross. Necklace: George at Asda* Boots: Clarks.

I've been loving the seventies trend all Summer, and I'm even more excited for it to stick around throughout Autumn and Winter because this means layers. Faux fur is always a favourite of mine during the colder months, so I was determined to find a faux fur gilet to wear over swing dresses and suede. After hunting through a few shops to no success, I finally stumbled upon this version in H&M and fell in love. It was nothing like I was originally looking for, but I love it. The greens, greys and blacks are fun and unusual but it also has a black cardigan back, which somehow make the gilet much more wearable - it adds just the right amount of fur rather than completely swamping me in fluffiness! 

I decided to team the furry gilet with a simple dress, also from H&M. I love polo necks in winter, as they keep my cosy and look sleek and stylish. This dress is perfect for both days out and work, thanks to its high neckline and long sleeves. The simple skater style is so flattering and I felt both comfortable and confident in it. The plain grey is perfect for dressing up or down and I thought it matched perfectly with the fur, letting the fluff take centre stage. I've been loving H&M's #FallInLove campaign this Autumn on some bigger blogs; thanks to my single status, I thought I would hate seeing so many loved-up posts but they've been nicely balanced between bloggers loving their other halves and bloggers taking time to love themselves. I hate the motto to 'love yourself before you love others' - it's not something I think should be mutually exclusive. However, I've recently realised quite how happy I am single and I'm so busy it's great to spend my spare moments focusing on myself, my friends and my family rather than dating. I'm not the kind of person who wants to be in a relationship for the sake of it; perhaps somebody will come along and perhaps they won't. Sometimes it's nice to be selfish!

Anyway, back to clothes! Because the outfit was fairly simple. I added a pile of jewellery to add some interest. I've been loving the various sets of rings from Primark recently and this set of gold and purple toned rings are some of my favourites. I adore the mix of normal and midi rings which I can stack up or wear individually, plus they're a complete bargain (even if they turn my hands slightly green - oops!) Of course, I couldn't resist adding my Dobby earrings and my favourite George at Asda necklace to complete my accessories. 

Finally, I added my brand new winter boots from Clarks. This year, I was determined to buy some sensible shoes, so of course I turned to Clarks. I'm really impressed with how fashionable these boots are and, unsurprisingly, they are so comfortable. They are perfect for walking around Leeds or London for hours on end and keeping my feet toasty and dry. Overall, I think the entire look is going to become a Winter staple for me - especially the faux fur! I might have already bought another faux fur jacket...

What do you think of my outfit? What do you wear to blogger meet ups?

Jess

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The Bloggers' Blog Awards

Last weekend, I headed to my favourite place in the country, Leeds, for a very special reason – the Bloggers’ Blog Awards. Hayley, from Tea Party Beauty, had the genius idea a few months ago to set up a blog awards, run by bloggers for bloggers. Sometimes, this industry can get a little competitive and negative and it was wonderful to attend a day which was full of positivity and love for each other and the words we write on the internet.

The event was held at Lambert’s Yard, a beautifully light and spacious venue in the centre of Leeds. I didn’t know Lambert’s Yard had a shop and I was really impressed with the clothes in the store, including Lazy Oaf and some kick-ass handbags by Joanna Pybus. The venue was also amazing and myself, Hayley, Corinne, Sharon and Sammie spent the morning preparing the space for the 60 attending bloggers – with the help of some prosecco and macarons of course!

Hayley had got some incredible brands involved to provide prizes for the winners and goodies for the raffle. Talented Talkers had provided their support for the event, alongside some excellent tote bags - mine is coming in very handy thanks to the new 5p carrier bag charge! Erica did an amazing job with the raffle and I was over the moon to win a Clarisonic - it's already dramatically changed my skin and I'm looking forward to reviewing it soon. My favourite discovery of the event was the gorgeous Jewellery Box jewels; the gold arrow ring in my goody box went straight onto my finger and has barely left since. There are simply so many brands and bloggers to mention, I know I won't be able to do it but I'll be sharing some of my goodies and thanking brands in future posts and on Twitter - I hope that's good enough! If you want to stalk the amazing brands involved, check out Hayley's posts on the day.

When it came to the awards, every blogger who won was so deserving and it was so uplifting to see the genuine disbelief and excitement on their faces. Yes, Jemma from Dorkface and Hayley, I am thinking about you two! It reminded me that hardly anyone seems to have belief in themselves in the blogging world, and although this creates some amazing down-to-earth and humble people, perhaps we all need to believe in ourselves a little more! 

I've had a huge smile on my face this week thanks to my wonderful weekend in Leeds and it's incredible to see the long reaching effects of the event as the #BloggersBlogAwards hashtag is still full of such positivity and love. Hayley, you are a tour de force and I love you. Everyone else, see you next year for the Bloggers' Blog Awards 2!

Jess

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Headrow House

Last week, I headed up to Leeds for the Bloggers' Blog Awards. However, Leeds is such a bustling city, there is always more than one blogger event going on whenever I visit, so I was excited to also attend the launch of Headrow House, Leeds' newest bar, club and event space. In fact it was so new, the building was still being built on the launch night so we headed past the builders into the finished beer hall inside.

Headrow House is very similar to Belgrave Music Hall - which makes sense, once you realise that they are owned by the same company. The guys behind Belgrave have taken everything that works about the venue and applied it to a new location on The Headrow. It comprises of four floors and two roof terraces, although unfortunately there aren't really any views to speak of. However, the space is great; we spent most of our time in the beer hall and the long benches and tables create a fun and social vibe. Once I had a Pilsner in my hand, I settled into the beer hall atmosphere and everyone seemed to be having a great time. 

The student in me was shocked that a pint of beer was around the £5 mark - and this is Leeds! However, once I thought about it, I think this is intentional. Headrow House are effectively pricing out the students and ensuring the venue is going to appeal almost exclusively to locals. Headrow House wouldn't look out of place in London, and although I'm sure plenty of people will love this fact, it made me a little bit sad about the lack of some Leeds personality. 

I never entirely understand the decision to host launch parties before a venue is completely finished, as I don't think I got to see the best version of Headrow House, as many parts of the building were still being finished. However, from what I did see, I would return again and I'm excited to see how the venue flourishes in the future months. 

Check out Headrow's House website for all their future events. Will you head on down to Headrow House?

Jess

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Let's Glow

I've talked about my love of Leeds enough times now but I always love travelling there for events. I'm starting to wonder how long I can claim to be part-Yorkshire though as I haven't lived there for over a year! However, when the lovely India invited me up for a fun secret event, I couldn't wait to book my trains. The event? Glow in the dark bingo!

The event was held at Belgrave Music Hall, one of my favourite drinking spots thanks to its super cool roof terrace and the fact that it's the home of Dough Boys Pizza. If you haven't been, I would seriously recommend checking it out for a fun night out. For #LetsGlow, we were given a couple of rooms entirely to ourselves and the rooms were transformed to a UV paradise. We could get our face painted with UV paint or our nails done. I couldn't resist going all out and getting my face painted, and the result was better than any festival attempt I've tried before; it definitely makes such a difference when a pro is involved!

We were also treated to some gorgeous pizza from Dough Boys and delicious fries smothered in cheese and bacon from Patty Smith's. The alcohol was flowing and by the time I sat down to the first game, with my gin and tonic in hand, I was excited to play some bingo. Did you know that gin and tonic glows under UV light? Just another reason why a G&T is the best...

I haven't ever played bingo before and I think the bingo player was slightly shocked by quite how slow we all were! Once I'd realised that the columns ran left to right from single figures to the 80s in the final column, it made finding the numbers a lot easier (thanks for not telling me this in your bid to win Corinne!) After a couple of games, we all started to get the hang of it and although I was too slow to call out on my full house thanks to a certain Speedy Beady, I did manage to bag some Soap and Glory goodies in another game.

This was genuinely one of the most fun events I've attended for a while; it just shows what a great time you can have doing something a little bit different surrounded by some lovely sociable bloggers. Thank you to Ladbrokes and India - you are all stars!

Jess

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Review: Pieminister, Leeds

My inner Yorkshire lass loves a good pie so as soon as I heard that a Pieminister had opened in Leeds, it went straight on my ‘to eat’ list. Last weekend, I got the chance to head there for lunch and indulge in some proper pie and mash:

The pies at Pieminister are probably seen as more ‘trendy’ if you like your pies traditional, but the menu includes some interesting and tasty flavour combinations. After some deliberation I opted for the Matador; a beef, chorizo, olives and butter bean pie as I am slightly addicted to chorizo and thought it would add a new element to a traditional beef pie. After umming and ahhing between the courgette fries, sweet potato fries and the standard mash, I decided to add a stick of courgette fritters on top of my pie as a compromise. I then chose the mash as my side as I felt that I really had go for a pie, mash and gravy combination.

Drinks wise, I ordered the vanilla milkshake as a slightly unusual choice. It was served as if we were in an American diner, in a long glass with a candy cane striped straw. It was extremely tasty, with tiny chucks of chocolate laced through the drink, giving you small bursts of sweetness as you drank. My friend chose the Monocle beer which he hadn’t come across before and was extremely impressed with it. It was nice to see that there was such an interesting range of beers on the menu to accompany your pie. Personally, I didn’t think the cocktails listed looked like they fit in with the rest of menu and I did feel like they were a slightly odd addition to the menu. It’s nice to have the option, but if you don’t like beer, I would recommend the milkshake instead!

Our pies arrived quickly and I initially thought there wasn’t enough mash. However, as I started to eat I realised that it was actually the perfect portion size and it was smooth, creamy and simple. I must admit that I was disappointed that there weren’t a variety of mash options on the menu, such as a sweet potato mash or onion mash, but the basic mash was still tasty. The courgette fritters were added to the pie literally on a stick which was stuck into the top of my pie. There were only four pieces, which cost an extra £1.50 but the batter was excellent; crisp, fresh and not at all greasy.

So, what about the pie? I was really impressed with the flaky pastry, which managed to keep a nice bite to it and not go soggy at all. The contents were really tasty; huge chucks of tender beef accompanied by the smoky spice added by the chorizo. The butter beans added a different texture to the taste and the olives added an occasional burst of saltiness. Combined with the mash and the beef and port gravy, it resulted in a very satisfying lunch which cost me just £12 in total, including my drink.

If you want a quick and filling lunch or something new to try in Leeds, Pieminister is definitely worth a visit! Have you ever been to Pieminister? 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win an awesome pair of hippy harems from Adorned!

Jess

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Review: The Liquorist, Leeds

Leeds is such an exciting city and over the last few years, restaurants and brands are slowly starting to recognise this. The Liquorist is one of the latest restaurants to open in the city centre and I was invited down to try their menu and be 'lead into temptation:'

Firstly, the decor of the place is amazing. Think exposed wood, luxurious upholstering and a cosy yet opulent atmosphere. There are phone chargers and USB ports at every table, which saved my dying phone battery, and a great range of tables for all sizes of groups. I started the evening with a Peanut Butter and Jelly Cocktail; how could I have resisted? It was creamy, strong and tasty - and topped with popcorn, just to make it ever better!

To start, I chose the Battered Prawns, accompanied by a prawn cocktail sauce and some celery. The batter was fantastic and one of my favourite parts of my meal. The main course of Fish and Chips also looked brilliant as it was carried out for some fellow diners with the batter looking just as good. Unfortunately the prawns were over-cooked for me and I found the celery to be a little pointless, but I still managed to eat the lot!

For my main, I opted for the Tender Slow Cooked Pork Ribs. Normally if I want ribs, I head straight to Reds True BBQ and they are still the unrivaled best for me. However, these ribs were pretty good and, if you go on a Tuesday, particularly good value thanks to the three courses for £15 set menu offer. My meat simply fell off the bone and I gave up on my knife and fork and dug right in! The crispy floured onions were a nice idea but I felt that they needed to be cut into larger slices to keep some moisture to them. Another bonus were the warm plates. I cannot remember the last time I went to a restaurant where they bothered to warm the plates. It's something that really annoys me because it's such a simple thing, which I even do at home, yet seems to be neglected by most restaurants. As a result, my main course stayed nice and hot as I ate - hurrah!

I was so full after my main course, I initially refused the offer of a dessert. However, our wonderful waiter encouraged us to share a Warm Cherry Pie with ice cream and I am glad we heeded his recommendation. It was my favourite dish of the meal; sweet yet still slightly tart cherries, oozing out of a dainty pastry, served with quickly melting ice cream. The staff are another impressive part of The Liquorist. They are so genuinely friendly and enthusiastic about the food they serve with all the customers and it really makes such a difference to an enjoyable meal.

Finally I tried the Chocolate Orange 'Alcoholic Hottie,' which was the perfect soothing alcoholic ending to the meal. The sweetness of the chocolate was balanced by the hit of Triple Sec and left me feeling cosy, warm and content! Overall I enjoyed my meal at The Liquorist. There are a couple of teething problems with some of the dishes, as you would expect from a newly opened restaurant, but the overall excellent branding, welcoming ambiance and superb staff bodes pretty well for Leeds' latest offering.

Have you tried The Liquorist? You can check out the food menu here.

Jess

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The Alchemist, Trinity Leeds

Ready for some more amazing pictures of food? Prepare to be hungry (and thirsty) because I'm excited to share the details of my latest restaurant review: The Alchemist. I'm sure some of you will have already heard of this fantastic bar, known for its mad professor style cocktails, but have you tried the food? I was lucky enough to be able review both their food and drinks menus last week and it did not disappoint:

We began with some drinks (of course) whilst we waited for our table - a delay caused due to me taking the wrong train, not the fault of the staff. In fact they were extremely accommodating when I phoned up in a fluster from a train headed to Edinburgh not Leeds, and calmly booked me a later table without any hassle. I decided to settle my nerves with the intriguingly named 'Colour Changing One' whilst my dining buddy opted for the White Chocolate Raspberry Martini. My cocktail was tangy and apple-y whilst the martini was a wonderful alcoholic dessert to start our meal with!

We opted for some edaname beans whilst we decided on our courses. I was intrigued to try this 'superfood' and once we were told how to eat them, I dug right in. They were a perfectly salty way to whet your appetite for the dishes ahead, which we started with a sharing platter. This comprised of chicken wings, nachos, chicken pot stickers and some beer battered prawns with a selection of dips. It was a great way to try a variety of the menu and I was generally very impressed. The beer battered prawns were a particular standout, which were crispy on the outside yet not chewy on the inside. I also really enjoyed the chicken wings, which, although very salty, were also spicy with chilli and just what I wanted!

We obviously had to try another drink and this time we opted for a sharer; the intriguingly named Mad Hatter's Tea Party. In order to create this drink, we were brought an amazing contraption which boiled then condensed a variety of alcohol, which was then poured onto dry ice and served in adorable teacups. The result was an infusion of passion fruit and elderflower which not only delighted my eyes, but my tastebuds too.

Next it was time for the mains. My friend chose the jerk chicken and I decided upon the Thai Red Curry. I loved the presentation of the dishes and was pleasantly surprised with my main, having heard mixed reviews regarding food at The Alchemist. However, Living Ventures (who own The Alchemist, along with The Botanist, Gusto and Blackhouse) certainly take their customer feedback seriously and there appears to have been a marked effort to improve their standards as a result of some mediocre reviews. You certainly could tell - my curry was tasty, the right level of spice, and the coconut and lime rice paired with the curry perfectly. I enjoyed the freshness of the curry, which you can see by the huge variety of colour on the plate. We accompanied these dishes with two more cocktails - a Strawberry Cup for me, which tasted of strawberry laces, and a Dead Red Zombie for my friend; a strong, rummy and smokey drink.

Finally, it was time for some dessert. We both couldn't resist the Belgian waffles, with warm cinnamon, sugar and vanilla ice cream as a sweet end to our meal. You can't go wrong with waffles can you? My friend opted for the Bubble Bath, a typically Alchemist magical cocktail, and I chose a Lady Marmalade to accompany this dessert. I can't resist a fizzing and smoking cocktail and the Lady Marmalade lived up to my love for a show, and also tasted fantastic thanks to its alcoholic twist on Lady Grey tea.

Overall, I was very impressed with The Alchemist, as I have been with all of the Living Ventures restaurants. You can really tell that customer satisfaction and love of the produce they offer are at the heart of each and every restaurant, which results in a wonderful experience. If you want your night to go with a bang (literally), then The Alchemist is definitely the place to go, with a fantastic array of cocktails to suit everyone along with some great food. Why not check out the food and drinks menus for yourselves and pop along? Let me know what you think!