I tried The Alchemist’s space-themed festive cocktails in Leeds - one was basically dessert in a glass

With time to spare before a Christmas do, we popped into The Alchemist at Trinity Leeds to enjoy a tipple. The bar opened in 2013, becoming one of the first businesses to open in the landmark shopping centre, and has since expanded with venues across the UK.

I’ve visited a few of them, and the original site is undoubtedly the most impressive. With its rooftop location and wraparound (heated) terrace overlooking Boar Lane, The Alchemist has become a staple for post-work drinks or a boozy respite for shoppers.

We visited on the Thursday before the big day and the venue was packed with work parties and Christmas catch-ups. Thankfully, we grabbed the last two seats at the bar, and we were spotted and served quickly by the friendly bartender.

The space-themed Christmas menu - ‘Christmas Beyond the Cosmos’ - includes five limited-edition festive cocktails: The Trifle, The Last Bounty, Snowglobe a festive bellini and Not Terry’s Chocolate Oyster.

I went for the festive bellini, made with spiced berry, red wine reduction, Alchemist prosecco and festive glitter. The red wine reduction and spices added a warming winter spin on the classic cocktail, and it went down a treat.

My guest opted for a more daring cocktail, The Last Bounty, with Mozart coconut liquor, Bacardi coconut, Briott Cacao Dark, coconut cream and white chocolate foam. The cocktail was a striking baby blue with lashings of white chocolate foam, which made it a little hard to drink without a straw - and was amusing to watch as my friend ended up with a foam moustache.

It was decadently sweet and, like the name suggests, was like a bounty in liquid form - more akin to a dessert than a cocktail. One was lovely, two would have been death by sugar.

At £12.50 each, the cocktails were pricey. In January, the Alchemist is launching a limited-edition 2010 Revival Menu to celebrate its 16th birthday, bringing back cocktails from its launch year and the prices to match, with drinks starting at a more wallet-friendly £6.

If you’re a cocktail lover and can afford to part with a few pennies, you can’t go far wrong with The Alchemist - its show-stopping cocktails and reliable atmosphere are the secret to its longevity.

Factfile

Address: Level 1, Trinity Leeds, LS1 6HW

Telephone: 0113 246 0540

Opening hours: Mon-Tue, 10am-11pm; Wed-Thurs, 10am-midnight; Fri, 10am-midnight; Sat, 11am-1am; Sun, 11am-11pm

Website: www.thealchemistbars.com

Scores

Drinks: 7/10

Value: 5/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Service: 7/10