Wednesday 18 May 2016

The Alchemist Trinity Leeds | Summer Menu

The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace

One of my favourite places in Leeds to enjoy the sunshine with a cocktail in hand is The Alchemist in Trinity. In fact, it’s also one of my top picks for dinner too. I did a post a few months back all about the restaurant, which you can read here. When I received an invite to a blogger event on the roof terrace to launch a new menu of summer drinks, I think I RSVP’d in approximately three seconds flat.

I’d already booked the day off work to spend the morning being pampered at Verbena Spa with my best pal, Mel, who was visiting from Dubai. So, an afternoon drinking cocktails was the perfect way for the day to progress. 

When we arrived, the sun was shining and the terrace was filling up with people enjoying an after work drink. We were taken past the outdoor cocktail bar to a little reserved area around the corner, where a DJ was playing some summer tunes accompanied by an amazing saxophonist. It was the perfect spot with a lovely view out over Leeds, I could have happily spent the whole evening there. We were shown to a table and given two mini bottles each, that we could later exchange for two of the new cocktails.


The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace

The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace view over Leeds

Being a gin lover, the first drink I tried was the Bittersweet Symphony, a mix of Campari, Bulldog Gin, Vermouth and Lemon Juice, shaken then strained and topped with lemonade. I've never tried Campari or Vermouth before, so it was completely different to any cocktail I've ever tried. It's not too sweet, which can always be a risk with cocktails, so it's really easy to drink. I'm pretty sure the rose gold colour of the drink and the way it matches the accessories wasn't intentional, but it made the photographer in me really happy. Sad, I know.


Popcorn and cocktails at Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace

Popcorn and cocktails at The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace

 If there's one thing I love more than anything it's snacks. If you invite me to a party on the pretence of "drinks and nibbles", I will be there and I will have high expectations of said nibbles. When we were giving this very attractive pot of popcorn, I was already excited, then when I tasted it... OMG. It was amazing. If you had told me ten years ago I'd be sat happily munching on truffle and parmesan popcorn and a bowl of mixed olives, I would have straight up laughed. Oh, how times change when you become a massive food addict.

The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail terrace

Bar tender making cocktail Padua Punch

Bar tender making cocktail

The Alchemist Trinity Leeds cocktail Aperol Spritz and Padua Punch

We deliberated for some time choosing our second drink from the menu but finally decided on an Aperol Spritz for Mel and the Padua Punch. You can't go wrong with a classic Aperol Spritz on a hot day and the Padua Punch, a mix of Aperol, Vermouth and Lemon Juice, served long over crushed ice and topped with lemonade, sounded equally as refreshing. I think we both decided that the Padua Punch was the tastiest of the two but both were well received, this time alongside a bowl of warm almonds and some more popcorn.

The little outdoor cocktail station was perfect for the terrace, I'm not sure if that's a permanent addition for summer but I think it would be a great idea to keep it there. It looked the part, with the lovely orange flowers to match the new Aperol drinks and the cocktails pro behind the bar was really friendly too. Plus, it saves walking inside and queueing, for what can be quite a while, during the really busy periods.

View over Leeds from Alchemist cocktail terrace

By the time we finished our cocktails, the night was still young and the music was in full flow. The atmosphere was really chilled and we ended up being joined by another friend and staying for a bottle of wine. Obviously we worked up an appetite (by too much talking and drinking) so we headed back to Roundhay to a lovely Turkish restaurant. I've got to say it was probably one of my favourite days of the year, so far.

I can't rave about The Alchemist enough. I know that some people, all of a sudden, decide they hate somewhere once it becomes well-known and popular. I get that, it's nice to have a quiet secret spot to enjoy with your friends, but it's also nice to see a great venue keeping a consistent flow of customers happy too. I know I'll be back plenty of times over the summer, especially now the new cocktails are in full swing.

                                                                                                                                                                   

If you liked this post you may like Boss Burgers | Chapel Allerton or Epernay Champagne Bar | Leeds


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