With the season comes the cold and the rain, but this wasn't enough to stop Yelpers from braving the weather and stepping out for another exclusive event, to get an insider's look at one of Leeds' newest hot spots. This time we were invited in to get a hands on, indulgent, and delightfully scented taster of Lemongrass House, withing the Trinity Shopping Centre.
The moment folks arrived, their olfactory senses were hit with the delightful aromas within the space. Indeed, you can catch a whiff even far back, before you arrive at their door. The agenda was to take a deep and delving look into their luxury spa products, glean a bit of the history of this business, and indulge in a mini-pamper.
Upon arrival everyone was welcomed with a delectable cocktail from Koko Kanu, a coconut rum-based drink, topped off with delicious jam. As everyone refreshed their mouths with a few sips, the browsing and mingling began, whilst waiting for the rest of the party to arrive.
Once everyone was in, drink in hand, and introduction was given from Lemongrass House. They were established in 1996, based in Thailand, where all the products are made from 100% natural and fresh ingredients, from safe and renewable resources. Passion and knowledge are lovingly poured into every item, the key being in concentrated essential oils.
At this point, it was announced every guest was to be gifted with a free product of their choice, which is where the investigation began! With a few more cocktails in hand, a thorough browse of the products began, from face and hair, to bath and shower, aromatherapy, and even dog products – for cracked winter paws, and whiffy coats.
At this point, the light bites for the evening arrived – some beautifully arranged trays of authentic Asian goodies, courtesy of Street Fodder. Street Fodder is a mobile food truck, who serve fresh, locally sourced Asian cuisine across streets of Leeds – watch out for their beautiful blue van! With an array of satay chicken, beautifully cooked spring rolls, som tum salad, and maing som, everyone was delighted with the canapés, which disappeared in no time.
Following the food came the hand massages and 'name that scent test'. As everyone put their names on the list for a hand massage from Lemongrass House, others took turns to take the mini vials under their noses, and see if they could recognise the aromas within. With 10 scents to name, and world of aroma within the space, it was a tricky game – even with all the investigation and practice! The hand massages were also a highlight of the evening, especially when the difference in appearance and feel of the skin was measured.
And finally, the winners of the 'name that scent' test were announced, with three coming top spot. The winning score may have been a lowly 4 out of 10, but Nicola G walked away with the top prize! Congrats to all who took part – that's the bit that counts, right? And so there ended yet another incredible Elite event, showcasing the best of Leeds to the best of Yelp. These exclusive events match the heart and soul of the site itself – to help people seek out genuinely passionate and worthwhile experiences and businesses in Leeds, and given how many guests now have Lemongrass on their Christmas shopping list, we can call that a job well done.
It's all about spreading the word, and sharing the love here on Yelp – so if you've a few businesses to talk about, you know where to do so. And who knows, if you get involved, maybe you can come to an event like this yourself, sometime soon! Thanks goes out to SLB and Lemongrass for this incredible event, Street Fodder and Koko Kanu for their excellently pleasing treats, Matthew Kitchen for capturing the moment, and the Leeds Yelp crew for being the most fantastic community! Check out all the pics and reviews right here for more of the gossip.
Wish you were here? (There?) Check out these sunny snaps!
Rowena H
Yelp Leeds Community Manager
