It’s that lovely time of year again when the world divides between dewy eyed romantic dreamers hoping to recreate scenes from PS I Love You (other romantic comedies are available), and panic stricken lovers who forgot all about St Valentine.
Well fear not because Leeds Kirkgate Market has the perfect solution for you whatever your romantic dreams may be.
Meet David Hudson, this man is going to save your life this week, when he opens up Brian’s Florist, the flower stall just inside the Vicar Lane entrance at Leeds Kirkgate Market. David will get up at 4am to make a trip to the flower wholesalers and meticulously pick which flowers are going to keep you out of the dog house week.
His favourites are gladiola and alstroemeria and he’ll spend time bargaining with the wholesaler to make sure that keeping your partner happy this Valentine’s Day won’t break the bank. Most of the flowers at Brian’s Florist are imported from Holland, Kenya and Columbia as sadly there are few flower growers in the UK anymore. By 6.30am David will be at Leeds Kirkgate Market (link to Leeds Kirkgate Market page) setting up his stall and awaiting customers.
“Our customers vary day to day sometimes it’ll be coach trips from Newcastle, and sometimes it’ll be pubs looking for decorative pieces. We do flowers for weddings, funerals and other occasions and like most high street florists we do deliveries. One day we’re never quiet is 14th February!”
A Yorkshire man born and bred David, was employed as porter at Leeds Flower Wholesale and was promoted to sales in just six months. Building good relationships with his clients, he met Brian of Brian’s Florist and when Brian decided to retire in 2000 David took over the business but kept the name out of respect.
“I love working at the market it really is a Leeds institution and a great place to meet your customers and other businesses.”
If you’re looking for something to complement your blooms you could always enter the Leeds Markets competition to win a range of prizes including a meal for two at The Supper Club Restaurant, a dozen red roses, two boxes of award winning cupcakes from market regulars Sunshine Bakery, a bottle of champagne and much more. To enter look out for the Experience Leeds Markets team in the city centre on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th February handing out balloons, recipes and flyers.
Special Valentines Offers:
- Free tasters of delicious cooked sausages at Phil Bennett’s Butchers Unit 29 Row 2 on both Friday 11th & Saturday 12th including pork, cheese & onion, pork chorizo, pork & black pudding, pork & leek, Cumberland and many many more!
- Happy Harrys Toy Shop on Row G, free balloon with every purchase
- Daniel Saynors Groceries on Butchers Row, free box of chocolates with purchases of fresh meats & cheeses over £10
- Why not cook a meal for that special loved one? Start off your romantic meal with a trip to Fish and Game Row where you can get special offers on oysters, or even try scallops, lobster or monkfish. Then make a trip to Butchers Row for your main course where there are even more offers on fillet, sirloin and porterhouse steaks and treat that special someone to a delicious home cooked meal. Serve it with asparagus or fennel, both aphrodisiacs available from one of the greengrocers in Leeds Kirkgate Market
- Finish off the meal with a heart shaped punnet of strawberries sprinkled with almonds (another aphrodisiac!) and a bottle of champagne. Or even make the extra effort to bake a heart-shaped cake or cookies using moulds and decorations from the market!
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