New togs, cocktails and clay pigeons makes for a standard week for Leeds' man about town

Jordan Odu - it has been a busy old month.

Autumnal colours, an excuse to splash out on an entire new wardrobe, and more parties than you can shake a shiny disco stick at – what’s not to love about this time of year? I love autumn, and this one is already shaping up to be a memorable one.

Having finally gotten over my epic, end of summer trip to Ibiza, I’m ready to take on everything work and the run up to Christmas has to throw at me. To combat the cold, I’ll be wrapping up in a brand-new coat which is likely to come from one of my go-to stores, Reiss. Elsewhere, I’ve more or less purchased half the entire Paul Smith and Topman autumn/winter collections, which you really should check out.

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But it’s not just fashion that’s switching things up for the new season, because all of my favourite restaurants have been unveiling amazing new menus too. Matt Healy X The Foundry has done a stellar job with his latest offering, and makes good use of the best local produce. I recently indulged in his decadent Sunday roast, which includes cured salmon with caviar and lemon, and melt in the mouth 12 hour roasted sirloin with all the trimmings.

I mean, this guy put my mum's roast to shame (sorry mum) and has just been crowned national winner in the 'British Roast Dinner' competition, making it officially the UK’s best roast.

Elsewhere in foodie heaven, I finally got round to trying Arnolds Bar and Restaurant, after a ton of rave reviews and tempting photos began surfacing on social media no sooner had they arrived. The restaurant manages to feel rich and luxurious, but without being pretentious – you’ll see what I mean when you spot the flat caps on the wall. The venison haunch and confit leg of duck make for essential Leeds dining, and were my hot picks from their small but well-edited menu.

I also have to give a cheeky shout out to the new chef at my local The Mustard Pot, he’s killing it with the new menu and I can’t wait to the winter night’s hanging out in the Teepee from the end of next month.

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Work wise, it really has been party central in the run up to Christmas, but the hard work has so far resulted in some banging events. Just the other day I joined the swingers club and teed off in style at Roxy Golf, where as per usual, I left Mav for dust and sobbing his sorry self into his Ping Star Martini. Jokes aside, the nine-hole course there is tougher than your average crazy golf, and it took us a good 45 minutes to manoeuvre the many twists and turns it presents.

Across town, we turned up the heat last Friday and threw a party hotter than Havana at Revs de Cuba, which was a rum and samba fuelled evening of sheer hedonism. I can’t tell you how glad I was for a lie-in the next day and catch up on 'Celebs Go Dating'.

Speaking of parties, one of the most enviable jobs I’ve had lately is 'Chief Cocktail Taster', as myself and my Pink Gorilla posse prepare for our fourth Cocktail Experience event. Held on Friday November 9 at the iconic Aspire, we’re quietly proud that this one is going to be the best yet.

Vice and Virtue's exclusive for The Cocktail Experience.

Harvey Nichols is hosting our exclusive VIP lounge, and the 16 bars involved have produced a selection of cocktails almost too pretty to drink. Vice’s Pink Espresso Martini and Manahatta’s Tequila Me Softly are just two of many treasures you will only find here.

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Luckily for the sake of my health and fitness (and growing waistline!), I recently became a member at Fitness Space over in Granary Wharf. They gave me a non-invasive DNA test to produce a bespoke fitness programme based around me, and the results have been impressive to say the least. Membership includes a monthly PT session to keep you on track and off the pies, and I’m loving the Hot Boxing sessions – you really do sleep like a baby after those sessions I’ll tell you.

Trying my hand at clay pigeon shooting.

But my spare time hasn’t all been food, drink and fitness. To treat my better half for his recent birthday, we hired a 4x4 Land Rover Defender and spent the day off-road driving, before an afternoon of clay pigeon shooting, which just might be my new favourite hobby.

That’s it for this month peeps, so take care, enjoy yourselves and I’ll see you at a party in the not-too-distant future.

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