Jet2 Festive Après-Ski Evening in Leeds

I recently had the pleasure of attending an incredible event, the Jet2 festive après-ski inspired event, hosted at the cosy and charming Friends of Ham, in Leeds. As soon as I arrived, the festive vibe filled the air. We laughed, got creative, and indulged a lot—mostly with cheese and wine. Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of attending A Delicious Leeds Food Tour of Jet2 Holidays Destinations, which was a great day out and so much fun, filled with delicious food.

We were greeted with a warm welcome and handed a glass of prosecco, plus non-alcoholic option for Tom, my husband. The Jet2 Festive Après-Ski event began with a delightful Alpine Wine Pairings session, Friends of Ham was the perfect venue for this. As we worked our way through the menu of carefully selected alpine wines and sampled an impressive array of meats and cheeses, it was impossible not to feel a little spoiled. What made the event even better, was the company. It was so lovely catching up with familiar faces and also meeting new people who share of love of travel. Of course, there was an almost outrageous amount of cheese to enjoy! No complaints there.

The first wine was the Tour des Gendres PetNat, from Bergerac, France. This is a naturally sparkling wine, which was refreshing and dangerously easy drinking. It was paired with Vacherin Mont d’Or, a soft oozy alpine cheese which is only available in the autumn and winter months.

Our second wine on the menu was the Domaine Lupin, Rousette De Savoie Frangy, from Savoie, France. It had flavours of pear, gingerbread, spice and honey, which goes great with the Beaufort cheese it was paired with. This is a hard alpine cheese, with powerful notes of hazelnut.

Thirdly, the Tre Monti Albana Orange wine was unique, and as you’ve probably guessed, the colour was orange! There were flavours of honeysuckle and stone fruits with gentle tropical aromas. This wine was paired with Lardo Di Colonnata, which is a meat. It’s the fat from the pig’s back layered with bay, rosemary, garlic and spices, which is then aged. This meat had a mixed reaction from other bloggers in the room, it wasn’t to everyone’s taste.

The fourth wine was Martedi Paestum Rosso, Vigneti Tardis, from Campania, Italy – a red wine which is bright, floral and savoury, with delicious zippy mulberries. This red wine was paired with Coppa, melt in the mouth Italian pork shoulder, rubbed with herbs and smoked.

Lastly, the final wine was Clos Lapeyre Jurancon Moelleux, from Pyrenees, France. This is a sweet wine, herbal balanced with delicate honeyed sweetness. The final wine was paired with Gorgonzola Dolce, a soft Italian blue which is rich, sweet and silky in the mouth.

Meats, potatoes and other nibbles were set out at the other end of the room, for us to help ourselves to throughout the alpine wine pairing. There was also a Cheese Melter Raclette, which is a machine which melts cheese. This was hugely popular with everyone! Is it bad I now want one of these machines for our home?!

After we’d all enjoyed the alpine wine pairing with cheese and meat, it was time for something a little more hands-on: wreath making. I must admit, I was both excited and a bit nervous (plus this was an interesting experience after having a few glasses of wine)! As someone who has never attempted wreath making before, the idea of creating a wreath felt a bit daunting. Thankfully, the setup was inviting and well-organised, there was demo to begin with by the florist and they were on hand to answer any questions/show us any specific arrangement techniques.

To my surprise, the wreath-making session was one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening due to how much my husband, Tom, enjoyed partaking. It was fascinating to see everyone’s creativity come to life, with each person’s wreath reflecting their own style and personality. Tom really rose to the occasion—he made a gorgeous wreath! He’s very proud of it, and honestly, he should be. It’s currently hanging outside our home, a beautiful reminder of this special evening.

My wreath wasn’t quite as good as Tom’s, but I still had a lovely time. There’s something magical about getting into the festive spirit through creativity, surrounded by laughter and good company. The whole process, from selecting greenery to arranging decorations, was surprisingly therapeutic. It might be a good date night idea for us, for Winter next year.

Jet2 offers beautiful city breaks (many from Leeds Bradford Airport), especially during over the Winter months. Their offering includes visits to some of Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets, and it’s easy to see why these trips are so popular. There’s nothing quite like wandering through twinkling lights, sipping mulled wine, and browsing festive stalls to fully immerse yourself in the holiday magic. If this event was any indication, Jet2 knows exactly how to create memorable experiences, whether it’s a city break or a dreamy getaway.

Each attendee was gifted a goodie bag from Jet2, which included a red Jet2 hoodie, a pair of ski themed socks, chocolate penguins from Hotel Chocolat, a winter themed Christmas tree decoration and a box of Jet2 themed Gingerbread Biscuits from Honeywell Bakes. A huge thank you to Jet2 for inviting me to this unforgettable event and for allowing me to bring my husband along as my plus one. From the delicious cheese and wine tasting to the fun and festive wreath-making session, every detail was thoughtfully planned and perfectly executed. It was a night filled with good food, great company, and the kind of joy that makes the holiday season so special. As previously mentioned, Friends of Ham was a great venue choice for this event.

If you’re thinking about treating yourself to a festive city break or just want some inspiration for your next getaway, I definitely recommend checking out Jet2’s offerings. With their knack for creating magical experiences, you’re bound to have a trip to remember. Here’s to more cheese and wine, more creativity, and perhaps a beautiful city break next Winter!