A new wellbeing cafe with a focus on improving people's mental health has opened in Leeds.
Called Better Days, it's located inside the Grand Arcade and sets itself apart from other bars and cafes in the area by offering dedicated (and free) classes in improving wellbeing.
Better Days offers free support to everyone who visits and, according to owner Vicky Fytche, is the only place of its kind in Leeds.
Waffles with strawberries, bananas and blueberries / Image: Better Days
The cafe also organises walks and talks out in Leeds in the day, as well as hosting self-care and mindfulness sessions upstairs: teaching customers new breathing techniques, and leading gratitude and mindfulness sessions.
In-house wellness coach Kayleigh Bradshaw is on hand throughout the week to chat with guests, she also hosts weekly wellness classes above the cafe to help spread positivity and good vibes.
A pornstar martini, made perfectly at mental wellbeing cafe Better Days / Image: Better Days
The mental wellbeing cafe and bar serves up pizza, pancakes and cocktails throughout the week and does boozy bottomless brunches, waffles and charcuterie boards on the weekends.
The food and drink here looks brilliant, ranging from perfect pornstar martinis to big boards of cheese, olives, antipasto and cured meat.
Every Wednesday to Friday between 6 and 9 pm, Better Days also run a deal on their pizzas where you can get a pizza and a pint for £10 - a winner in our books, considering the dearth of offers in Leeds since the pandemic.
And on Thursdays, they host a live open mic night with a host of different singers, poets and musicians taking turns on the mic.
A cheeseboard and charcuterie board at mental wellbeing cafe Better Days / Image: Better Days
According to the restaurant, these events have made a huge difference in breaking down barriers and bringing people together in the cafe.
"Music, honestly brings people together so much, we have strangers meeting, making friends and singing together for the first time," said the restaurant in an Instagram post.
"We have people who arrived in week 1, really quiet, now chatting away and staying until close with new friends!"
Better Days is open Wednesday to Sunday, from midday to 7pm.
Find the mental wellbeing cafe inside the Merrion Street Grand Arcade in Leeds.
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Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
Leeds Tattoo Expo to return to the First Direct Arena for 10th anniversary
Clementine Hall
The tenth annual Leeds Tattoo Expo will showcase some of the best in tattooing both local and internationally.
If you fancy getting yourself a fancy new bit of ink, then look no further than the iconic Leeds Tattoo Expo that will be returning to the First Direct Arena this June.
Taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025, over 200 tattooists and 70 traders will be flocking to the city to show off their skills.
And not only that, but there’ll also be a whole host of market traders for you to browse as well as live music to have a boogie to.
The artists will be tattooing with options for both pre-booked appointments and walk ups available throughout the weekend.
Image: Leeds Tattoo Expo
There will also be a piercer, tooth gems and a henna artist ready to adorn your body.
Alongside getting tattooed, there’s plenty to do and to see over the whole weekend; there'll be an alternative drawing class, an illustrators market with kids’ workshops provided by Art Gecko, an art fusion event on the main stage, burlesque performances and competitions, a small vintage clothing pop-up, fire breathing and break dancing demonstrations in the square outside the arena.
The annual tattoo competitions will also be taking place each evening, where tattooists showcase their work to a panel of judges, sponsored by Killer Ink!
To celebrate Leeds Tattoo Expo's tenth anniversary, they'll be hosting a Pre-Party at Belgrave Music Hall on Thursday 5 June which is a completely free entry event complete with live music and free pizza.
You can find out more about the event and book your tickets here via the First Direct Arena's website.
Georgina Pellant -
9th July 2021 
