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Chow Down returns to Leeds for 2023 with new day parties, food festivals and Urban Garden

Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 16th March 2023

One of Leeds' most talked about open-air bar concepts is back for 2023 - and this year is set to be its biggest yet.

The Temple Arches venue is set to host a brand-new Urban Garden space, perfect for soaking up the summer sun. The new addition will make Chow Down 'the largest garden in the city centre', with the jam-packed events calendar lasting all summer long.

Sell-out successes like Bingo Lingo, Camp Presents Drag Brunch and DJ nights will return for the 2023 season, and there's been a huge injection in new food festivals and days and nights out in the city centre that'll have people across Leeds and beyond heading down to the arches.

Chow Down will reopen in April. / Image: Chapter 81

Expect food meets drawing classes in a new Floating Arts events and the return of Dog Social, a dog-lover's heaven that gives chance for four-legged friends and humans to explore the arches with hundreds of like-minded individuals.

Also new for this year, Chow Down is hosting everything from Leeds Indie Food Wing Fest to Battle of the Burger and a Taco and Tequila Festival - there's truly going to be something for all foodies this year.

And that's before we've even began to look at the regular food traders that'll be supplying a feast of food from around the world all summer long.

drag brunch.
Drag Brunch is back for 2023.
people cheering.
Images: Chapter 81

Taking over the first resident kitchen will be much-loved new pop-up Braizin' Squad, with slow roasted meats to the masses. These guys have been seriously commended for their roast dinners over the past few months, including a mention from The Observer and ranking in the Top 15 Sunday Roasts in the UK from Rate Good Roasts- but turns out this is only the beginning of the culinary offerings available.

Jamie Marrion, Braizin’ Squad says “Keep your eyes peeled for us at Chow Down this spring, expect Smokey flavours, braised meats all cooked over fire and regular specials as we like to keep everything fresh..” 

Read More: The Sunday Roast with slow-roasted meats that’s voted one of the best in the country

Braizin’ Squad's Jordan Kaye, Jamie Marrion and Michal Marud. / Image: Chapter 81

Also returning for 2023 is Bastards Bistro. The pop-up brought Leeds winter warmers like festive fries and juicy beef burgers, and huge pots of dipping gravy throughout the festive period - and were undoubtably one of the most popular options over the festive period as a result.

Additional foodie options will come from a rotating street food offers from the likes of Archchi’s, Cluck n Dough, Colombo Street, Fire & Dough, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen, Homeboy Pizza Co, Nasi Lemak, Nikos Comfort Kitchen, Little Bao Boy, Little Red Food Cluck, Shoot The Bull and Sri Non Thai. 

Chow Down's Winter Village saw the space transformed for the festive season with foodie options from Bastards Bistro.
Images: The Hoot Leeds

The Tipple Cocktail Bar has also had a makeover and will be serving up the perfect pint and speciality cocktails to sip inside the bigger-than-ever space.

Matt Long, Founder Chow Down and New Citizens, is excited about the return of Chow Down for 2023:  “With the opening of our brand-new urban garden, which will be the ideal spot to soak up the sun this summer, I expect a very busy season. In addition to our own Taco & Tequila weekender, we will be hosting a number of new events this season, such as Guilty Pleasures, Floating Art, the Battle of the Burger, the Wings fest in collaboration with Leeds Indie Food, and the Wings fest.”

Read More:

Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday 17 March for the first eight weeks of events. Chow Down scrapped its entry and booking fees last year, so although you can reserve a table down at Temple Arches to check out the new venue, walk-ins will also be accepted.

You can find out more about Chow Down 2023 and book tickets here.

Feature Image- Chapter 81

News

Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky

Danny Jones Danny Jones

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:

@the.manc @GET BAKED® are giving away 1000 slices of Bertha right now at their new store in Northern Quarter and Manchester, you turned up 👏 #themanc #manchester #getbaked #giveaway #newopening #bakery #queue #manchesterfood #manchestereats #cake ♬ original sound - The Manc

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.”

Read more: The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant

Featured image - Get Baked

News

Leeds Tattoo Expo to return to the First Direct Arena for 10th anniversary

Clementine Hall 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.

Read more:

Featured image - Leeds Tattoo Expo

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