September is well and truly underway, and even though the sun has disappeared behind the clouds Leeds is still buzzing with things to do.
As we step into the last full week of summer, it's time to get together with your mates and cheers goodbye to the last few months of fun before the leaves start to fall and the pumpkins pop up on doorsteps.
From dance music festivals to new foodie openings, you'll want to head out into town this week to see what our vibrant city has to offer.
As always we have cherry picked the best things to get up to during the week, so whack out your diaries and keep reading.
Farmhouse Opening
Monday 11 September | Lands Lane
Image: Farmhouse
Farmhouse, an independently owned restaurant specialising in breakfast, brunch and all-day dishes, is coming to Leeds this week, and to celebrate the new opening, Farmhouse will be giving you the chance to try brunch on the house.
Those heading over to the 100-cover restaurant will be able to get a free main meal to the first 300 customers to book on Monday 11 September and Tuesday 12 September. Bookings are now already from 8am and will be free on a first come first served basis by booking here.
Pizza Loco will be taking over the kitchen at Meanwood Tavern this month.
Expect soft, light and airy crusts, with interesting, generous toppings and an emphasis on sustainable British ingredients including Wildfarmed UK-grown and milled organic flour, Yorkshire-grown organic tomatoes, and British charcuterie.
Lunchtime will see the signature Pizza Loco Panuozzi pizza-dough butties showcased, whilst evenings will be reserved for those big Neapolitan slices.
Launching Wednesday 13 September | The Ivy Asia, Vicar Lane
Image: The Ivy Asia
‘Sake Sensations’ is a brand new, unique collaborative menu between Akashi-Tai and The Ivy Asia.If you’re a fan of the Japanese rice wine Sake, then this elegant and refined pairing menu is the one for you.
An exciting new collaboration between The Ivy Asia and Akashi Tai, the UK’s leading sake brand, the menu will showcase the best flavours from the continent paired perfectly with a range of sakes.
This menu is available from Wednesday 13 September to Sunday 5 November 2023. The experience costs £85 per persona and you can book your table here.
Hyde Park Picture House 'Hyde & Seek'
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September | Brudenell Road
Image: Hyde Park Picture House
Including Hyde & Seek, a family-friendly ‘pay what you can’ event running every weekend from 11am. Cinema showings are every Saturday and Sunday at 11am, and cover classics like 101 Dalmatians and The Wizard of Oz right through to modern favourites like Frozen and The Spiderwick Chronicles.
All visits to Hyde & Seek, the family-friendly matinee performances are all ‘pay what you can’ so that everyone can join in, regardless of income.
Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 September | Newsam Green Farm
Image: Mint Festival
One of Yorkshire's biggest dance musical festivals is back in Leeds and it is set to be an absolute hoot. Embrace the last of the summer sun by whacking on your best festival fits and dancing to an incredible line-up of acts.
You can buy your tickets to Mint Festival here.
Busted
Sunday 17 September | First Direct Arena
Image: First Direct Arena
Celebrating their 20th anniversary with a huge arena tour, Busted are back with a bang and will be playing all their iconic hits at The First Direct Arena this weekend.
Get ready to be transported to the 'Year 3000' and get ready to meet the 'Air Hostess', because this gig is set to set the city alight.
Put your dancing shoes on and get your tickets here.
Featured images - Supplied / Mint Festival / The Hoot Leeds
Feature
Inside Azotea – Leeds’ newest Latin American rooftop bar and restaurant
A new hacienda hangout has landed in our city and we're sure it's going to be the place to be this summer.
There's only one thing better then a bar, and that is a rooftop bar. And that's everything that Azotea is and more.
To put it bluntly, entering this venue which is on top of the Hyatt Hotel on Sovereign Street will get you instantly feeling like you're on Love Island.
We're talking fire pits, plush booth seating, lavish greenery and plenty of rattan - the interior really is stunning.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
There's two massive rooftops which offer jaw dropping views of the city, as well as one long dining room and bar area for when it gets a bit chilly (which let's be honest, is the majority of the time).
Azotea is bringing a slice of Latin America to the city, with a menu inspired by 33 countries.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Expect Mexican street food, Brazilian sharing steaks, Caribbean small plates and so much more to dig your teeth into whilst enjoying the beautiful setting.
There's also a cracking cocktail list for those sun set drinks with friends, of course.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you are wanting to sit outside on one of the bigger tables, it won't come cheap as Azotea will be requesting deposits for group bookings over eight as well as minimum spends.
However, for a special occasion there really isn't anything like it in the city and the views themselves make it worth the money.
Azotea is now open, and you can find out more about the venue and book your table here.
Five new openings in and around Leeds that we can’t stop talking about
Clementine Hall
Leeds is bursting at the seams with new openings, and we're here to tell you all about them.
The start of 2025 has brought a whole lot of newness to the city, from a brilliant new bakery to a gorgeous independent book shop, it's giving us lots to brag about.
But if you've been living under a rock for the past two months (and to be honest we don't blame you for doing so), then allow us to show off for a minute about five of our favourites.
So, without further ado...
Next Chapter Books
Ground floor of The Corn Exchange
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a book worm or reading more is one of your goals for 2025, then you’re going to want to pay a visit to Next Chapter Books.
Located inside the wonderful Corn Exchange, this cosy spot celebrates women-led books and businesses and it's truly something special.
Serving up coffee and soon wine, we can’t think of a better way to browse books and to interact with like minded people.
BAKE
Mustard Approach, Lockside, Holbeck, LS1 4EY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the mastermind behind Things In Bread and Doh'hut comes BAKE, a nostalgic British bakery concept serving up all your classic bakes with a refined twist.
We're talking cheese twists, vanilla slices, chicken bakes and weekly specials which will get you forgetting Greggs ever even existing.
Get there early though, because it's so good that their bakes are selling out day in and day out.
Aesop
25-29 County Arcade Victoria Leeds, LS2 7AU
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Aesop has chosen Leeds for its first ever northern store, and we're very excited about it indeed.
This beautiful new store has everything you already know and love about Aesop including their iconic soaps, incense, shampoos, home fragrances, hand creams and skincare - the list goes on.
So if you're feeling a bit smelly, get yourself to Aesop and they'll sort you right out.
Sostrene Grene
4 Commercial St, LS1 6AL
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The iconic Danish homeware store has finally landed in Leeds, and yes we have already spent most of our pay check in there.
From crafts to crockery to cooking equipment, and with a gorgeous range of stationery and gifts too, here’s where you can buy yourself loads of well-deserved treats and still have money to spare at the end of it.
If you’re looking for somewhere new to visit this weekend, make sure you check it out.
Green Room
36 Wellington St, LS1 2DE
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everyone's favourite night time venue is back and literally bigger and better than ever before after a sparkling new refurb.
We're talking an extended bar area, a groovy basement cocktail bar as well as improvements to their already amazing rooftop terrace.
It's the place to be for a great night out in the city, go check it out for yourselves.
Clementine Hall -
8th September 2023 
