Leeds

The best things to do in Leeds this week | 20 – 26 June 2022

Concerts, obstacle courses, festivals.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 20th June 2022

Summer is finally here and along with the sun comes loads of exciting things happening in and around Leeds.

From obstacle courses to foodie festivals to open-air music performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy (or endure) this week. So slap your sun cream on and welcome the hot weather and longer evenings with open arms at one of our top picks.

Curated Makers Market

Friday 24 - Sunday 26 June 2022 | Trinity Leeds

The Curated Makers market taking place in Trinity Leeds.
Image: Curated Makers

This well loved festival showcasing local artists and creatives is coming back to Trinity Leeds.

Head to the ground floor of Trinity shopping centre where Curated Makers will be hosting 15 markets stalls, giving the public just a taste of what local, independent businesses have to offer. Support small and come find yourself (or others) the perfect gift that is made locally and with plenty of love.

Tickets are free.

Nile Rodgers and Chic

Friday 24 - Saturday 25 June 2022 | Piece Hall Halifax

Nile Rodgers on stage performing.
Image: Visit Calderdale

Taking over the incredible outdoor venue and kicking off the weekend is the legendary Nile Rodgers and Chic. Showcasing their endless catalogue of hits such as 'Le Freak', 'Everybody Dance' and 'Good Times', this will truly be a night to remember.

Put on your dancing shoes and head to the piece hall ready to boogie on into the moonlight. There will even be special guests including Rebecca Ferguson and August Charles. We can't think of any better way to celebrate the start of summer.

Tickets can be found here.

Total Warrior

Friday 24 - Sunday 26 June 2022 | Bramham Park

Image: Total Warrior

This weekend at Bramham Park, those brave enough will have the opportunity to tackle what is known as one of the most challenging obstacle courses in the country. Obstacles that contestants will have to endure include ice cold plunge baths, fire pit jumps, climbing walls and mud slide.

If you don’t fancy doing the course but still fancy being a part of it then the entire event is free and can host up to 10,000 spectators. Not only can you watch those endure the gruelling endurance test comfortably from the sidelines, but you can also enjoy live music and an array of food and drink. Read more here.

If you’d like to challenge yourself and be a part of this amazing event, then you can enter here on Total Warrior’s website.

Yorkshire Feastival

Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 June 2022 | Nidderdale Showground, Pateley Bridge

A big red bus serving drinks at the Nidderdale Yorkshire Feastival.
Image: Yorkshire Feastival

The first of it's kind, the Yorkshire Feastival will take place in the beautiful Nidderdale Countryside and promises to be a day to remember.

Live cooking demos, craft markets, live music, cocktail making, forestry school, inflatable village, you name it. There's an activity here for everyone and we can promise you'll be going home with a huge smile and a full belly.

Tickets start from just £6.50 and can be booked online here.

Barry Manilow

Saturday 25 June 2022 | First Direct Arena

Barry Manilow performing on stage.
Image: First Direct Arena

Head down to the Copacabana and have a groove to Barry Manilow at the First Direct Arena. With such a catalogue of non-stop classics, you are guaranteed to have the time of your life. You won't be able to resist tapping your foot and singing along to every lyric, even if you thought you didn't know them.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Parsonage York Wedding Fayre

Sunday 26 June 2022 | The Parsonage Hotel and Spa

A couple getting married.
Image: The UK Wedding Event

If you're tying the knot soon or simply adore weddings, then this Sunday head to the beautiful Parsonage Hotel in York to gaze at all things wedding.

This idyllic countryside hotel which is the perfect wedding venue in itself, is teaming-up with award winning events company The UK Wedding Event for a free wedding fayre offering couples the chance to see it all for themselves. The day is set to feature around 35 top wedding suppliers to help brides and grooms plan their big day.

Admission is free but pre-booking is advised and can be done here.

Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra

Sunday 26 June 2022 | Piece Hall Halifax

A live gig at the Piece Hall in Halifax.
Image: The Piece Hall

The critically acclaimed 'Ibiza Classics' show is coming to the historic and iconic venue of The Piece Hall in Halifax.

Legendary dance music pioneer and DJ Pete Tong with the Heritage Orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley will bring a taste of Ibiza to The Piece Hall in Halifax this summer. Grab your mates and dance along to some party anthems in this beautiful open-air concert hall as the sun comes down.

If you can't make it to Ibiza this year, this could be the next best thing.

You can still get your last minute ticket here.

Read more: UK’s Best 50 Gastropubs announced and two are only an hour from Leeds

Feature image: The Piece Hall

Leeds

No Greek Tragedy, just indie bangers – The Wombats set Leeds’ First Direct Arena alight

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.

The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.

From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.

They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.

Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.

Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.

Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a
rollercoaster - in the best way possible.

Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.

Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?

Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.

Read more: Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

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

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