Nights out in Leeds are set to get a lot more exciting thanks to the impending arrival of a new axe-throwing bar in the city.
Whilst axe-throwing sounds like the folksy past time of gruff, checked lumberjack-wearing Canadians ensconced somewhere up in the woods with a cabin nearby and the not-too-distant threat of a bear or two in the distance (admittedly, this is exactly how it has been for some time), in recent years it's also become somewhat of an urban 'experience'.
Something new to do on a night out, and all that, thrill-seeking company Whistle Punks have cornered the urban axe-throwing market in recent years - with three successful sites already established in Manchester, London and Bristol. Now, they're moving north to Leeds with plans to take over a site in the city this autumn.
The company will be moving into a new space on Millenium Square this autumn, bringing their wild axe games with them.
Kind of like darts but with a lot more heft behind it, their gamified version of axe throwing is pretty simple really: with one point awarded when you hit the outer ring, three for getting it in the inner, and five for a bullseye.
At just £25 for a game, it's not just fun but a good bargain too - getting you 70 minutes of axe throwing fun as well as a fully instructed session on how to properly use the equipment before getting stuck in (those axes are sharp, after all).
You can have up to ten players on a lane at once, and whilst social distancing will remain in place at venues it is possible you may end up sharing with other players at this time.
What about the bar element, you ask?
Well, we're not entirely sure what's going to be on offer here in Leeds yet - but we can tell you that over in Manchester, the venue there has a pretty solid selection of beers and ciders on its bar to get stuck into after playing a game or two. (Note that you can only drink afterwards, axe-throwing is not recommended, nor permitted, with alcohol in your system - that's a recipe for disaster if we ever heard one).
Bookings are being taken now for the venue's November open date. To get yourself an early slot, head over to their website here.
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.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2021 
