Viral Leeds sweetie business Sugar Rush has announced it will open its first brick-and-mortar store in the Merrion Centre later this year.
Founded by young professionals Harry Lynch and Tayla Harris in 2019, the business - initially started to help fund the pairs travel plans - doubled its orders during lockdown.
Now it's the biggest seller of sweets (both counter and online) in the whole of Yorkshire.
As a result, they felt it was time to find the sweet business a permanent home.
Sugar Rush Sweeties on Facebook
The new city centre store will sell more than 150 varieties of sweets, ranging from traditional to more modern confectionery with treats like pick n mix, chocolate, imported candy and soft drinks.
“We are excited to open our first city-centre venue in the heart of Leeds Arena Quarter, which we feel offers the exact vibe for our brand," said co-founder Tayla Harris.
"With the increasing number of new student accommodation within the immediate vicinity and the first direct Arena directly opposite, we see this as the perfect location for our latest, contemporary sweet shop and we can’t wait to introduce new customers to Sugar Rush.”
Sugar Rush Sweeties on Facebook
Charles Newman, Associate Director, Estates at Town Centre Securities PLC, owners of the Merrion Centre said: “We look forward to welcoming Sugar Rush Sweeties to the Merrion Centre. It’s particularly rewarding to see a young, independent business enjoy rapid success and for us to be part of their growth journey.
"The new store is sure to prove popular with customers of all ages and we are confident that there will be an influx in people eager to have their first, in person, Sugar Rush experience.”
The BBC has announced a brand-new crime drama set to be filmed in Leeds and Hull.
We all love a BBC drama, and luckily for us one is about to be filmed right here in Leeds.
The new drama will be titled Shy & Lola, starring Harley Squires from The Night Manager and Bel Powley from The Diary of A Teenage Girl.
The six-part series has been described as a "dark comedy" about two women caught up in a murder in the criminal underworld.
The plot follows an unassuming pair in a small coastal town in northern England where the pair both realise they have a hidden talent for crime.
The series synopsis states: "As they build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, opposing futures beckon – using their earnings to fund a fresh start, or becoming the new bosses in town."
The show is based on a popular French TV series and is written by Amanda Coe, an acclaimed English screenwriter and novelist.
Amanda Coe spoke about the announcement: "With such a rich and spiky central relationship at its core, Shy & Lolais a dream of a show to write, full of fun, action and emotion. I can't wait to see our hugely exciting cast and director bring it to life."
Rachelle Constant, executive Producer for Clerkenwell Films, said: "Amanda has written a brilliantly bold series centred on a dynamic female duo, which blends dark comedy with propulsive storytelling.We’re thrilled to have Hayley and Bel as our leads, alongside an exceptional cast and crew."
The new series will begin filming in Leeds and Hull this spring and will air on BBC One and iPlayer and we'll absolutely be tuning in.
Turnstile to play their only UK headline show this year at Halifax Piece Hall
Clementine Hall
Turnstile will headline the Halifax Piece Hall this summer, their only UK headline show.
The Grammy-winning hardcore group have just announced a very special show at historic venue the Halifax Piece Hall.
As part of the venue's huge summer season, Turnstile will take to the stage on Wednesday 26 August marking a whopping 41 shows at the Piece Hall's calendar so far.
The group pulled huge crowds at Glastonbury festival last year and scooped up two Grammy Awards earlier this month, using their platform to thank fans who "swung in the dark" with them.
Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, says: “2026 will see Turnstile playing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and then here in Halifax at UK’s most iconic heritage venue.”
“We always aim to deliver for the full spectrum of music lovers in Calderdale and knowing how passionate our rock and metal community is, this gig will be off the scale – truly unmissable!”
Alongside Turnstile, Halifax Piece Hall will welcome the likes of Hollywood Vampires, Paul Weller, Bowling For Soup, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Empire of the Sun, Sex Pistols, Mcfly, CMAT and Jimmy Eat World this summer. What a season it's going to be.
Baltimore’s hardcore heroes will head to West Yorkshire to play TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Wednesday August 26.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 27 February at 10am, and you can get your tickets here.
Find out more about what's going on at the Halifax Piece Hall this summer here.
Georgina Pellant -
13th May 2021 
