Nestled under the railway arches on Viaduct Street is Huddersfield's first (and only) natural wine shop and bar, Kwas.
First opened at the end of 2018, it's seen an 80% increase in sales since the first lockdown - thanks to numerous additions to their offering including groceries, local and national delivery, organic veg box subscriptions, craft beer, low-intervention cider and more.
Currently housed in Archway 2, now owners Duncan Sime and Ola Dabrowska have launched a crowdfunder to help them expand into the unit next door to help meet growing demand.
Hoping to raise £15,000, they're offering some great rewards - including a year's worth of wine, veg, limited edition merch, private hire and exclusive tasting events
The pair behind Kwas - an ex-record label boss and artist - first started their business with the intention of educating their neighbours on the wonderful world of natural, chemical-free wine.
Working with friends, importers and wine makers from all over the world, Duncan and Ola brought something new to town - creating a fun atmosphere where people with any level of knowledge of wine can come, learn and enjoy a drink.
Kwas
The new site will include bar space, deli, kitchen and permanent grocery store – all under one arch in the centre of Huddersfield.
They've already secured an initial lease agreement and will use any funds raised from the crowd funder to carry out an essential refurbishment, kitchen installation and full fit-out.
As they get settled in the new venue, Kwas will introduce an exciting lineup of rotating food vendors and the welcome return of supper clubs from some incredibly exciting chefs.
Alongside these dining events, Kwas will also be hosting wine tasting events, live music and community meet-ups.
Have you always wondered how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now's your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: "Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?"
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city - used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare - with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden - which is part of ITV Studios - for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on people from Yorkshire with the 'courage and ingenuity' to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let's prove what we're made of.
Applications close on Sunday 4 October 2026 at midnight, and you must be 18 or above, with a valid UK or ROI passport, to enter.
Leeds has been crowned the UK’s spiciest city, according to new research
Clementine Hall
With National Curry Week just around the corner, new research has revealed which UK cities like their food with a kick.
The outcome? Leeds has come out firmly on top.
The research, carried has been out by Britsuperstore, analysed TripAdvisor data to find the UK cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving some of the world’s most flavour-packed cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Caribbean, Mexican, Korean and Ethiopian food.
And it seems us Leeds lot aren't afraid of a little bit of spice, with the city boasting 51.33 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people. Now that's a lot of spice.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
That puts Leeds ahead of Bath and Oxford, which take second and third place respectively, as the cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving cuisines known for their fiery flavours.
At the other end of the scale, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has been named the UK’s mildest city, with just 7.14 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people.
The top 10 spiciest cities in the UK are:
Leeds
Bath
Oxford
Edinburgh
Bristol
York
Cardiff
London
Swansea
Sheffield
And we can't say we're particularly surprised, as here in Leeds our diverse food scene is very impressive indeed. From iconic Indian street food at Bundobust to Kerala-inspired small plates at Kerala Canteen, there's a spicy dish for everyone to enjoy in and around the city.
So, whether you're someone who orders Extra Hot at Nandos or prefers to keep things firmly on the milder side, Leeds looks like the place to be when it comes to getting your spice fix.
Georgina Pellant -
13th May 2021 
