A new baking school and experience inspired by hit TV show The Great British Bake Off has opened in Leeds.
Called 'Ready Steady Bake It'; here guests take part in a 90 minute themed bake-off experience where they are pitted head to head against one another bake-off challenges which change every month.
July's bake-off challenge is a black forest gateau: an iconic rich chocolatey, fresh cream and cherry jam cake.
The first challenge at Ready, Steady, Bake is a Black Forest Gateau / Image: Ready, Steady, Bake
To master this iconic bake in 90 minutes, you'll need to keep a cool head to bake your sponges, cool them, get on with the jam and finally whip up some fresh cream and decorate it.
At the end of the session, your creations will then be judged by a head chef to give you that authentic Bake Off challenge feeling as you wait to see if they'll call it a masterpiece or a big old mess.
Best booked in pairs, the Ready, Steady, Bake judge will also be on hand to offer baking tips and encouragement throughout the baking session as you run up against the clock.
The Bake Off experiences are carefully designed to last 90 minutes, and you’ll get all the equipment and ingredients you’ll need provided at Ready, Steady, Bake. There's even a team to do the washing up for you.
Multiple stations spaced two metres apart from one another mean you'll be well distanced from other participants, or alternatively, you can book a private session if you prefer.
All the equipment and ingredients are provided, you don't even need to do the washing up / Image: Ready, Steady, Bake
"The baking events are inspired by Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off and are designed to give thrill-seekers a taste of the show, working against the clock to complete a challenge," said a spokesperson for the new experience.
"Each session will also have a Head Chef host, who will be on hand for the all-important judging, but will also be there to share tips and help bakers if they needed it."
Priced at £80 for two, to find out more and book a session head over to Ready, Steady, Bake's website here.
Feature image - Ready, Steady, Bake.
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Inside Sheffield’s new supersize JD Sports Store that has just opened in Meadowhall
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Georgina Pellant -
9th July 2021 
