If you're in need of an all-singing, all-dancing night out: this one's for you.
We are the home of Mel B, Kaiser Chiefs and Tom Zanetti.
Not to mention Alt-J, Corinne Bailey Rae, John Porter, The Pigeon Detectives, Jeff Christie, Boston Tea Party, Empress, Pulled Apart by Horses, Gary Husband, Jamie Fisher and just about every decent singer under the sun.
Naturally the Leeds music scene is one of the most impressive in the UK.
Maybe we're a little bias, but when it comes to singing your heart out at the karaoke machine on a Saturday night, we guarantee you'll find at least one song from a Leeds-based artist.
It's in our blood and it's a right of passage, no night out is fully complete without a bit of a sing song in front of the big screen in Leeds.
You don't need to be the next Beyonce to grab the mic and screek the lyrics to your favourite song, but you can form your own band or go solo at plenty of karaoke bars across Leeds.
With so many to choose from, we've rounded up our favourite spots in the city so you can grab your mic and head over whenever you next have the urge to have a sing and dance with your mates.
The karaoke room is open seven days a week, but you can get a midweek discount if you visit Sunday to Wednesday, making it just £24 an hour for your own private stage. There’s even Christmas tunes for those wanting to use this as an excuse to book the work’s Christmas do here. Bring up to 25 guests and channel your inner groupie, sip on cocktails, play some games and sing your heart out.
Hello Music Lounge at House of Fu
The Hello karaoke booths hold up to 18 people at a time. / Image: House of Fu
This is Leeds' latest contender in the karaoke scene lies on the second floor of House of Fu. With a disco ball and neon lighting, there's enough space to fit all of your friends into the spacious booths, and grab a photo or two- because did you really do karaoke if you don't live stream at 3am? There are five booths to choose from, available from £40 an hour.
Mix Karaoke
Mix is open 6pm- 2am every weekend. / Image: Mix Karaoke
As one of the only dedicated karaoke bars in Leeds, Mix has everything you need for an all-singing, all-dancing night out. The popular bar have both private booths and a full karaoke bar available to take advantage of. Taking their karaoke seriously, there host a karaoke competition in August where contestants sing live in front of our audience for a chance to be crowned our Karaoke Queen or King. If you think you have the X-Factor, there's up to £500 up for grabs and plenty of time to practice between now and August 2022. Plus, at £8 per person, per hour, it's a bargain.
If you're up for a bit of karaoke mid week, look no further than the Pack Horse. Every Wednesday night the pub holds a karaoke night for the tone deaf and in-tune singers alike. DJ Kira takes requests until 1am every week and you don't just have to stick to classics like Robbie Williams and the Spice Girls. The pub was recently taken over by Charlie and Kira Mallinson-Brown at the height of the pandemic, and the couple have transformed the space into a fun and friendly space. Monday and Tuesday nights, the pub hosts a game night and there are plenty of fundraising events throughout the year to get involved in too.
The Skyrack, Headingley
Every Sunday, The Skyrack is transformed into a karaoke bar. / Image: Skyrack Karaoke
This weekly karaoke night is a firm student favourite, but you the only requirements to sing at The Skyrack are a song choice and a microphone. Every Sunday night from 8pm - midnight, the pub is filled with wannabe singers, or those that just love a good a cheap pint, and the karaoke commences. This year-round event never fails to impress and The Skyrack pride themselves in having all the tunes you'll want to sing to: we're talking Amy Winehouse, Neil Diamond and Dolly Parton.
Leeds-based Ollo Padel have revealed plans for a new three-acre padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse.
It seems like padel is taking over the world at the moment, and it's about to take over Leeds.
Three years after the plans were first put forward, Ollo Padel is set to bring a state-of-the-art padel and leisure centre to the outskirts of the city centre.
The Roundhouse is a Grade II listed Victorian landmark that first opened in 1847 and will be brought back to everyday use as a community-led space before the end of 2026.
Image: Supplied
The new space will feature five covered and four open courts, alongside hospitality and social spaces, retail space, fitness studios, gyms and more.
Being a Leeds-based company, Ollo Padel are working to put Leeds’ communities at the heart of the new centre, with plans for free school coaching lessons, school partnerships, inclusive programmes for women and juniors and focusing on providing a non-intimidating environment for all-ages and abilities.
The development is expected to create 14 permanent on-site roles, spanning coaching, front-of-house, hospitality and operations, with a strong commitment to local recruitment.
Image: Supplied
Will Linley, Co-Founder (Founder of Linley & Simpson) said: “These proposals focus on sensitively bringing one of Leeds’ most iconic buildings back to life — restoring the Roundhouse and creating a place people can enjoy, feel proud of and use as part of everyday city life.
“Padel is a brilliant way to bring people together. We’re designing Ollo around the social side of the sport — creating a place that supports both physical and mental wellbeing through movement, play and connection”
Luke Gidney, Founder, Ollo Padel said: “We are so excited about the opportunity to create this centre for Leeds. We’re still at an early stage, and that really matters to us, because it means local residents, businesses and community groups can help shape the plans. We want to listen, learn and make sure the Roundhouse works day to day for the people around it.”
The Franco Manca ‘pizza run’ explained – here’s how you can get a free pizza
Danny Jones
If you’ve been wondering why you’re seeing a lot of free pizza lately, we’re here to explain the current Franco Manca pizza ‘run trend’.
And yes, we were the foolish ones enough to have not quizzed any of our jogging chums until now, meaning we’ve missed out on more money and free pizza. Sigh.
Nevermind, though, because at least we spotted it before the end of the month (this being Franco Manca’s main January deal), and we dare say that now you’ve heard about it, you’ll see plenty others popping up on social media with their free slices.
That’s right, it may be a very thin slice with a very long and thin slice, but that is as much of a pizza slice outline as we needed to qualify for the current deal.
Yes, we’re aware that the actual pepperonis on ours are more square than most – listen, we did our best, and we’ve certainly seen people pulling off better overall shaped pizzas than us; that’s part of the fun/and or challenge.
For instance, we didn’t mean for our picture to come out with one long crust running down either…
So, how does it work, you ask? Well, it’s quite simple, to be fair. All you have to do is run a pizza-shaped route (any pizza shape works, by the way), map your route on the likes of Strava or Apple Fitness, etc., then show your creation at your nearest and claim a quid off for every kilometre you run.
As advertised on the ‘Map My Pizza Run’ page on their website, the aim isn’t about putting pressure or hitting a strict target; you simply get rewarded the longer you go.
Here’s a handy example from a local running content creator for you:
There are some stipulations, such as not being used in conjunction with any other offer, one pizza map being valid per person, and the route has to have been run in January. You can find the full terms and conditions HERE.
Oh, and technically, you can do it however you like: run, walk, cycle – you name it. Other than that, we’ve pretty much given you all the info you need to know, so go and get yourself some free pizza.
Sophie Smith -
25th November 2021 
