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Inside the new Leeds waterfront bar made entirely from shipping containers
The Canary bar is a brand new addition to Leeds Dock. Housed inside striking yellow shipping containers, you'll find some gorgeous local produce inside
Complete with waterside views, live music and mulled wine, this new Mediterranean bar on Leeds Docks is a must-visit.
One of the latest bars to enter the Leeds foodie scene, The Canary is described as a 'welcoming social hub serving up locally brewed beers and spirits'.
Its name and bright yellow exterior, meanwhile, nods to Yorkshire's mining history and the birds' special place in it.
The shipping container venue comes complete with a fully stocked bar, all-day Mediterranean menu and stunning waterside views.
Split across two floors, an intimate, cosy space leaves ample room for guests to unwind from a cold wintry day in the city.
The Canary prides itself on serving locally brewed beers, including this one from Yorkshire brewery Northern Monk / Image: The Canary Leeds Open just in time for Christmas. / Image: The Canary Leeds
Being the new kid on the block usually means it takes some time to gain regular punters but The Canary has quickly settled into life in Leeds, and even started to bring the evenings alive with pub quizzes and live music since its official opening on Friday 3 December.
Locally brewed beers, spirits, and signature cocktails are all part of the experience here- and the management is proud of their ability to support other local businesses, whilst providing excellent hospitality.
There are two bars to serve drinkers, whilst the all-day menu focuses on combining healthy eating with comfort treats.
Think Greek salads, wraps, burgers and mezze, all available with sides of halloumi fries and Greek olives.
Wraps, burgers, hummus and more are all available with sides of halloumi fries and Greek olives. / Image: The Canary Leeds You'll find Greek salads, mezze and more on the menu / Image: The Canary Bar Leeds
For those looking to escape the mundanity of the office or are in need of flexible workspace, the Canary has got you covered. Serving coffee throughout the day and local brews all night, there's USB plugs aplenty, free WiFi and a warm atmosphere that can provide that creative light bulb moment you've been searching for.
If you'd rather bring the whole team, in or out of working hours, indoor booths for between six and eight guests are available to book online.
This private dining experience can also be booked for family and friends wanting their own intimate space, situated just moments away from the main bar.
The upstairs dining area can be booked for events, along with a private balcony. / Image: The Canary Bar LeedsIt looks just as charming at night, lit up across the water / Image: The Canary leeds
Speaking on the new opening, Chris Delaney, Manager of The Canary, shared his excitement around the opening of the new project and its Leeds Docks location.
He said: "Leeds Dock is such a great area of the city and we believe a venue like this will be a fantastic addition to it. Over the past few months we have been talking with local businesses, residents and workforces to make sure that the offering reflects their preferences.
"[I] hope that we'll become the go to spot for food, drink and socialising year round".
For more information, visit the Canary website or head over to Leeds Dock and find the new bar for yourself, in its canary yellow, we doubt you'll struggle to find it.
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times
Clementine Hall
Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?
Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.
The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.
Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
Image: Unsplash
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
Skipton
Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Newcastle: Gosforth
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."
Sophie Smith -
15th December 2021 
