Change your day job for one day only and explore the best of Leeds shopping scene.
If you've ever thought that you'd make a great personal shopper- but would want to keep all your purchases for yourself, we've got the job for you.
An exciting position has opened up for three lucky people in January 2022, who will trade in their day jobs to become a 'gift card spender', and go shopping for free- all courtesy of Open gift card.
The company support small businesses across Yorkshire and offer a single gift card that can be spent at just about any independent store in the city. The idea is that the spenders will report back on their shopping experience and in return, have the opportunity to spend £100 at over 80 different stores around the city.
You'll even get free transport in and out of the city as every gift card comes with a First Bus Day mTicket.
Sounds like a dream job if you ask us.
You can spend your voucher at Hyde Park Book Club amongst other places. / Image: Hyde Park Cook Club
The company announced their search for staff on Instagram, stating:
"Applications now open for the best job in Leeds (probably). Are you passionate about supporting independent businesses? Do you like the sound of spending a £100 gift card in any of our 80+ partner indies....on us?
"If the answer to the last two questions is yes and yes, we want to hear from you. Open is looking for three gift card testers to take an afternoon or a day out in January, to visit a variety of independent businesses and spend some free £££ - think hair salons, delis, bars, retail stores."
All you need to do is follow Open on Instagram, then like, comment and share- but make sure to tell your friends to like your comment as the person with the most liked comment will be the lucky shopper chosen for the experience.
If you need any more reasons to apply to shop for free in Leeds, here are just some of the retailers that are included:
Loti Yoga
Chirpy, Chapel Allerton
Wild Free Yoga, Horsforth
Ivy & Arlo
Kiren's Hair and Beauty
Coldbath, Chapel Allerton
Butlers Barbering
Very Stylish Girl, Horsforth
Haus of XS, Chapel Allerton
Sarah Louise
Earth Warriors
Beat Street Studio
Firefly Pottery, Horsforth
The Dance Studio
Maid To Fit, Horsforth
Swanky Pants, Horsforth
Novy Health and Beauty
The Perfumed Garden
The Bikes College
Seasgulls Reuse
Firefly pottery in Horsforth accept the vouchers. / Image: Firefly Pottery
Alternatively, you can choose to use your card for food and drink at an endless supply of cafes, bars and restaurants in the city centre and neighbouring suburbs, including:
North Star Coffee House, All Good in the Hood, Once Upon a Vine in Horsforth, Dapur Malaysia in Chapel Allerton, So! Bar and Eats in Knaresborough, the Little Yellow Rice Co. and many more.
For more information on Open Gift Cards, visit their website or to enter their draw to become their gift card spender, visit the Open Gift Card Instagram page.
Feature Image- Open Gift Card
Leeds
Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
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.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one 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.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
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.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Sophie Smith -
22nd December 2021 
