If you're using Valentine's Day as an excuse to celebrate your friendship, then there's plenty to get stuck into: bottomless brunches, themed event nights, and that's before you've sampled the Valentine's Day menus at Leeds' best restaurants.
Here's our favourite spots to hang out with the girls (or guys) this weekend...
There's a Galentine's Day cocktail masterclass that's not to be missed- and it;s happening this Friday night. Round up the girl gang and join The Gift Box Leeds and Harbour and Coupe for an evening of cocktail making and an exclusive shopping experience. Tickets cost £30 but includes a £5 voucher to shop with. To grab yourself a ticket, DM either host on Instagram
Available Friday 11 February from 7pm. Find out more here.
If you're looking for a long-overdue catchup with the girls over cocktails, there is no substitute to a bottomless brunch. Manahatta is hosting a Galentines bottomless experience this weekend where you can enjoy a Valentine's Day themed cocktail in addition to the usual options.
Available Saturday 12 February. Find out more here.
Neighbourhood Bottomless Brunch
Image: Neighbourhood Restaurants
Expect main courses that truly embody ‘a bottomless with the girls’: they’re very Instagrammable and sound as equally delicious. Think pink pancakes with mixed berry compote and other treats all served to the beat of a live DJ with bottomless Prosecco rose, gin, vodka or beer- a dreamy list of drinks that’s certain to have a tipple for everyone. If you needed any more excuses, tickets are just £40 per person and you can add a dessert for just £3.50.
Available on Sunday 13 February. Find out more here.
To make Valentine’s Day weekend a celebration you and your loved one won’t forget anytime soon, Grön Kafe in Oakwood is offering up a two hour session of bottomless booze and Instagrammable brunch options- and it’s beautifully designed. Drinkswise, the bottomless experience includes the likes of mimosas, beers, sparkling wine and Aperol Spritz, so no doubt there will be a beverage for any palate to taste.
Available Saturday 12 February and Sunday 13 February, 3.00 – 4.30pm. Find out more here.
Celebrating all things single this Valentine's Day is Neon Cactus. On their Instagram page, the bar stated "Let’s talk Valentines Day. 1. What a crock of absolute s***. 2. See point 1. Instead, come and celebrate being the queen/prince/bit of both that you are. F*** expensive set menus and pink balloons, our hearts belongs to TACOS & TEQUILA. So gather your girl squad/the lads/your bestie/your dog and let’s GET ON IT."
Available Monday 14 February, 5pm - 4am. Find out more here.
Harvey Nichols are giving you the chance to get the makeover of your dreams this Valentine's Day. You'll be joining Team Tilbury for one night only for their 'Galentines Masterclass' to discover how to create the perfect day to night makeup. Tickets cost £35 each and are fully redeemable against products as well as a glass of fizz and luxury goodie bag.
Available Monday 14 February, 6 - 8pm. Find out more here.
Feature Image- Manhatta
Leeds
The UK’s leading K-pop retailer is opening its first Yorkshire store in Leeds
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”
Inside Pardon Me – Leeds’ newest neighbourhood record bar inspired by Japan
Clementine Hall
Farsley is now home to an ultra-cool record bar with coffee, cocktails and an unbeatable sound system.
Tucked away in the beautiful Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is a record bar built around 'music, atmosphere, and detail'.
It's been launched by Scott Rapson, who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with music around the time of the arrival of hip hop in the early 80s.
He then spent time travelling for raves, and visiting venues like Glasgow’s Sub Club and London’s Plastic People, giving Scott an appreciation for how 'music can shape a room, not just fill it'.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Scott and his partner Laurie have then spent the past three years travelling, visiting listening bars across Europe to shape the foundations of Pardon Me.
Listening bars, also known as hi-fi bars, originated in 1920s Japan - and you can really see the Japanese influence within the space and it's super cool interiors.
Images: The Hoot Leeeds
Bartenders here create a small but perfectly formed menu of cocktails and pour natural wines from Wayward Wines in front of a wall of vinyl, while a collection of Scott's records play as a soundtrack to your evening.
The sound system Scott claims is one of the "best in the North East", which he says has a "real sense of depth and balance to it" with a "coverage that stays incredibly consistent across the room".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Whether it's for coffee during the day, or drinks into the evening, they want Pardon Me to be a place to spend time, looking out across Sunny Bank Mills.
Pardon Me is open Thursday - Sunday, and you can find out more about this wonderful new opening here.
Sophie Smith -
11th February 2022 
