This week is your last chance to apply for a street road closure for the Platinum Jubilee weekend in Leeds.
Leeds City Council is inviting local communities to host street parties for the occasion, but your last chance to apply is Friday 15 April- so make sure if you're looking to clsoe your road for a Jubilee-themed street party over the June bank holiday, you get it in quickly.
With Queen Elizabeth II set to mark her Platinum Jubilee from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June 2022, making her the first ever British monarch to reach this milestone, and with the UK to get an extra bank holiday to celebrate, Leeds City Council is offering anyone the chance to host a street party.
The Platinum Jubilee celebrates the Queen's Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne, and a remarkable seven decades of service to the British people.
On a national scale, a number of events are planned for the celebratory four-day weekend - including Trooping the Colour, lighting of Platinum Jubilee Beacons, a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, and of course, an extra bank holiday.
If that's not enough to keep you entertained, there will be performance in London to tell the story of the Queen’s reign through a pageant that will include a ‘River of Hope’, a section that will see over 200 silk flags flow through The Mall to replicate a moving river.
But a little closer to home, you can now submit a request to close your street off for the day and host a good, old-fashioned street party.
Officially, Saturday 4 June, is the day of the Big Jubilee Lunch. Street parties in their masses are already being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to come together to mark the occasion, so this is likely to be the most popular date to close off your street and celebrate with neighbours.
This said, Leeds City Council has stated that residents of Leeds are encouraged to apply to close their street and celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, with the expected dates of Thursday 2 June - Sunday 5 June 2022 in mind for road closures.
Leeds residents can now request to close their road for a street party this summer / Credit: Tim Ellis (via Flickr)
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend will also see the royal announcement of the winner of the Platinum Pudding Competition. Back in January, it was announced this morning that Buckingham Palace is searching for the perfect pudding to celebrate the platinum celebration.
Entries are due to be judged by the likes of culinary legend and national treasure, Dame Mary Berry, and the dish will follow in the footsteps of the British staple dish, coronation chicken, a dish created by Le Cordon Bleu to celebrate the Queen’s coronation banquet in 1953.
If you can't wait until June to celebrate, the Platinum Jubilee Celebration will kick off Thursday 12 May - Sunday 15 May 2022 with smaller scale events celebrating the monarch. In London, over 1,000 performers and an additional 500 horses will take part in a 90-minute show in honour of Her Majesty. The performance will take the audience through the Queen’s reign as well as looking back on year’s gone by- right from Elizabeth I to the present day.
The deadline to apply to close a road is Friday 15 April, and you can find out more information and submit an application via the Leeds City Council website.
Football's coming home to Millennium Square as England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
If you're still looking for a spot to cheer on the boys in the football this Wednesday then hang fire, because Leeds City Council have got us covered.
Following the Three Lions’ triumphant victory against Norway on Saturday evening, the council have announced that Millennium Square will host a World Cup 2026 fanzone at the heart of Leeds city centre.
Supporters will have the chance to cheer on star boy Jude Bellingham and the team with all the action shown live on a high-definition giant LED screen with concert style sound, all set within a bespoke outdoor arena.
Two large bars and street food concessions will be provided on site together with toilet and drinking water facilities.
Entry is strictly by advance ticket only and is a standing only event. Gates open at 6pm with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST with live DJ pre match entertainment.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy said “The whole country is behind England and it’s fantastic that fans will have the chance to come together and enjoy this incredible occasion in the open air at the heart of the city centre.
"The atmosphere on Millennium Square is always a one-of-a-kind and probably the closest you can get to being there. Leeds is a city that’s always had a massive passion for sport, and I know the fans will do England proud as we cheer them on in what will hopefully be another memorable win.”
Tickets are priced at £6 per person an go on sale at 10am on Monday 13 July via www.millsqleeds.com.
Plans to turn one of Leeds’ most historic buildings into padel courts approved
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds’ most iconic buildings is set to be brought back to life.
Plans for a brand-new padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse on Wellington Road have been approved by Leeds City Council’s West Plans Panel.
Consent has been granted for Ollo Padel to transform the Grade II* listed Roundhouse into a state-of-the-art sport, fitness, food, drink and community venue subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, The Roundhouse was once home to the steam locomotives that powered industrial Victorian Leeds. In recent years, the building has stood largely unused.
Image: Supplied
The approved plans will restore and protect the landmark building and give the site a new, long-term future as one of the city’s most distinctive leisure destinations.
The three-acre site, located on the edge of Leeds city centre, will include nine outdoor doubles padel courts under a 10-metre canopy, plus a dedicated indoor coaching court within The Roundhouse itself.
At the heart of the site will be the Ollo Clubhouse; built around an all-day kitchen and bar, it will combine a comfortable lounge and co-working space, meeting rooms and live sport and events spaces.
The kitchen and bar will be run in partnership with Southbank Provisions, the independent Leeds hospitality team behind Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Galleria whilst the gym will be operated by fitness and performance specialists Northbound, who will bring strength and conditioning practice, Hyrox training and pilates classes to The Roundhouse.
Image: Supplied
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the venue aiming to open in early 2027.
Luke Gidney, Founder & CEO Ollo Padel: "This is a huge day for Leeds, for The Roundhouse and for Ollo. The Roundhouse has been part of the city’s story for nearly 180 years. It’s an incredible building but it needs people, energy and purpose again. Our plan is to bring it back to life as a place where people can play, eat, work, meet friends and feel part of something.
"Padel is growing so quickly because it’s fun, social and easy to pick up. But for us, this is about more than just the courts. We want Ollo to become a proper community destination for Leeds, somewhere welcoming, joyful and full of life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to Leeds City Council’s planning team, our case officer, the wider council team and everyone who has supported the project to this point. This has been a complex project but the sport and engagement throughout has been brilliant. Now the real work starts and we cannot wait to open the doors for you.”
Sophie Smith -
14th April 2022 
