The first ever Popworld Festival is going to be an all-singing, all-dancing evening of pure nostalgic hits.
The best of 90s and 00s music will be hitting Millenium Square on Saturday 6 August 2022, when seven acts performing ten number one hit singles.
Expect to see the remaining members of S Club 7 performing their best hits alongside the likes of Peter Andre, 5ive and Fatman Scoop
S Club 7 will be performing at Popworld Festival. / Image: Supplied (PGHL)
Yorkshire's own Chuckle Brother legend Paul Chuckle will be taking to the decks for a killer DJ set that combines pop anthems with the best of Popworld's chosen talent.
Speaking about the biggest pop party Leeds has ever seen, organiser from Stonegate Group, Robert Smith, says: “Finally, after 3 years in the making, we’re ecstatic that the Popworld Festival is 100% going ahead this year.
We can’t wait to give everyone an amazing party and unbelievable Popworld experience. We’re now 90% sold out of tickets and just want to remind everyone to get there’s asap to avoid disappointment".
Who is performing?
The current acts are set to perform over the evening:
Peter Andre
5ive
Fatman Scoop
S Club 7
Paul Chuckle
Whigfield
Cheeky Girls
The Cheeky Girls will be performing at the event. / Image: Supplied (PGHL)
Between the seven acts, there will be plenty of trending hits to transport you back to the early 00s across a whopping seven and a half hour set (5.30pm-11pm).
Tier one and tier two tickets have completely sold out, but that doesn't mean that there's still a few of the tier three tickets available to purchase.
Priced at £34.95, remaining tickets are all available on the Popworld Festival website.
Image: Millenium Square
For those looking for a VIP experience, the team behind the festival has also introduced an exclusive VIP ticket priced at £64.95, which includes priority seating, a chance to meet the artists and a goody bag from sponsor, Ciroc vodka.
Afterparty
Of course, given this is a Popworld Festival, the club afterparty is going to be a huge part of the festivities.
After the lights go down at 11pm and the crowds start to head into the city centre, you'll find plenty keeping the party going until the early hours Popworld Lower Briggate, Popworld Cookridge Street and Walkabout, Woodhouse Lane, the official afterparty hosts.
Otley has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the West Yorkshire town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Their bid is focused around the Otley 800, a year-long programme that will mark the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Market Charter in 1227 and the bridge over the River Wharfe in 1228.
These two historic moments transformed Otley into the bustling market town that it is today, so it deserves to be recognised.
Work has been going on behind the scenes for the past two years, with the council and Otley BID working with residents to put plans in place for the special year.
More than 70 organisations have been involved.
Mayor of Otley Cllr Paul Carter said: “Otley has always been a town that punches above its weight. This bid is about celebrating our history, but also about investing in our future — creating opportunities for our community, raising our profile and making sure Otley continues to thrive for the next 800 years.”
The shortlist for UK Town of Culture 2028 is set to be announced later this year, with each chosen town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition. Fingers crossed!
Permission granted for new ‘Corn Exchange Pavilion’ to be built in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
The green light has been given for a brand-new pavilion to be built outside the Corn Exchange in Leeds city centre.
Yesterday, Tuesday 31 March, the planning committee of Leeds City Council officially gave the green light to plans submitted by CX Leeds Ltd.
These include plans to build a pavilion outside the Corn Exchange, one of Leeds' most iconic city centre landmarks.
The new building will go where that rather underwhelming patch of astroturf currently lays, in front of the Cornucopia mural and next to the bus shelter.
It lies between New Market Street and Crown Street.
DEN Architecture state that the materials selected will create an intriguing single-storey structure that compliments the surrounding area.
They stated: “The scale of the building and roof form of the proposal pays tribute to the previous tram and bus shelters that once occupied the site.
"While retaining the appropriately subservient nature of any new building in close proximity to the Corn Exchange. This will also provide greater visibility of the Cornucopia Mural.
“The building has been designed following extensive and thorough analysis, with a clear understanding of the built environment and the area’s historic significance.”
It's not yet been decided upon what the building's use will be, although Leeds city council suggests it could be used for "outdoor functions, shops and cafes".
When first put forward to the council back in December 2024, the plans were met with three objections from the public.
So, what would you like to see go into this new space?
Sophie Smith -
23rd June 2022 
