The new wellness and social hub will be taking over the previous Alea Casino on Leeds Dock.
The casino closed it's doors back in March 2013 and saw two planning applications come and go without approval.
Now, a new planning application submitted by Allied London on behalf of All Work and Social will see the four-storey building transform into a media, technology and creative business space.
The managed workspace concept, Department, is launching its search for founding members at its first Leeds site, which will be fully operational from October 2022.
Department will join the vibrant, creative waterside community which is currently home to Sky and Channel 4.
So, what is it for? The brand new space is aimed at young start-up companies all the way up to large business. There will be a host of hot desks, private office suites, satellite function rooms, meeting rooms and an impressive glass boardroom, all set across three floors.
Image: PR
The new venture will create approximately 4,000 new jobs and has the potential to create over 1,000 new homes.
And it doesn't just stop there, within the complex there will also be new eateries for people to enjoy including Pizza Express, The Canary Bar and North Star Coffee. A state-of-the-art gym and cinema will also feature.
Anthony Powell, managing director at Department, said: “Relationships with workspaces are completely different to how they were two years ago. Now, businesses need adaptability, flexibility and somewhere that is more than a workplace. We’ve had great success in Manchester with Department Bonded Warehouse, forming communities of businesses that share facilities, and therefore ideas and creativity, and giving workforces added value from their working days."
"Brands and businesses looking to join Department will find themselves within a wider creative community at Leeds Dock."
The new space is set to open in October and will be a huge asset to the Leeds community.
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.
Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Clementine Hall -
14th July 2022 
