The kids have gone back to school and the Easter festivities have sadly come to a close, but that doesn't mean you have to stop having fun.
We can't quite believe how fast this year is going (yes it's almost the end of April).
And as the sun creeps out from behind the clouds, Leeds is shining in all it's glory and is absolutely bursting at the seems with exciting things to do.
From tequila festivals to new restaurant openings, pizza-flavoured burgers and pub quizzes next to the canal - grab your loved ones and get involved.
Keep reading to find out more...
Caity Baser
Monday 17 April 2023 | Leeds University Stylus
Image: Caity Baser
Viral Tik-Tok pop star sensation is embarking on her very first headline tour, and of course she'll be coming to Leeds.
Caity combines honest, no-holds-barred lyrics with lilting, catchy melodies resulting in uplifting pop songs with a real bite. Her lyrics are filled with British slang, often aimed squarely at those who have wronged her in her past.
Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 April 2023 | Victoria Gate, Vicar Lane
Image: Opera North
“It’s time to take a soundwalk in your city as part of Leeds 2023…” This is an unmissable, free event taking place in collaboration between Opera North and Leeds 2023.
Composer and musician Abel Selaocoe has taken inspiration from the architecture of Leeds and his African heritage. Performing with the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North and guest artists, Selaocoe creates beautiful music that embraces the healing power of walking.
Simply pick up a pair of headphones and meander on a musical adventure through the city as your sound pack triggers new musical chapters to accompany you on a transformative journey, taking in Leeds’ most recognisable landmarks.
MEAT:STACK Pizza Specials
Monday 17 - Sunday 23 April 2023 | Bishopgate Street
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Popular burger spot MEAT:STACK are back at it again with deliciously unique specials, and this time it’s all about pizza. They have collaborated with Scream For Pizza to create these unbeatable specials, a fantastic pizza restaurant based in Newcastle where MEAT:STACK was born.
Expect all your fave parts of a pizza combined with Meat:Stack’s delicious grass fed, aged beef smashed patties, and of course their perfect chips– absolutely unreal.
Officially embarking on it's first full week of opening, the new restaurant will seat 160 diners in an open plan setting, featuring an impressive marble bar, outdoor terrace, on-site deli, cicchetti bar and separate lounge area.
The full menu has been designed by Gino himself, with a team of esteemed chefs, to bring the best flavours to the city for an unforgettable experience. There’s a particular focus on quality and ingredient provenance for the food whilst the drinks menu will boast signature cocktails, Italian and international wines, Prosecco, Franciacorta, spirits and artisan beers.
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Candle House, Granary Wharf
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Every Wednesday night from 7pm there’s the chance to win a £50 bar tab and test your knowledge with a quick-on-the-draw quiz at SALT Granary Wharf. Taking place on a smartphone, there’s rounds of general knowledge, pop culture, sports and everything in between.
Make sure to assemble a team full of your smartest mates for this one, with a £50 bar tab on the line, every Wednesday is the most competitive you’ll see this place.
Leeds Tequila Festival
Friday 21st April 2023 | The Tetley, Hunslet Road
Image: Leeds Tequila Festival
We've had the whiskey festival and now Rolling Social Events are treating us to another spirit-fuelled festival and this time it's tequila.
"Regardless of whether you can explain the difference between a mezcal and sotol, have just discovered the world of agave or simply enjoy a margarita, this is an event for all levels of interest."
If you're a tequila lover this shouldn't be missed and in the glorious venue of The Tetley, it's an absolute no brainer. Get your tickets here.
The Alchemist 10th Birthday Cocktails
Monday 17 – Sunday 23 April 2023 | Trinity Leeds
Image: Supplied
Trinity rooftop bar The Alchemist turns 10 this month and is celebrating a decade of ground-breaking mixology by bringing back some crowd favourites.
Head to the beautiful rooftop bar and sample their Butter Beer, Key Lime Pie or Maple Manhattan cocktail whilst overlooking an astonishing view of the city. These comeback cocktails are popular for a reason and are not to be missed.
Hidden inside the Grand Arcade, Tailor’s is a clothes alternation store by day, bar by night and bottomless brunch hotspot on the weekends. Priced at £30 per person for 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, served with a special ‘ring for gin’ bell so you can keep topped up throughout the entire experience.
Choose from a selection of craft gin and tonics, all carefully chosen flavours perfect for a summer’s afternoon. Think Yorkshire rhubarb, British berries, Seville orange marmalade, Sicilian lemon and elderflower and a modern take on Pimms, strawberry and basil.
Leeds
Leeds has been crowned the best city in the UK for foodies outside of London
It's fantastic news for our city as Leeds has been crowned one of the best cities in the UK for foodies.
It's news that we've been pretty certain of for some time, but it's still nice to be recognised isn't it?
It comes from a new study carried out by credit card brand Aqua who analysed 30 major UK cities across a range of dining and social media metrics, including cuisine variety, restaurant availability, meal affordability, Michelin recognition and TikTok hashtag volumes.
Coming in at number on was, of course, London.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With 47 cuisines, 22.5 restaurants per 10,000 residents and 81 Michelin-starred establishments, the capital unsurprisingly continues to dominate the UK’s culinary scene.
But in at number two was our glorious city of Leeds, supported by the highest restaurant density in the study, with 38.5 establishments per 10,000 people, and strong affordability compared with cities in the south.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We will absolutely take that.
Other northern spots to feature on the list include Sheffield and Bradford in sixth and eighth place.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
London
Leeds
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Wolverhampton / Leicester
Sheffield
Birmingham / Glasgow
Bradford / Swansea
Preston
Milton Keynes
Here in Leeds we've got so many fabulous food spots, with new openings cropping up every month it's hard to keep track.
From the multi award-winning Bavette Bistro in Horsforth to the highly acclaimed indie Bundobust that started off in Leeds - you certainly won't find yourself hungry or at a loss for somewhere to eat here.
From Hope to Hardship: Small Island Brings Windrush Stories to Leeds Playhouse
Declan Kelly
An emotional journey of dreams and displacement.
Leeds Playhouse’s latest production brings a vital and often underrepresented chapter of British history powerfully to the stage.
Small Island, directed by Olivier Award-winner Matthew Xia, serves as a compelling microcosm of the migrant experience during the Windrush generation, placing memory, dreams, empire, and entitlement firmly at its core.
This bold and deeply affecting staging expands Andrea Levy’s celebrated novel into a rich, immersive theatrical experience that feels both epic in scope and strikingly intimate. Moving fluidly between Jamaica and postwar London, the production captures the dislocation, resilience, and quiet courage of those who arrived with hope, only to be met with hostility and exclusion.
Image: Supplied
Hortense and Gilbert’s pursuit of dignity and opportunity is portrayed with warmth and nuance, while Queenie’s compassion and Bernard’s unease reflect a nation grappling with profound social change. The play weaves together multiple narratives shaped by the Windrush era, each driven by a desire for a better life, and each revealing the emotional and physical toll of that journey.
What sets this production apart is its remarkable balance between sweeping historical scope and emotional intimacy. The lilting rhythms of calypso infuse the piece with moments of joy and nostalgia, while stark staging and visual contrasts underscore the bleak realities of 1940s Britain. The parallel lives of the characters highlight the shared struggles faced by many Caribbean migrants of the time.
Image: Supplied
One of the most striking elements is the rotating house in Act Two, which becomes a powerful visual metaphor for division and displacement, physically embodying the discomfort and fractured realities of the characters’ lives. Meanwhile, the use of projection reminiscent of archival broadcast footage transports the audience across continents, deepening the sense of time, place, and lived experience.
At times, the play is harrowing, bringing the struggles of the Windrush generation into sharp focus and leaving the audience in disbelief at the treatment endured. There are moments so charged that you feel compelled to respond to challenge, to question, to intervene. Yet amid the hardship, there remains a strong sense of warmth and the enduring promise of hope. Bronte Barbe delivers a compelling performance as Queenie, portraying her compassion with sincerity and strength.
Image: Supplied
However, the standout performance comes from Anna Crichlow as Hortense, offering a powerhouse portrayal that beautifully captures a character driven by ambition, resilience, and deep self-respect.
For those who may have only briefly encountered the Windrush generation in education, this production feels especially vital. It not only illuminates the trials and tribulations faced by a generation but also resonates with ongoing conversations about migration and belonging today.
There is a force in its vision that allows the audience to feel both the physical and emotional realities of the story. Though it does not shy away from bleakness, it ultimately offers connection, reflection, and a reminder of the enduring human capacity for hope.
Image: Supplied
Overall, Small Island is a captivating and emotionally rich production from start to finish. The cast skillfully balances moments of humour with deeply moving scenes, creating a theatrical experience that lingers long after the final curtain. The stories it tells of resilience, injustice, and aspiration feel more relevant than ever.
Theatre continues to act as a powerful lens through which we can better understand both our history and our present, and this production stands as a compelling reminder of why these stories must continue to be told.
Running at Leeds Playhouse, Quarry Theatre until 28 March and you can get your tickets here.
Clementine Hall -
17th April 2023 
