The countdown is on until one the Yorkshire's biggest festivals of culture kicks off - and there's a seriously exciting line-up for this year.
That's right, we've got the likes of Davina McCall, Dame Prue Leith and Will Young taking to the stage alongside huge names from the world of entertainment, politics and business. This includes Matt Baker MBE, Gemma Whelan, Amber Rudd, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Rob Rinder, Sir Jon Cuncliffe, and many more.
These exciting names will be joining TV personality Bimini, who will be talking about ‘a world beyond the binary’; author and comedian Ruby Wax OBE will be bringing ‘my journey to mindfulness’ to life with a key note speaker show whilst ‘a new generation of entrepreneurism’ will be covered by Diary of a CEO’s Steven Bartlett.
And for those wondering how to grab tickets or where the festival is located this year (yes, new year, new venue) keep reading for everything you need to know about Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2023...
What is Leeds International Festival of Ideas?
Leeds International Festival of Ideas has announced its full festival lineup, and it’s combining some of the UK’s most influential speakers with some of the most important questions of our time.
Working in partnership with LeedsBID, The Hoot Leeds (that's us!) and Weightmans, the idea of the festival is to bring conversations to the surface, using a combination of panels, fireside chats and speeches to inspire, provoke and encourage discussions.
Questions vary from ‘what’s our obsession with true crime?’ to ‘who does our political system benefit?’ and ‘how do we talk about grief?’ – and this year’s lineup is perfectly certainly won’t be shying away from the hard questions.
The four day festival will take place from Wednesday 27 September - Saturday 30 September 2023 with most events running at 7pm and 7.30pm - and an additional 2.30pm slot on the Saturday.
Where is the festival?
This year Leeds International Festival of Ideas is held at Leeds Playhouse.
The award-winning cultural hub was recently recognised at the UK Theatre Awards as the Most Welcoming Theatre in 2022. With a mission to seek out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire, Leeds Internationals Festival of Ideas, will be joining the long list of exciting productions, festivals and events that Leeds Playhouse have hosted over the past 50 years.
The full address for Leeds Playhouse is: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP
Leeds International Festival of Idas Full Lineup
The full programme schedule is as followed:
Wednesday 27 September 2023
Davina McCall will be on the panel for ‘when will women’s health be taken seriously’. / Image: Chapter 81
7pmPanel: When will women’s health be taken seriously? with Davina McCall, Dr Christine Ekechi Lauren Mahon, Cherry Healey, Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin and Kenny Ethan Jones
7.30pmFireside chat: A New Generation Of Entrepreneurism with Steven Bartlett
Tickets cost £8 - £12 depending on whether you're heading off to a gireside chat or panel discussion, with additional discounts available to those with a Leeds Card, registered unemployed or Under 18.
Plus there's a multi-buy discount for those buying tickets to more than three events. Book 3-4 events and get a 15% discount or book five or more for 20% off.
Where can I read more about the events and the thoughts behind the speakers?
Leeds International Festival of Ideas has its very own journal on the LIFI website here.
Plus, there's a dedicated podcast series named LIFIcast discussing everything from wellness, adult entertainment, Brexit and music hosted by journalist Lotty Leaming. All episodes are available the LIFI website here.
How to get to Leeds Playhouse
Image: Anthony Robling via Wikicommons
Leeds Playhouse is about a 15-minute walk from Leeds Train Station and less than five from Leeds Bus Station.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas has collaborated with partners North Brew to make a very special LIFI beer.
The vegan session pale ale for all you beer enthusiasts has 'aromas of lemon zest and freshly cut grass, bringing a note of vibrancy that balances against the juicy flavours of white peach and sweet mango'.
The following locations will be serving North Brew X LIFI until the festival's end:
There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Leeds.
From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties and fluffy focaccias, if you’re a sandwich lover in Leeds then you’re well catered for.
Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Leeds and beyond.
Loosen your belts a little, folks.
Cheesy Living Co.
The Corn Exchange, Oakwood and Pudsey
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're working in the city and fancy something special for your lunch, then popping into The Corn Exchange to pay a visit to the legends at Cheesy Living Co. is just the thing.
Their fluffy focaccia is baked fresh every day and packed with their delicious cheeses, cured meats, local chutneys and topped with tangy pickles to take the edge of. Have in or takeaway, it's completely up to you.
Alfonso's
Grand Arcade
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Relatively new on the sandwich scene, Alfonso's Deli in the Grand Arcade is serving up ultimate toasted Cuban sandwiches as well as stacked subs. They're also dishing out unreal breakfast bagels which are the perfect hangover cure if you've had a couple the night before.
Silver's Deli
268 Stanningley Rd, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3BS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fancy a big fat hoagie as long as your arm? Then get yourself to Bramley as soon as possible.
The moment Silver's touched down on the Leeds food scene it's truly been the talk of the town ever since, with people flocking from far and wide to queue for their ridiculously delicious subs.
Stacked breakfast buns good enough to cure any hangover and New York-style hoagies all made using the very best, quality ingredients.
Things In Bread
15 Boar Lane, LS1 6EN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Things In Bread is now a proper Leeds classic, and their concept is perfectly simple. Classic sandwiches which you might find in your average meal deal but elevated to the next level.
The bread is specially created to make the best ever sandwich, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, perfectly square and baked fresh on the daily.
With a cracking selection of seasonal specials, you'll constantly be coming back for more to have a taste of what's new.
La Grassa
Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Stuzzi comes La Grassa, located inside Amity Brew Co. inside Sunny Bank Mills they're serving up everything Italian American. Expected sandwiches bigger than your for arm which pair perfectly with a pint or two.
Brød Sandwich Bar
31 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Brod sandwich bar is an institution. This family-run independent sandwich shop has been serving us hungry lot for 20 years now, filling our lunch hour with the tastiest, freshest sarnies that you can get your hands on.
Fully customisable with a HUGE range of ingredients, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and all at really affordable prices too.
Friends of Ham
4 - 8 New Station Street, LS1 5DL
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Friends of Ham don't just serve up banging charcuterie boards, but they're really good at serving unreal toasties too.
The sourdough is perfectly buttery and jam packed with layers of meat and salty, melted cheese. And of course served with a pile of pickles on the side for good measure.
Eat Your Greens
42 New York Street, LS2 7DY
Image: The Hoot Leeds
There's no denying we love this special spot that champion the very best local produce in everything they do, but their sandwiches are also seriously something to shout about.
Grab to go or savour every mouthful in their light drenched space. The flavours rotate with the season but if you have chance to sample the pork mince sandwich with black pudding, house smoked bacon and bunt apple ketchup then it'll be the best decision you have ever made.
Morty's Focacceria
White Cloth Hall
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inside Leeds' newest food hall you'll find Morty's, a dough haven serving up Sicilian style slices and of course, sarnies.
These bad boys are made with freshly-made panuozzo bread that is baked on-site every single day, filled with two big stacks of fried mortadella and topped with melted provolone, mustard mayo, pickles and a drizzle of garlic oil.
You'll need a nap after, but it'll be worth it.
Shokupan
27 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem on Wellington Street are serving up delicious, Japanese katso sandos that you'll want to fit into your weekly routine.
Husband and wife team, Alan and Alison, took inspiration from trips around the world to bring Leeds a menu of delicious Japanese-inspired sandos on Shokupan- a Japanese milk bread known for its light, fluffy texture, golden crust and a subtly sweet flavour.
Get a side of the crispy karaage chicken on the side too, you won't regret it.
Livett's Coffee Shop
6 St. Peters Square, LS98AH
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're round that side of town, then grabbing a sarnie from Livett's is a no brainer.
There’s a flavour combo for everyone to get their chops around, from fresh Caprese, Falafel and Houmous, and a packed out Italian Deli sub. But keep your eyes pealed because these flavours are always changing. All served on a satisfyingly soft demi baguette from the best of the best, Balzersen Bakery, and made fresh daily, you already know these bad boys will blow your bog standard meal deal out of the water.
The Yorkshire designer who’s put together the official FIFA World Cup scarf collection
Danny Jones
A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.
Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.
The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.
Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.
In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.
With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."
In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.
The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.
You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.
It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.
Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.
Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."
He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."
We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.
Sophie Smith -
6th September 2023 
