Whether you're looking for somewhere to take the kids over half term, to book a gig to dance away the cold winter night or a new opening to unwind on a Friday night with a bottle of wine, we've got you covered this month.
Keep reading to find all of our top picks, including food and drink specials, new openings, a dedicated gig guide and loads of events and installations...
Knife Angel
From Thursday 1 February 2024 | Royal Armouries, Leeds City Centre
Image: Leeds City Council
The touring Knife Angel sculpture is coming to Leeds this February, to send a powerful message and spark conversations about knife crime in the city.
The Knife Angel, standing tall at 27ft and made from over 100,000 seized blades, was created by the British Ironwork Centre to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and the need for change.
The poignant sculpture will be placed outside the Royal Armouries Museum as part of an intensification month on knife crime which launches on Thursday 1 February 2024.
Mug Shot Pop-up
Saturday 3 February 2024 | Briggate, between H Samuels and the former Debenhams
Image: Supplied
Get ready for a real ‘mmm moment’ as Mug Shot is bringing its ‘instant hot snack brigade’ to Briggate this Saturday.
From 10am – 6pm, you can warm up with a free hot sample and whilst you’re there, give the Mug Shot Wheel of Fortune a spin for your chance to win a whole range of tasty goodies.
Koben Drive In
Saturday 3 February 2024 | Thiccc Sauce HQ, Holbeck
From the creator of Thiccc Sauce, Koben Smokehouse specialises in meaty takeout goodness at its finest. Combining the best of both businesses, there will be a Koben Drive In at Thiccc Sauce HQ with triple smashburgers, barbacoa sandwiches and Philly Cheesesteak subs.
Tuesday 6 February 2024 | Old Woolen, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley
Image: Old Woolen
The untold story of the 90s hit TV show FRIENDS is coming to the Old Woolen this month. Told 'through the eyes of Gunther, Central Perk’s very own ‘seventh Friend’, the audience is invited to 'settle down in Gunther’s café' and hear a different perspective from the man that kept the cast caffeinated throughout all ten seasons.
Sunday 11 February - Monday 12 February 2024 | Infirmary Street, Leeds City Centre
The best seats in the house for the Superbowl are going to be at BOX this year. The bar reckons whether you're cheering offense, defense, or just the epic halftime show, BOX Leeds is THE place to be, and with tables available from 8pm, we can't wait to watch some of the biggest touchdowns of the year through the night.
To celebrate the New Year, there will be a lion dance event from Sing Kee Leeds Supermarket - Oriental City Restaurant from 11.30am - 12.45pm. Not much information has been revealed about the exciting event to date but if anyone has been to previous dance events to celebrate the new year, you'll know exactly what's in store.
The Cheesy Living Co. Cheese and Cocktails night
Wednesday 29 February 2024 | Roundhay Road, Oakwood
Two of Leeds indies are joining forces over at The Cheesy Living Co. Oakwood for a night of cheese and cocktails. You'll be welcomed with olives, focaccia and an Aperitif cocktail before sampling six different taster cocktails from Philippos and the Tabula Rasa team.
Opening Friday 2 February 2024 | New Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Image: Supplied
Celebrating its 10th year trading, The Brotherhood sports bar has reinvented its New Briggate venue with a massive makeover and new menu.
With the help of AXI Interior Design, the two-floor venue has been transformed into a warm and inviting space that channels a vintage gentleman’s club, with plenty of retro sporting nods throughout.
The Brotherhood is set to reopen on Friday 2 February which perfectly coincides with the Euros, the Six Nations, Fury Vs Usyk and the Super Bowl all heading to Brotherhood’s screens over the coming months.
Bavette
Opening mid February 2024 | Town Street, Horsforth
A new neighbourhood bistro is coming to Horsforth next month, and there’s just as much focus on the food as there is the wine here. Named Bavette, the opening is the first venture from ex-Culpeper Group MD and Head Chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Restaurant Manager and sommelier Clément Cousin.
The seasonal menu is expected to feature ‘classically-inspired dishes such as Pork Belly Rillons, Frisé Salad and Ravigote Sauce, Halibut, Vin Jaune Sauce & Buttered Leeks or Paris-Brest’, all of which can be perfectly paired with wine from the family vineyard or other exciting low intervention bottles from across Europe.
Reservations are now available for March, April and May for Michelin-recognised chef Michael O'Hare's reinvented restaurant – and ahead of the relaunch, Psycho Sandbar will be hosting a special preview night on Valentine’s Day.
The ‘candle light in a building site’ menu will feature a five course set menu, with hints of the new ‘surf shaky’ feel. Priced at £95 per person, there will be tables available from midday until 10pm on Wednesday 14 February 2024 only.
Find out more here.
Gig Guide
1 February 2024 - Strictly Come Dancing at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
2 February 2024 - Strictly Come Dancing at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
2 February 2024 - As December Falls at The Key Club (get tickets here)
3 February 2024 - Del Water Gap at Headrow House (get tickets here)
9 February 2024 - Enter Shikari at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
10 February 2024 - Venus Grrrls (get tickets here)
11 February 2024 - The Last Dinner Party at Brudenell Social Club (get tickets here)
11 February 2024 - Noah Kahan at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
13 February 2024 - Frank Carter at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
14 February 2024 - Declan McKenna at The Wardrobe (get tickets here)
14 February 2024 - Bombay Bicycle Club at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
15 February 2024 - Simple Plan at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
15 February 2024 - The Libertines at The Wardrobe (get tickets here)
17 February 2024 - Example at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
18 February 2024 - Bill Bailey at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
21 February 2024 - The Vaccines at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
24 February 2024 - Rick Astley at First Direct Arena (get tickets here)
24 February 2024 - NEWDAD at Headrow House (get tickets here)
27 February 2024 - Editors at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
27 February 2024 - Ferocious Dog at The Old Woolen (get tickets here)
28 February 2024 - Mother Mother at O2 Academy (get tickets here)
Feature Image - The Brotherhood / Strictly Come Dancing Live / Leeds City Council
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Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson is heading out on a UK tour, visiting First Direct Arena for his biggest Leeds solo show to date.
Ten years since launching his solo career with debut single 'Just Hold On', Tomlinson is hitting the road again for his tour, which shares its title with the name of his latest LP - How Did I Get Here?
Tomlinson's last visit to Leeds saw him play an intimate show at The Wardrobe back in 2020 and is set to perform to 13,500 - he has definitely made sure to 'Jump the Gun' in terms of crowd size.
Now, the Doncaster-born musician is visiting one of Leeds biggest indoor live music venues First Direct Arena and it's sure to be a jam-packed night of live music.
Gig guide | Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Are there tickets left for Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena?
Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Leeds on 28 April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
Well if you've made it this far through, it's safe to say the fact you're after Louis Tomlinson tickets is 'Written All Over Your Face'.
If you're wanting to 'Face The Music' or 'Jump the Gun' you can do so as there's tickets to his Leeds show at First Direct Arena HERE.
Standing tickets are still available priced at £55.85, while seated tickets remaining are priced between £55.85 and £83.35 each.
Louis Tomlinson setlist for 2026 tour
The How Did I Get Here? Tour officially kicked off in Europe and it prioritises songs from his latest LP.
Here is the set list:
Lemonade
On Fire
Written All Over Your Face
Out Of My System
Bigger Than Me
Saturdays
Angels Fly
Dark to Light
Broken Bones
Defenceless
Just Hold On
Lazy
Sunflowers
Lucid
Jump the Gun
Imposter
Sanity
Kill My Mind
Face the Music
Silver Tounges
The Observer
The Answer
Miss You
Palaces
Wristbands and queue system
To manage crowds and ensure a 'fair and comfortable' experience for fans, a randomly allocated wristband system will be in place for standing ticket holders.
This is how it works:
Arrive at the arena between 11am and 2pm on the day of the show, Tuesday 28 April 2026.
Wristbands will be given out in batches at random to standing ticket holders, while availability lasts
Once you have your wristband, you will be asked to leave the area surrounding the venue and return between 4.30pm and 5.30pm
Upon your return to the arena, you will be asked to join a dedicated queue related to the number or colour on your wristband as guided by the dedicated venue team.
Doors open to the show at 6pm for general admission.
Stage times for Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena, Leeds
First Direct Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you can get home before having to watch the sky turn from 'Dark to Light'.
Anyone attending this show is in luck as the North has been well and truly represented in the form of Manc-based rock group Pale Waves and Doncaster talent ADMT.
Alex Spencer, another Northern act from Manchester is also joining the bill, but he's only playing at select Europe dates of the tour.
These are the expected stage times for Louis Tomlinson in Leeds tonight, based on his other shows so far:
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Featured Images - Press shot / Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
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Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter and social media star Alex Warren is visiting First Direct Arena, Leeds, for two nights of out of the 'Ordinary' live music.
One of the founding members of the TikTok group, Hype House, which also included fellow pop performer Addison Rae, Warren has gone on to receive global recognition for his contributions to music.
Born in California, it's no surprise his music has managed to catapult into the mainstream as he's been mastering content creation since he was 10 on YouTube.
His music journey began back in 2021, when he released music as an independent artist in 2021 before signing a record deal one year later, dropping the chart-topping 'Ordinary' in 2025.
Now, Alex Warren prepares for his biggest UK tour to date, and he's playing two shows right here in Leeds at the 13,500 seater First Direct Arena in April and May.
Gig guide | Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all the info
Alex Warren is visiting Leeds at First Direct Arena on 29 April / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Alex Warren UK tour dates
Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
Sun 26 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Mon 27 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Wed 29 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena
Thu 30 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Sat 2 May - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Mon 4 May - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Wed 6 May - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Thu 7 May - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Are there tickets left for Alex Warren at First Direct Arena?
If you're looking for somebody to 'Save You a Seat', look no further as you can get tickets to Alex Warren's 29 April at First Direct Arena in Leeds HERE.
Stage times for Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Warren has built a cult following thanks to chart-topping hits like 'Ordinary'/ Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
First Direct Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home without having to start ‘Chasing Shadows’.
Supporting Alex Warren on the night will be Claire Rosinkranz, a singer-songwriter from California with tracks like 'Frankenstein' and 'Backyard Boy'.
How to get to first direct arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approximately a 15min walk from the arena, it's also wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network, providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have its own car park; however, there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct, click HERE.
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street, click HERE.
None of the above car parks is operated by the arena, so for questions, queries or comments, we'd recommend contacting the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes: you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock them, and then 16p per minute to use. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio: for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio - based at Buslinthorpe Green - is a great option. You can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer, you’ll get a good discount.
Sophie Smith -
31st January 2024 
