North Home, the Nordic-inspired homeware and furnishings retailer, is expanding with a massive new concept store in the Victoria Quarter.
Homeware lovers you're going to want to pay attention to this one.
North Home first began as an online venture before founders Kamil Wangin and Simon Hawkins opened a temporary pop-up store in Victoria Gate in 2020, and it's been a smash hit ever since.
After huge success and customer demand its first bricks and mortar shop quickly followed on Vicar Lane in 2021.
Image: Supplied
The brand new store will be set across four floors and will feature designer collections in furniture, ceramics, fragrances, kitchenware, lighting, accessories, skin care, and loads more.
As well as having a new larger space, North Home will be elevating its current offering even further with the addition of a gourmet food hall and bar area along with an entire floor styled as an apartment to give a first-hand experience of the North Home aesthetic in a range of room settings.
Image: Supplied
Sounds pretty cool if you ask us.
North Home founder Kamil Wangin said: “It’s been an exciting few years for us and we are absolutely thrilled to be expanding North Home and taking over such a spectacular space in Leeds’s most iconic shopping location.
"We are a fully independent business and have always had a long-term vision to create something unique for our customers. Thanks to the incredible support we’ve had since we first launched North Home we felt the time was right to take things to the next level and give Leeds a homewares store like no other.
“We want to be a one stop shop for unique pieces and give customers a shopping experience that stands out from the rest. We can’t wait to reveal all in the coming weeks.”
The new store is set to open later this autumn, and we can't wait.
Read more: Whereto find the best sandwiches in Leeds city centre and beyond
Featured image - Supplied
Leeds
Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Clementine Hall -
4th November 2024 
