Last year saw the maiden edition of The Birmingham 24 Hour Run and almost £1,700 for relative homeless causes in the area, with all contributions considered - an incredible tally for the inaugural event.
It was the first time that the Manc-founded charity run had ever ventured out of the region, proving that the format and not just nationwide, but a global crisis is what that can be supported all over.
Backed by numerous local businesses, fellow non-profit organisations, run clubs, university groups, and plenty more from in and around the community, the annual fundraising relay run attracts thousands - and that's just in Manchester.
The 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness was started by a bunch of uni students as a charitable arm of their running society, Run Wild MCR, and has since gone on to raise more than £50,000 for the 'A Bed Every Night Scheme'.
Overseen by the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity and the Labour MP himself, Andy Burnham, the event that starts at noon one day and finishes at the same time the next, has seen both regional and national news coverage.
You can watch a helpful little explainer, featuring the voice of yours truly, down below:
Taking place from 12pm on Saturday, 1 November until the same time the next day on behalf of St George’s Crypt, The Leeds 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness will be the second of two Yorkshire editions in 2025, with Sheffield also hosting their first.
You can guarantee both us here at The Hoot and our partners over at The Sheff will be putting in some miles for this vital fundraiser.
Volunteers are still looking for a host venue to use as the main hub for their runners in Leeds city centre this year, so anyone interested in teaming up with the event can get in touch with them via their various social media channels.
The same goes for other cities hosting their debut 24-Hour Homeless Runs this year.
Contrary to what the former home secretary Priti Patel told Britain back in 2023, homelessness is NOT a choice - let's help combat it as much as we can as the colder months approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM2tBHLgwJc
Until then, you can hear more about how the fundraising has already helped so many rough sleepers in the event's home city here.
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
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.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one 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.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
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.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Danny Jones -
11th August 2025 
