The Queens Hotel is set to be transformed to showcase a love-at-first-sight animated graphic novel.
In case you've been living under a rock, Light Night Leeds is returning this month and one of our city's most iconic buildings will be hosting one of the biggest attractions.
'One Second Lovestory' will be projected onto The Queens Hotel as one of the key displays on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October.
The artwork tells the story of two people whose daily routine is interrupted as their eyes meet at a train station in the form of a graphic novel on an impressive scale.
Set in a busy station in the morning with people rushing past with their eyes glued to the floor, the beautiful piece by German artist Dirk Rauscher highlights what can happen when you look up.
Image: Leeds City Council
Just next door to Leeds train station and projected onto The Queens Hotel, the animation celebrates 200 years of the modern passenger railway and is sponsored by Markel.
This year’s theme of Landmarks will celebrate some of the city’s historic buildings, modern architecture and iconic public spaces whilst asking visitors to contemplate their own personal landmarks and the places that are important to them.
Dirk Rauscher said: “This is a visual poem about the perceptions of time, offering a lyrical reflection on how fleeting moments shape our reality.
“Dressed as a graphic novel, it’s telling the story of how the blink of an eye can make all the difference.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “As always, we are very excited to be hosting Light Night Leeds again this year, an event that brings thousands of people together to experience and celebrate artistic ingenuity and our city.
“Dirk Rauscher’s artwork promises to be one of the key installations this year and I look forward to seeing it transform The Queens Hotel.”
One Second Lovestory will be shown between 6.45pm and 10pm on both evenings of Light Night.
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around
Clementine Hall
A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.
There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.
The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.
The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.
The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.
Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”
They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."
We really couldn't agree more.
And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.
Clementine Hall -
7th October 2025 
