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Popular Japanese restaurant Sticks’n’Sushi is coming to Leeds city centre

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 18th March 2026

Sticks’n’Sushi is set to open in Leeds as the restaurant's northern expansion continues.

It’s a Danish brand but a Japanese restaurant, with 16 sites nationwide so far proving its popularity.

Sticks’n’Sushi serves (as if you hadn’t guessed) a menu of sushi dishes as well as grilled meats served on sticks.

They’re set to join the heritage-led Vicar Lane regeneration scheme with the opening of its 18th UK restaurant early next year.

Occupying an 8,839 sq ft grade-II listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.

Sticks’n’Sushi is founded by half-Japanese, half-Danish, brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek, and Thor Anderson in Copenhagen.

They have 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, as well as three in Berlin, and now Leeds is set to be the 18th UK site for Sticks’n’Sushi.

Image: Supplied

The menu will feature the brand’s signature sharing dishes of sushi, sashimi, salads and grilled sticks, available à la carte or in generous set menus.

Expect favourites like Ebi Bites (tempura shrimp with miso aioli, lime and chilli) and the Maki Maki selection of four signature rolls.

The sharing side of things includes a premium selection of build-your-own handrolls, maki and sticks, and classic Japanese grills like Shōyu Tebasaki (chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger, tamari and soy), Gindara No Miso (miso-glazed black cod), and Aka Ebi (shrimp in gochujang and garlic butter).

The drinks menu showcases sake, Japanese teas, cocktails, premium spirits, and beer – including the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale – alongside a concise wine selection.

Andreas Karlsson, SticksʹnʹSushi Group CEO comments: “We are delighted to be joining this development; Vicar Lane is one of the most vibrant retail and leisure hubs in Leeds and aligns perfectly with our dining experience from lunch through to late evening.

"We look forward to building a new team and becoming part of the Leeds community.”

Read more: A brand-new frozen yoghurt bar is set to open in Leeds this spring

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Sheffield amongst nine areas to be long listed for UK City of Culture 2029

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

It's big news for Sheffield as the city has officially been long listed to become the UK City of Culture in 2029.

It’s one of just nine places across the country to make the cut, alongside the likes of Blackpool, Portsmouth and Wrexham.

Winning the title could bring huge investment to Sheffield, thousands of visitors, and a massive spotlight on everything that makes our city special - and let’s be honest, Sheffield’s got plenty to shout about.

From music and film to art and grassroots creativity, culture runs right through this city, and it would be a huge achievement to receive this title.

So, what happens now? Each arena will now receive £60,000 to develop a full application with the aim to build a vibrant cultural programme by 2028.

The nine confirmed long listed locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.

"I look forward to seeing what the nine long listed places have in store as they progress in the competition. I also urge any towns thinking about entering the UK Town of Culture competition to seize this opportunity and get involved. It’s a chance to show the country what makes them unique and shine a spotlight on their cultural offer, enriching the lives of local people."

Go on Sheffield, we're rooting for you big time. We can't think of a city more worthy.

Read more: Public transport across South Yorkshire to be rebranded as the South Yorkshire People’s Network

Featured image - The Sheff

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From Hope to Hardship: Small Island Brings Windrush Stories to Leeds Playhouse

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

An emotional journey of dreams and displacement.

Leeds Playhouse’s latest production brings a vital and often underrepresented chapter of British history powerfully to the stage.

Small Island, directed by Olivier Award-winner Matthew Xia, serves as a compelling microcosm of the migrant experience during the Windrush generation, placing memory, dreams, empire, and entitlement firmly at its core.

This bold and deeply affecting staging expands Andrea Levy’s celebrated novel into a rich, immersive theatrical experience that feels both epic in scope and strikingly intimate. Moving fluidly between Jamaica and postwar London, the production captures the dislocation, resilience, and quiet courage of those who arrived with hope, only to be met with hostility and exclusion.

Image: Supplied

Hortense and Gilbert’s pursuit of dignity and opportunity is portrayed with warmth and nuance, while Queenie’s compassion and Bernard’s unease reflect a nation grappling with profound social change. The play weaves together multiple narratives shaped by the Windrush era, each driven by a desire for a better life, and each revealing the emotional and physical toll of that journey.

What sets this production apart is its remarkable balance between sweeping historical scope and emotional intimacy. The lilting rhythms of calypso infuse the piece with moments of joy and nostalgia, while stark staging and visual contrasts underscore the bleak realities of 1940s Britain. The parallel lives of the characters highlight the shared struggles faced by many Caribbean migrants of the time.

Image: Supplied

One of the most striking elements is the rotating house in Act Two, which becomes a powerful visual metaphor for division and displacement, physically embodying the discomfort and fractured realities of the characters’ lives. Meanwhile, the use of projection reminiscent of archival broadcast footage transports the audience across continents, deepening the sense of time, place, and lived experience.

At times, the play is harrowing, bringing the struggles of the Windrush generation into sharp focus and leaving the audience in disbelief at the treatment endured. There are moments so charged that you feel compelled to respond to challenge, to question, to intervene. Yet amid the hardship, there remains a strong sense of warmth and the enduring promise of hope. Bronte Barbe delivers a compelling performance as Queenie, portraying her compassion with sincerity and strength.

Image: Supplied

However, the standout performance comes from Anna Crichlow as Hortense, offering a powerhouse portrayal that beautifully captures a character driven by ambition, resilience, and deep self-respect.

For those who may have only briefly encountered the Windrush generation in education, this production feels especially vital. It not only illuminates the trials and tribulations faced by a generation but also resonates with ongoing conversations about migration and belonging today.

There is a force in its vision that allows the audience to feel both the physical and emotional realities of the story. Though it does not shy away from bleakness, it ultimately offers connection, reflection, and a reminder of the enduring human capacity for hope.

Image: Supplied

Overall, Small Island is a captivating and emotionally rich production from start to finish. The cast skillfully balances moments of humour with deeply moving scenes, creating a theatrical experience that lingers long after the final curtain. The stories it tells of resilience, injustice, and aspiration feel more relevant than ever.

Theatre continues to act as a powerful lens through which we can better understand both our history and our present, and this production stands as a compelling reminder of why these stories must continue to be told.

Running at Leeds Playhouse, Quarry Theatre until 28 March and you can get your tickets here.

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Featured image - Supplied

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