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Iconic Leeds venue The Reliance to be brought back to life under new name ‘The Smithfield’

“We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026.”

Clementine Hall - 25th March 2026

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

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.

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Featured image - Supplied

News

Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year

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.

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Featured image - Supplied

News

Leeds band Yard Act announce 2026 UK tour including homecoming gig

Clementine Hall

Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024.

We are so, so back.

It's been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a small selection of UK gigs for later in the year including a homecoming gig at the O2 Academy on Friday 6 November.

The dates follow the band’s first show of the year at the 6Music Festival this Friday across The Pennines in Manchester.

After Leeds, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 13 November before making their way down south to the O2 Academy in Brixton on Thursday 26 November.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album Where’s My Utopia? with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August 2024.

It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy. It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.

Since then, the band have remained active, whether writing Where’s My Utopia’s follow-up on scratching the itch to get back on stage, heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives, which was preceded by an intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.

Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to the Autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait.

Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday 27 March. Sign up here.

Read more: Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year

Featured image - Supplied