Leeds is set to become one big fat coffee festival this September.
Born in Manchester, Slurpfest is a much-love celebration of coffee that is coming to the city for the first time ever.
Working alongside the Slurpfest founders, North Star Coffee Roasters and headline sponsors Oatly and Indie Coffee Guide are bringing the festival to Leeds on Saturday 26 September with over 30 venues already signed up to take part.
The festival is designed to showcase the incredible talent, creativity and community behind Leeds’ thriving independent coffee scene, bringing together independent cafés, coffeenprofessionals, roasters and coffee lovers for a weekend of tastings, workshops, events and experiences.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
“Leeds has an amazing independent coffee scene and we want to celebrate the people who make it so special,” said Holly Kragiopoulos. “Slurpfest is about bringing the whole coffee community together and turning the entire city into one big festival. Best of all, so many of the events are completely free, making it super accessible for everyone to get involved and try something new.”
Unlike a traditional festival held in one location, Slurpfest Leeds will take over the whole city, with coffee shops and venues across Leeds hosting their own events throughout the weekend.
We're talking tastings, workshops, a city-wide coffee trail, an opening and closing party as well as a full day of coffee workshops, talks and experiences at North Star’s Coffee Hub at Leeds Dock.
“We’re super excited to see the city of Leeds take on Slurp Fest and make it their own” said Nat, Slurpfest Co-Founder.
Tickets for individual events are expected to be released from August, with the full festival programme announced soon.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Clementine Hall -
11th August 2026 
