Leeds

Leeds City Council confirms plans to repair historic Lower Kirkgate with work set to begin this month

Great news.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 9th October 2026

Leeds City Council has confirmed that work to stabilise buildings on Lower Kirkgate is set to begin later this month, with repairs expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.

Back in 2024, Lower Kirkgate in Leeds city centre was closed following the partial collapse of a building, leaving one of the city's oldest streets inaccessible.

Since then, the street has remained closed while plans were developed to address the structural issues affecting the buildings.

Now, almost two years after the initial incident, the council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.

The buildings are privately owned, but Leeds City Council says it will step in to carry out the stabilisation work to prevent further deterioration and protect the historic properties.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased that, following months of careful planning and preparation, we are now in a position to begin stabilising these privately owned buildings.

“A contract has been awarded for the work, which is scheduled to get under way later this month and is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.

“It should be stressed that the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, with the owners of the buildings allowing their condition to deteriorate over many years and then failing to take the necessary steps to address the resultant structural issues.

“By stepping in and carrying out this work itself, the council will be able to arrest the deterioration of important heritage assets on one of Leeds’s oldest streets. As always, we thank the local community for their continued patience and support.”

Further details about the work, including when the street may be able to reopen, have not yet been confirmed.

Read more: ‘This recognition belongs to you’ – Leeds restaurant added to the Michelin Guide just months after opening

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Leeds

Canadian rock legends Nickelback announce Leeds gig on huge world arena tour

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Nickelback announce world arena tour in support of their new album - and they're coming to Leeds.

The Canadian rockers will be bringing their biggest hits as well brand-new music to arenas around the world.

Formed in Hanna, Alberta, the band made up of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair, have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide.

Best known for rock anthems including Rockstar, Photograph and How You Remind Me, Nickelback have built up a huge global following over the course of their career.

The upcoming tour will see the band celebrate their new album, Everything Under The Sun, and they'll be kicking off the UK leg of the tour right here in Leeds at the First Direct Bank Arena.

The tour follows their record-setting Get Rollin' world tour, and will once again take them to venues across North America, Europe, and Australia.

The group have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide, and achieved billions of streams across digital platforms.

Their new album will be released at the end of the month on Friday 30 October, so you'll have plenty of time to get to know their new tracks before they come to Leeds on Saturday 22 May 2027.

They'll be supported on the tour by Don Broco, an English four-piece featuring Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney, Tom Doyle and Matt Donnelly. Known for their genre-defying sound and dynamic approach to modern rock.

Nickelback 2027 UK Tour Dates in full

  • 22 May - Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
  • 24 May - London The O2
  • 28 May - Birmingham Utility Arena
  • 1 June - Glasgow Ovo Hydro
  • 2 June - Manchester Co-op Live

Tickets for Nickelback at the Leeds First Direct Arena go on sale next Friday 16 October and you can get yours HERE.

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Leeds

‘This recognition belongs to you’ – Leeds restaurant added to the Michelin Guide just months after opening

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A newcomer to the Leeds foodie scene has been added to the coveted Michelin Guide.

You may remember back in April when a Leeds icon was reborn under a different name.

The Smithfield took over the site that was home to The Reliance for more than two decades, and it's safe to say it exceeded expectations.

The team transformed the site to its former glory, taking the site's exterior back to its memorable dark red. But the efforts to recapture the essence of the iconic old venue go way beyond that.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The Smithfield, a collaboration between Crooked Brewing and Chef James Donovan, offers simple dining with seasonal food and natural wines.

It's the sort of place where you can rock up for a plate and a glass people watching through the huge window on North Street, or really get stuck into a sharing pie and chips with friends on a Saturday afternoon.

Either way we love it, and it seems we're not the only ones as The Smithfield has been added to the Michelin Guide just five months after opening.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Announcing the great news to Instagram, The Smithfield said: "We’re very pleased and grateful to have been included in the Michelin Guide.

"To get this kind of recognition so early in our journey is a real honour, and one we certainly don’t take for granted.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

"Thank you to our wonderful guests for your continued support. Also, huge thanks to our brilliant team. The Smithfield is what it is because of your hard work, enthusiasm, energy and diligence. This recognition belongs to you.

"We’re just getting started, and our focus remains the same: creating a welcoming space for our community, serving food and drink we’re proud of, championing great British and local produce, and contributing our small part towards Leeds’ brilliant hospitality scene. The Smithfield."

Read more: Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer

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