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‘Dear Stranger’ – The handwritten love letter to Leeds penned by a travelling Yorkshireman
"This moment showed me what kind of city Leeds is, a city crowded with strangers who don’t want to see another fall. A city full of souls who silently care."
A handwritten love letter to Leeds penned by a travelling Yorkshireman has lifted locals' spirits after being spotted on a street in the city centre.
The letter, titled ‘Dear Stranger,’ is brimming with kindness and positivity for the city and the people who make it the special place that it is - calling Leeds 'a city full of souls who silently care.'
Written by author and Yorkshire-born lad Jay Ventress, the heartwarming note has been bringing a smile to the faces of passers-by after appearing on Boar Lane this week.
Jay's letter, which has been taped to a post box on Boar Lane, reads: "Dear Stranger, My name’s Jay. I’m a travelling writer wandering from city to city, country to country, posting letters like these across the walls with the hope to spark a fire in a stranger’s eye.
"Now I’m in Leeds I’m talking to you. I was posting my letters one week ago, it was a windy evening.
"I was carrying my letters, between my arm, and on this posting session I tripped, dropped my letters and out they blew across the sidewalk. At least fifty of them. Off they went, with the wind, never expecting to see them again.
"But to my surprise, the six random strangers around me dispersed up the street to recover my letters, all fifty of them.
"The moment took my breath away, it reminded me how beauty often has a strange way of showing itself in times of misfortune.
“You can’t see stars in the sunlight. And this moment showed me what kind of city Leeds is, a city crowded with strangers who don’t want to see another fall. A city full of souls who silently care.
"And you, reading my letter, are another one of those souls. Thank you.
"Acts like these prove humanity is alive in this town, the media might make out the world to be a soulless void, but if we open our eyes to the beauty around us, we’ll find traces of humanity burning bright and loud.
“Thank you for reading, you lovely human. Rock and Roll! -Jay. "
The 26-year-old Yorkshireman's letter writing campaign first began as a coping mechanism at the start of the pandemic, because, as he says himself, “at the time everything felt dark, I was a Brit trapped in Australia, so to brighten up my life I began writing little letters to make a stranger smile to make me smile.”
To date, his letters have spread far and wide across the globe - appearing in the UK, Belgium, Australia, and the United States of America.
They have been spotted in both Leeds and Manchester – with one person in the north west even taking the time to post a letter back in response.
In a post shared to Jay’s Instagram of different responses from around the world, one like-minded Brit wrote: “Hi! I hope you are well! I saw your note in Manchester today, and I just wanted to share how touching I found it.
“As someone who has also struggled in the past, I keep a long notes list in my phone of ‘moments of unsaid love’ that I witness to remind myself of how much around us goes unnoticed.
“It was so lovely to read something from someone likeminded, and I saw your note just when I needed to be reminded myself. Thank you again, I hope you have a lovely day Jay!”
The 26-year-old letter writer originally hails from Yorkshire, but moved to Manchester as a teenager and worked in the city before deciding to travel the world four years ago.
This modern restaurant in the heart of Leeds is redefining how we enjoy Indian cuisine.
If you haven't already dined at Kerala Canteen, then you are sincerely missing out.
Offering South Indian dining like you've never seen before, Kerala Canteen is the world's first Kerala tapas restaurant where guests can enjoy multiple dishes in one sitting.
And it's not just us who thinks it's class, the restaurant has earned recognition as one of the Top 100 Indian Restaurants in the UK, ranked among the Top 3 Indian restaurants in Leeds & Yorkshire, and awarded Best Restaurant by North Magazine — cementing its reputation as one of the region’s most exciting culinary destinations.
Image: Supplied
So, how does it work? Kerala Canteen isn't your traditional curry house, but the concept means you get to try more of the menu in one go.
Guests are encouraged to start with small plates and move onto curry bowls before sharing a biryani per person and ending with a delicious dessert.
The kitchen is led by renowned chef Bobby Geetha, known for appearances on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu.
Image: Supplied
Working alongside him is Abdulkhader Allingal Siddique, whose Michelin-starred kitchen background and deep-rooted Kerala heritage promise authenticity.
Together, they make the perfect dream team in the kitchen.
There's a huge selection of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu too so no one in your party has to miss out, with dishes like the chilli and tamarind cauliflower and gunpowder hasselback potatoes being standouts on the menu.
Visit on a Saturday and get involved in their iconic Bollywood Bottomless Brunch where for just £36 per person you can enjoy one bowl and one side alongside 90 minutes of free flowing drinks.
Image: Supplied
You can choose from prosecco, draught beer, cocktails, mocktails - trust us, the list is endless. And you can enjoy it all whilst bopping along to the best Bollywood beats. Find out more about the brunch here.
Visiting on a Sunday? You have to try their iconic T-Bone Sunday Roast experience, featuring a slow-braised T-bone steak finished in rich beef & bone marrow curry, paired with Yorkshire pudding and gunpowder potatoes. You'll never look at your mum's Sunday roast the same again.
Image: Supplied
Kerala Canteen also offers a private event space for your next big celebration that seats up to 100 guests with custom tapas menu and corporate dining packages available.
Located right next to Leeds Playhouse, it's the perfect spot for those visiting the city centre.
To book your table, take a look at Kerala Canteen's website - thank us later.
Salon Madre – the new tequila bar and pool hall that’s just opened in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
We’ve been waiting for this one and trust us, it’s just as good as we’d hoped.
If you’re a fan of a cheeky margarita, a taco and a bit of a boogie then this is the spot for you - and let’s be honest, who isn’t.
Introducing Salon Madre, made famous over in Manchester and now with another spot in Liverpool, think late nights fuelled by margaritas, cosy dates over tacos and lively game nights.
The new Leeds site is located on Wellington Street, perfect for those wrapping up work over on Wellington Place and looking to blow off some steam.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is huge, with floor to ceiling windows letting loads of light in during the day and plenty of red neon lights setting the vibe for the evening.
There's about 20 different variations of margaritas and tequilas on the menu, as well as fresh Mexican beers on tap if you're not ready for a shot just yet.
But it's not just about the drink, the food menu is top notch too.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
There's tacos and quesadillas all made with hand-pressed tortillas, twice-cooked chicken wings in a range of flavours from Mexican cola to Yucatan buffalo, and of course there's stacked nachos which are perfect for snacking on between sips of margarita.
If you're feeling competitive then they've got six pool tables as well as darts, and Lucha Libre on the big screens if you'd rather watch the play happen than play yourself.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Salon Madre will have DJs on in the evening and on a Friday and Saturday they'll even be open til 1am.
Welcome Salon Madre, we can't wait for this to become our new late-night party destination. You can take a look at their menu here.
Georgina Pellant -
9th June 2023 
