Profiting off the belief of her witchcraft, Mary would hoax her customers with false prophecies and fake potions which were actually poisonous.
Once her visitors consumed these potions and met a fatal death, Mary would steal all of their belongings from their homes and bring them back to her home to store.
Mary's cons and crimes carried on for many years, until eventually she was caught and all of the stolen goods and poisoned potions were found in her home (now the Lamb and Flag). Pretty spooky, if you ask us.
Mary Bateman and her husband. Image: Wikipedia
Following the death of Rebecca Perigo, Mary was trialled for murder and found guilty with judges sentencing her to death by hanging.
But don't worry, as today you won't find any poisonous substances...only fantastic food and drink which you can enjoy in a cosy (perhaps slightly haunted) atmosphere.
So next time you fancy a cheeky pint at the Lamb and Flag, look out for Mary Bateman...if you dare.
Summer is here and the sun has got its hat on, so there's only one place for it.
It's not often that it's hot enough to sit outside and enjoy a cold, crisp pint here in England.
So when it is, we've got to take advantage of it and spend as much time as possible basking in that sweet sunshine.
We've chosen 10 of our favourite beer gardens and rooftop bars for you to gather with your mates, have a couple pints and soak up those rays. Just promise us you won't forget your suncream.
Green Room
36 Wellington St, LS1 2DE
Images: The Hoot Lees
Whether it be a weekday or weekend, Green Room's sprawling roof terrace right in the centre of town is always busy and buzzing with an electric atmosphere.
Here you'll find pints from local breweries, cocktails, spritzes as well as live DJs and foodie popups.
Waterlane Boathouse
Canal Wharf, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5PS
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fancy a pint with a lovely chilled atmosphere and relaxing canal side views? Waterlane Boathouse is the one for you.
There's plenty of seats in their beer garden meaning you won't be waiting long if it's full, and there's always some banging drink offers on too so you can get more booze for your buck.
Belgrave Music Hall
Cross Belgrave St, LS2 8JP
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now this one is an absolute classic, especially for the students - but all for good reason.
Their rooftop terrace offers plenty of spaces for large groups around painted picnic benches, parasols and pergolas cover the immediate sunlight so that basking in the heat is manageable without having to keep your sunnies on all afternoon. You've have to walk a fair amount of steps to get to the top though, but it's well worth it.
The Original Oak
2 Otley Rd, Headingley, LS6 2DG
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Original Oak in Headingley is a favourite for all ages, but if you’re a student looking for some sports action, you’ll feel quite at home at this Otley Run stop.
You can catch the latest Leeds United games throughout the rest of the season in the sunlight as the pub shows all the sports on their huge outdoor TV screen and you can bet that there will be plenty of space for you to join the crowd.
Headrow House
19a The Headrow, LS1 6PU
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Just like Belgrave, Headrow House has a rooftop beer garden that offers panoramic city views.The beer garden is decked out with greenery between the picnic benches and truly does offer an intimate hiding place from the city centre down below.
They've also always got some great DJs playing, so if you're looking for a spot to transition from day to night - this is the one.
Whitelock's Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, LS1 6HB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds' oldest pub, Whitelock's Ale House, is tucked away off Briggate at Turk's Head Yard. Here you'll find a gorgeous terrace with wooden booths that are decorated with festoon lighting and covers for if the heavens open. Which let's be honest, is a regular occurance.
Beck and Call
Stainbeck Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 2NP
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Nestled in lovely Chapel Allerton, the Beck and Call is a proper family pub with a sprawling beer garden. No frills, great drinks and plenty of room to soak up the sun. What more could you want?
A Nation of Shopkeepers
26-27 Cookridge St, LS2 3AG
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Nation of Shopkeepers' beer garden is one of the worst kept secrets in Leeds, but given it's a full courtyard's worth of outdoor drinking space right in the heart of the city, it's not exactly a surprise that everyone loves drinking here.
Serving up food and drink into the early hours basking in the sun trap or sheltering from a midday shower under the umbrella and pergola, this is an ideal day drinking spot for all weather in Leeds.
Piglove by the River
Clarence Rd, LS10 1EE
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a real beer fan, then get yourself to Piglove Brewery where just outside of town you'll find a sunny oasis that'll have you feeling like you're outside of Leeds entirely.
Their riverside taproom right next to the River Aire features riverside benches for the sunny days and a heated indoor area for the rainier ones, open from Wednesday to Sunday.
White Cloth Hall
27 Crown Street, LS2 7DA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds' newest all-day drinking and dining destination, White Cloth Hall, has a lovely sun-drenched terrace for you to enjoy. This is a fab spot if you fancy some fabulous street food, from Mexican tacos and steak sandwiches to charcuterie boards and fluffy focaccia pizza slices.
The drinks are also class too, with a great wine list and plenty of expertly crafted cocktails to choose from.
Audio North’s Artist of the Month – Aaron Dinning | June 2026
Thomas Melia
Aaron Dinning is an indie-pop act whose songs span the highs and lows of relationships, and now he’s Audio North’s latest Artist of the Month.
Born in County Durham, studied in Leeds, and now the curator of a live music events organisation based in Manchester, Dinning sure knows a thing about northern music.
With hits to his name already like ’24’, ‘Look Who’s Holding The Gun Now!’, this queer musician is gearing up to release a deluxe edition of his sophomore EP Boys Become Men.
If his name feels familiar to you, that’s because it probably is, as Aaron Dinning has performed at a multitude of venues across the north – including Feel Good Club, Popup Bikes, and The Proud Place.
Now, Dinning chats to Audio North about his upbringing and music journey, as he accepts the title of Artist of the Month for June.
An interview with Aaron Dinning – Audio North’s Artist of the Month | June 2026
Aaron Dinning is making his mark in the Manchester music scene with his indie-pop tracks / Credit: Press Shots via Emily Atherton (Supplied)
You were born in County Durham and now live in Manchester. How have those two places shaped you as an artist?
I think there’s such a contrast in the environment of those two places. Durham was so formative for me growing up, back then I didn’t have the autonomy to vocalise it but now I see Chester-Le-Street specifically as such a ‘small town mindset’ kind of place.
If I stayed at home, I would never be the artist I am today. That’s not to say that growing up somewhere like that isn’t just as important as the place which makes you feel accepted. You can’t have such a strong desire for one without a disdain for the other.
What does being a northern musician mean to you?
I think being northern, to me, just means breaking the mould and showing that if I can do it, anybody can. It means building my career on my own terms, it’s taught me to unapologetically be myself, on and off stage.
I always say that I want to write the songs I needed when I grew up because there was nobody like me from the North. Sometimes it still feels like I’m the only one too.
To me, if I can write a song, or put on a performance that resonates with a 15-year-old kid who’s still figuring out who they are or who they love, that’s the most fulfilling thing that can come from sharing my art.
This Northern talent is from Country Durham, studied in Leeds and is now based in Manchester / Credit: Press Shots via Jack Garrod (Supplied)
The music industry can feel very London-centric at times. Have you found being based in the North to be an advantage or a challenge?
It’s a bit of both really. Yes, London is where the majority of the big names in music are, but in my mind, I always compare it to that scene in Baby Reindeer when the guy says ‘You find yourself a background artist in a cast of millions’ (niche).
I like that the industry isn’t as saturated as London up here, but I can see that changing in years to come. The North has always been where it’s at and truly where all these major labels should be looking for who’s up next because you might just find a gem like me waiting to be found.
Is there a northern artist who made you think, “If they can do it, so can I”?
Definitely Sam Fender. I know it’s a bit of a cliche nowadays, but I absolutely love him and he’s what I think of when it comes to a classic northern success story.
I’ve seen him six times and the last time at St James’ Park was a completely different calibre of show to when I saw him at Boiler Room in 2019 and paid fifteen quid for the ticket.
Me and him are completely different, but I imagine we had a similar sort of upbringing in the terms of characters we knew growing up in rougher areas. I feel like he cracked the mainstream so well with his first album and he’s only gotten better since. I’d want my first album to have the same kind of critical acclaim as his.
Dinning fuses his sexuality throughout his music, being an openly queer pop musician / Credit: Press Shots via Tom Hargreaves (Supplied)
What made Manchester feel like the right place for the next chapter of your career?
I recorded my entire EP here whilst I was still living in Leeds with Toby Ollis Brownstone from the beginning of 2024. That year and a half which I spent travelling back and forth in Manchester made me love the city and loathe commuting.
I knew I wanted to move to Manchester when I got invited to play the Queer as F*ck open mic on Valentine’s Day in 2025. That was the first show I played accompanying myself on the guitar, I agreed to play three hours before doors and completely fumbled my way through the set.
The feeling of the room was like nothing I’d experienced before, to come to a show in another city I had never played in and feel so welcomed, at home and accepted by a room full of likeminded people, felt like a feeling I could only replicate in Manchester.
Has living in Manchester changed your songwriting at all?
Generally speaking, I’ve been playing guitar a lot more since moving here. I feel like there’s a naive fresh start that comes along with moving to new places and feeling like your life’s going to drastically change.
Becoming the Producer of SoFar Manchester helped me feel integrated and I’ve met so many cool people doing that job while spotlight my friends who are artists and bring them to the city that I fell in love with – It’s all very full circle.
I’ve brought Romy Taylor, Caitlin Doran, Sophie Green, and GRACEY over to play SoFar events and they’re all equally amazing creatives who are based in Leeds, like I once was.
The ’24’ singer has played gigs in unusual Manchester city centre locations like Popup Bikes in Ancoats / Credit: Credit: Press Shots via Emily Atherton (Supplied)
What do you think Manchester does better than anywhere else when it comes to music?
I think Manchester is such a hot pot of different styles and genres. I think the thing it does best is spotlight LGBTQ+ artists. Not just in music, but drag is somewhere I look to when I think of performance, and the queens in the village are truly a sign of resilience and individuality.
I’ve had more shows just for being queer in Manchester than anywhere else I’ve lived, there’s so many freelance creatives, charities and gig promoters who are looking out for LGBTQ+ artists to celebrate, even making entire lineups out of us.
Clementine Hall -
31st October 2025 
