Feature

The best things to do in and around Leeds this week | 11 – 17 September 2023

The last full week of summer is underway.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 8th September 2023

September is well and truly underway, and even though the sun has disappeared behind the clouds Leeds is still buzzing with things to do.

As we step into the last full week of summer, it's time to get together with your mates and cheers goodbye to the last few months of fun before the leaves start to fall and the pumpkins pop up on doorsteps.

From dance music festivals to new foodie openings, you'll want to head out into town this week to see what our vibrant city has to offer.

As always we have cherry picked the best things to get up to during the week, so whack out your diaries and keep reading.

Farmhouse Opening

Monday 11 September | Lands Lane

Image: Farmhouse

Farmhouse, an independently owned restaurant specialising in breakfast, brunch and all-day dishes, is coming to Leeds this week, and to celebrate the new opening, Farmhouse will be giving you the chance to try brunch on the house.

Those heading over to the 100-cover restaurant will be able to get a free main meal to the first 300 customers to book on Monday 11 September and Tuesday 12 September. Bookings are now already from 8am and will be free on a first come first served basis by booking here.

Find out more here.

Pizza Loco at Meanwood Tavern

Monday 11 - Sunday 17 September | Meanwood Road

Image: Supplied

Pizza Loco will be taking over the kitchen at Meanwood Tavern this month.

Expect soft, light and airy crusts, with interesting, generous toppings and an emphasis on sustainable British ingredients including Wildfarmed UK-grown and milled organic flour, Yorkshire-grown organic tomatoes, and British charcuterie.

Lunchtime will see the signature Pizza Loco Panuozzi pizza-dough butties showcased, whilst evenings will be reserved for those big Neapolitan slices.

Find out more here.

Ivy Asia 'Sake Sensations'

Launching Wednesday 13 September | The Ivy Asia, Vicar Lane

Image: The Ivy Asia

‘Sake Sensations’ is a brand new, unique collaborative menu between Akashi-Tai and The Ivy Asia.If you’re a fan of the Japanese rice wine Sake, then this elegant and refined pairing menu is the one for you.

An exciting new collaboration between The Ivy Asia and Akashi Tai, the UK’s leading sake brand, the menu will showcase the best flavours from the continent paired perfectly with a range of sakes.

This menu is available from Wednesday 13 September to Sunday 5 November 2023. The experience costs £85 per persona and you can book your table here.

Hyde Park Picture House 'Hyde & Seek'

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September | Brudenell Road

Image: Hyde Park Picture House

Including Hyde & Seek, a family-friendly ‘pay what you can’ event running every weekend from 11am. Cinema showings are every Saturday and Sunday at 11am, and cover classics like 101 Dalmatians and The Wizard of Oz right through to modern favourites like Frozen and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

All visits to Hyde & Seek, the family-friendly matinee performances are all ‘pay what you can’ so that everyone can join in, regardless of income.

Read more: Hyde Park Picture House is hosting ‘pay what you can’ cinema screenings for families

Mint Festival

Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 September | Newsam Green Farm

Image: Mint Festival

One of Yorkshire's biggest dance musical festivals is back in Leeds and it is set to be an absolute hoot. Embrace the last of the summer sun by whacking on your best festival fits and dancing to an incredible line-up of acts.

You can buy your tickets to Mint Festival here.

Busted

Sunday 17 September | First Direct Arena

Image: First Direct Arena

Celebrating their 20th anniversary with a huge arena tour, Busted are back with a bang and will be playing all their iconic hits at The First Direct Arena this weekend.

Get ready to be transported to the 'Year 3000' and get ready to meet the 'Air Hostess', because this gig is set to set the city alight.

Put your dancing shoes on and get your tickets here.

Featured images - Supplied / Mint Festival / The Hoot Leeds

Feature

Inside FaceGym – Leeds’ newest facial fitness studio loved by celebrities

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

We hope you're ready for your workout, because FaceGym has landed in Leeds.

You may be wondering...what on earth is Facegym? And to be fair, you've got a point.

FaceGym, as they themselves describe it, a 'non-invasive fitness studio concept for the face' using high-intensity facial massage, hand manipulation, and electrical muscle stimulation technology to tone, lift, and sculpt the face without surgery.

Sounds pretty fancy if you ask us, and it feels just as fancy from the moment you step through the door.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Unsurprisingly, it's loved by celebrities worldwide who are looking to get snatched and ditch their gua sha.

Currently occupying five standalone stores in London, one in Cambridge as well as a pop-up in Space NK in Selfridges Manchester, FaceGym will be opening this Friday 18 September inside the coveted Victoria Gate, taking over a 1,772 square foot studio.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The space really does look like a gym, ditching the standard beauty salon aesthetic for an American-style gym interior complete with the iconic red FaceGym balls all over the place.

A signature sculpt costs £110 for a 45 minute treatment, so it's definitely a treat if you're looking to have skin that can reflect the sun and cheekbones for days.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Angelo Castello, chief executive at Facegym, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Facegym to Leeds and to open in the beautiful Victoria Gate. The city has a thriving beauty, wellness, and retail scene, making it the perfect location for our next studio.

“We’ve seen growing demand from customers across Yorkshire, and we can’t wait to introduce even more people to the benefits of facial fitness.”

You can find out more and book a treatment at FaceGym via their website here.

Read more: Five of the best new restaurants and cafes to open in Leeds recently

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Feature

The Leeds Supper Club bringing people together over incredible food

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

What started as a simple idea around food has grown into something much bigger for Leeds Supper Club.

The idea was born from a love of food and the idea that eating together can be about much more than what’s on your plate.

Rather than simply going out to a restaurant, Leeds Supper Club puts connection at the heart of its events, bringing people together to share incredible food and enjoy an evening in good company.

We had the pleasure of attending their most recent event where we had the most wonderful evening with founders Lizzie, Phillip and the rest of the club.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

This instalment was a very special one, as it was in collaboration with Knotfield Vine over in Horsforth.

I mean, it really doesn't get more scenic than this - we really felt like we'd been whisked away to the South of France rather than a Leeds suburb. But we wouldn't want it either way.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

What makes it a cut above the rest is the details. Every little detail has been thought out, from the low-lit, sexy lighting, hand-made name plates, live music and four courses of wonderful seasonal goodness made fresh.

From enjoying a glass of wine within the vines alongside a couple of nibbles to tucking into a three course meal around a candle-lit table, there's really nowhere else like it.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The tagliatelle pasta with beef and whipped feta was a real highlight, and knowing Lizzie and Philip receive help on the menu and the cooking from all their friends made it taste that much sweeter.

By the end of it we'd had some delicious food, fabulous wine and shared even better conversation. And it's safe to say we left feeling a part of the club.

Keep an eye on their Instagram page here for all upcoming events.

Read more: Five of the best new restaurants and cafes to open in Leeds recently

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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