It's the last full week of January so let's make it a corker, we've gathered together the highlights of what's happening in Leeds for you to take a peak at.
Congratulations all, we have officially made it to the end of January (well, almost) and believe us when we say that with what's going on this week, we are finishing it off with a bang.
Get your best tartan on because we've got Burns Night celebrations happening all over the city as well as super exciting gigs (hello Matty Healy), delicious foodie openings and so much more.
Get your calendar at the ready and keep reading.
The 1975 Live
Monday 23 January 2023 | First Direct Arena, Leeds city centre
The 1975. Credit: Samuel Bradley
Everybody stay calm, it's happening. The 1975 are coming to Leeds and performing at the First Direct Arena.
Social media has been awash with videos from The 1975’s tour so far (notably Matty Healy’s autotune) and the time has finally come where we get to see the spectacle for ourselves. To say we are excited is a bit of an understatement.
Saturday 28 January 2023 | Opera North, Grand Theatre
Image: Richard H Smith
Opera North is preparing to breathe new life into the classic operatic performance of Puccini’s Tosca in the coming weeks- and it’s going to be an incredible experience. The operatic performance has been loved for over 100 years, but this month there’s two opportunities to see the Opera North’s 2023 version in person.
Wednesday 25 January 2023 from 6pm | Ox Club, The Headrow
Image: Ox Club
Bringing back the special six course tasting menu for the eighth year in a row. There’s tables all night long from 5pm – 10pm but booking is advised as this one is going to sell out fast. Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide have already given their blessing to the restaurant’s dishes, so we’re certain the quality will be worth the £65 price tag.
Monday 23 - Sunday 29 January 2023 | Trinity Kitchen
Image: Little Red Eats
New year means new Trinity Kitchen food trucks, and for the next nine weeks there’s going to be plenty of winter warmers to tuck into. Expect burgers, bhajis, bagels and everything in between from five street food vendors, including some newbies and old favourites.
Feeling hungry yet? Us two. Read all about it here.
Lone Design Club Pop-up Shop
Thursday 26 January 2023 | 27 Albion Street, Trinity Leeds
Image: Lone Design Club
This January, enter the New Year with a bang as Lone Design Club brings the best of the most exciting and up-and-coming lifestyle, home, beauty and wellness brands to Leeds in the form of a pop-up concept store.
Opening on Thursday, expect an exclusive selection of the most promising brands of the future, showcased within an interactive store, alongside a full events programme to bring you into the world of LDC’s beloved and experimental brands.
Astoria
Thursday 26 January 2023 | The Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square
Image: Astoria
Playing their biggest show to date, Leeds-born rock and roll band, Astoria, is preparing for an intimate show to crowds like never before. Expect a night to remember featuring catching riffs, alt-rock ballads and heartfelt lyrics from Where The Light Lives, amongst other hits.
Tickets cost £7.70 and can be purchased through See Tickets.
Saturday 28 January 2023 | O2 Academy, Millennium Square
Bringing back Saturday nights in the Academy for the new year, one of the North’s leading events is back and still going strong after 10 years of production. The event is known to have ‘the killer combination of unparalleled production, performers, resident DJs and very special guests’.
Tickets cost £5.50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Enjoy one of the UK's top ranked Sunday Roasts
Sunday 29 January 2023 | Across Leeds
Image: The Tetley
Did you know that five Leeds' based restaurants have been ranked in the Top 15 in the whole of the UK? Rate Good Roasts provides us with an annual list of roast dinners that are well worth the type, so it would be rude not to sample one this weekend wouldn't it.
This year the top slot was given to The Hawthorn in Haworth before places like long-standing local favourites and Michelin Guide-recommended Ox Club and newcomers Braizin’ Squad over in Meanwood snook their way into the top roast list.
Sunday 29 January 2023 | Neighbourhood, Greek Street
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Neighbourhood Leeds, located on Greek Street, is the ultimate city centre party venue. Not only do they know how to make showstopping cocktails and delicious food, but they’re absolute professionals in the bottomless brunch sector.
And for all those ABBA fans out there, this is your lucky day as Neighbourhood are officially hosting a Mamma Mia themed Bottomless Brunch at the end of this week.
Monday 23 - Sunday 29 January 2023 | Năm Sông Caphe, New Briggate
Image: Nam Song
To help celebrate the Vietnamese Year of the Cat, Năm Sông will be hosting a Lucky Red Envelope giveaway all week. Every time you dine with them, you will receive a lucky red envelope where you will win anything from your entire meal for free, filter coffee sets, a round of drinks or even a free slice of the green mean machine Pandan Cake.
If you're got a sweet tooth, then you're going to want to keep reading.
Oh Leeds, if there's one thing we're good at - it's baking.
Just walking around the city you'll bump into delightful bakeries offering sweet treats galore, and you'll find even better gems when you venture into the suburbs.
We've rounded up a handy little guide for you to make your way through when you're looking to treat yourself to a cheeky baked good, which should be every day if we're being honest.
So, without further ado let's dive into the best bakeries in Leeds.
Bake
Mustard Approach, Mustard Wharf
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Things in Bread and Doh'hut comes this absolutely beautiful bakery by the water.
Led by mastermind Tom, they're serving up great British bakes but with a refined twist. Think ultra cheesy cheese twists, sticky school cake and unbeatable sausage rolls.
Fat Pigeon Bakery
406 Broad Lane, Leeds LS13 3DF
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fat Pigeon is a micro-bakery in Bramley that opens every Saturday to queues of adoring fans. And it’s no surprise why, as here you’ll find some of the very best bakes - from croissants to cinnamon buns - that Leeds has to offer. Oh, and owner Ruth is about as lovely as they come too.
Fold
62 Brussels Street, LS9 8AB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the absolute masterminds behind The Cheesy Living Co. comes Fold, a hidden bakery serving up from under the arches every Saturday morning.
You can get your chops around their famous focaccia, stuffed sausage rolls, cookies, sarnies, bagels and the creme de le creme for us: the foot-long three-cheese twist.
Underground Bakery
Call Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're after a really great almond croissant, then you've got to get yourself to Underground Bakery. They're serving a whole array of baked goods but doing them all really, really well.
Right in the centre of town, it's a great spot to swing by on your way to work because everyone deserves a midweek croissant every now and again.
Laynes
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one probably doesn't need any introduction, as Laynes bakery are known amongst the city for their exceptional bakes and it's not hard to see why.
They stock a number of coffee shops across Leeds but for the true experience, pop in and enjoy a bake alongside a cup of their fabulous coffee.
Nova
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Nova Bakehouse is a beautiful sun drenched spot that serve up irresistible morning buns, chewy cookies and speciality bread.
They focus on 'flavour forward baking' using seasonal ingredients to create monthly specials that'll have you going back time and time again.
Oh, and they've been named one of the best bakeries in the UK by The Good Food Guide two years running now - so you know it's good.
These guys have really made a mark for themselves since opening, and have cured all of LS6’s sweet tooth cravings and caffeine fixes.
You'll find everything from stacked brownies and blondies to incredible red velvet cookie pies, and how could we forget their savoury options too?
Chunk
174 Kirkstall Hill
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If cookies are your kryptonite, then Chunk is where you need to be.
From baking inside her student shared house to opening her very first bakery, the last few years have been a whirlwind for owner Amy Bennett- and there's really no stopping her now.
Her gooey NYX-style cookies are out of this world, served with great drinks to match.
The Savvy Baker
Albion Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Again, this one needs absolutely no introduction. A Leeds staple that has been curing sweet toothed brownie-lovers for years, it's The Savvy Baker.
Their new site in the city centre is truly one to behold, baking cookies on site and whipping up speciality matchas from a dedicated matcha bar - you don't want to miss it.
Karpaty Bakery
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This traditional Polish bakery inside the market is selling some of the cheapest bakes you can get your hands on. Their authentic donuts are as big as your head and the perfect sweet treat that won't break the bank.
Street Lane Bakery
399 Street Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Hidden away just behind Street Lane, is Street Lane Bakery.
These guys have been baking up a storm in the kitchen for over a decade, from their ever-so-famous home-cooked bagels to the sweetest of treats.
Slow Rise Bakery
Sunnybank Avenue, Horsforth
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Can't get over to New York but craving a proper chewy, stacked bagel with all the trimmings? Slow Rise Bakery is the only answer.
Pick your flavour bagel from sesame to everything and then pick your fillings, we'd recommend going for lashings of cream cheese and layers of smoked salmon. Delicious.
The Leeds Chilli Shop selling sauces so hot they come with a warning
Clementine Hall
If you think you can handle your spice, then there’s one shop in Leeds that will put that to the test.
Tucked away on Merrion Street, Chilli Shop has been a staple of the Leeds high street for over a decade.
First opening back in 2014, Chilli Shop was founded by Frank Jay and has built a reputation as one of the city’s most wonderfully niche (and hottest) destinations.
It's basically a shrine to all things hot, a proper haven of everything spicy to get your tastebuds tingilng.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We're talking everything from chilli hot sauces and jams to chocolate, cheese, dried chillies and even novelty gifts perfect for the chilli lover in your life.
But what they're most famous for is a shelf fully dedicated to the Youtube hit Hot Ones, a show where celebrities are pushed to the limit and served hot wings coated in a variety of hot sauces from mild to blow-your-head-off hot.
So if you've ever watched that show and wanted to have a go yourself, this shop stocks all the sauces so you can be the star of your own Hot Ones episode.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Best of all, you can try before you buy. Free, heat-rated tasters are available, meaning you can work your way up from “that’s got a bit of a kick” to “I can no longer feel my face”.
We can't promise there's any milk or ice cream on hand though, so get tasting at your own risk.
So whether you’re looking for a new sauce, a spicy gift for your mate or simply want to discover exactly how much pain your tastebuds can withstand, the Chilli Shop is one Leeds independent that deserves a visit.
Clementine Hall -
23rd January 2023 
