Schools are out for the holidays and we’ve got an extended bank holiday weekend to look forward to this week now Easter is here.
So it's no surprise that Leeds is jam packed with exciting things to get up to, from Easter egg hunts to fashion shows- there's an event for everyone to enjoy this first week of April.
We’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits happening across the city and beyond so get your diary out and keep reading.
Burrowing Bunnies Easter Trail
Monday 3 – Sunday 9 April 2023 | White Rose Shopping Centre
Image: Supplied
There’s nothing like a bunny trail to get you in the Easter spirit. White Rose Shopping Centre will be hosting a fantastically free Burrowing Bunnies Easter Trail where families are invited to find eight mischievous bunnies hiding around the centre.
And the best part is, after you’ve completed the trail and located each mischievous bunny then you can trade in your map at the end for a delicious Easter treat and a pair of adorable rabbit ears.
RUN is an exciting programme of events overseen by internationally acclaimed Yorkshire designer, and Leeds Beckett University Professor, Matty Bovan. Leeds Beckett University are inviting fashion and art enthusiasts to get involved with RUN – am unmissable live photoshoot takeover at Trinity Leeds on Tuesday 4 April 2023.
This exciting one-day-only showcase is a fashion first for the city and will debut the graduate collections of Leeds Beckett University’s Fashion Class of 2023.
Wednesday 5 April 2023 | North Street, Leeds City Centre
Image: The Brunswick
Support your local beer gaff with a pint in one hand and a burger in the other – it sounds like the hump day cure dreams are made of if you ask us. The independent bar has been serving since 2015 and has punters returning for its laid back ambience and events aplenty.
Grab yourself a beer and a burger for £10 every Wednesday as part of the ongoing foodie offers at The Brunswick.
The rugby star turned podcaster and author of Sunday Times Bestselling book ‘What A Flanker‘, James Haskell will be telling all at City Varieties this month. The show will see Haskell talk about everything from his ‘mischievous’ school days to playing around the world as a professional rugby player, including at Wasps, Northampton, Stade Francais, The Ricoh Black Rams, and The Highlanders.
In honour of Easter bank holiday weekend, Beck and Call will be hosting a night dedicated to Britpop where local DJ's will be playing all of the Oasis, Blur and Pulp you could imagine.
Entry is completely free and the event kicks off at 7pm until late.
Chow Down Opening
From Thursday 6 April 2023 | Temple Arches, Leeds city centre
Image: Chapter 81
The Temple Arches venue is set to host a brand-new Urban Garden space, perfect for soaking up the summer sun. The new addition will make Chow Down ‘the largest garden in the city centre’, with the jam-packed events calendar lasting all summer long.
Sell-out successes like Bingo Lingo, Camp Presents Drag Brunch and DJ nights will return for the 2023 season, and there’s been a huge injection in new food festivals and days and nights out in the city centre that’ll have people across Leeds and beyond heading down to the arches.
Looking to let your hair down this Easter Bank Holiday weekend? Then Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen is the place to be.
Over the course of the weekend they'll be hosting some brilliant DJ's and music acts which you can enjoy in one of Leeds' best music venues. Grab some pizza from Dough Boys whilst you're there and get your foot-tapping and head bobbing.
For a full list of Belgrave's events, take a look here.
Kids eat free offers
Throughout the Easter holidays | Various locations
Images: Bills / YO Sushi!
Easter half-term is on the horizon and if you’re looking to take your kids out for a day of fun, here is a list of places where they can eat for free to help you save a few pennies.
Whether you’re on the move and need a quick meal deal or fancy a mid-week meal out with all the family, or you simply just want them to eat something other than chocolate eggs – there’s an offer here which will definitely suit you.
Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.
It's the best week of the year...it's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.
We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre - so take your pick, whatever the occasion.
Dave's Pies and Ales
Kirkstall Road, Burley | Open from 5pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.
Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.
Whitelocks Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu.
The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.
Pieminister
Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.
Finer Pleasures
Multiple locations
If you don't know about Josh at Finer Pleasures, then you're seriously missing out. Josh is somewhat of a pie-oneer (sorry), and is the master of creating weird and wonderful pie creations from lasagna pies to gammon, egg and pineapple pork pies.
You can find him over in Crossgates most Wednesdays, but you're best bet is to keep an eye on his socials for the best chance on bagging one of his pies. Trust us, they're like gold dust.
Wilsons Butchers
Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates | Open from 7.30am
Image: Wilsons Butchers
Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract - Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships.
At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.
Five of the best new openings to come out of Leeds so far this year
Clementine Hall
It's been a very busy start to 2026 so far this year in Leeds, and we're definitely not complaining.
It's safe to say our city is thriving, we've welcomed everything from shops and Italian cafes to tequila bars in just two months.
In case you've missed any of them, allow us to give you the lowdown of what's new in the city.
So, without further ado...
Salon Madre
Wellington Street, Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds welcomed its newest late-night destination last Friday, and it’s going down as smoothly as its tequila. Salon Madre is a Mexican-inspired bar with a dedicated margarita menu, fabulous food, and an atmosphere that’ll make you want to get up dancing almost immediately. And if you fancy unleashing your competitive side, then there’s plenty of pool tables ready and waiting to be played.
A slice of Puglia has landed over in Pudsey with this fabulous Italian cafe. Nodding to his hometown of Puglia, Fabio has created the Italian experience right here in Leeds, inviting people to swing by for Italian coffee, homemade pizza slices, as well as gelato by the cone (or tub) full.
Topshop
John Lewis in Victoria Gate, Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One for the girlies… because Topshop is officially BACK in Leeds. The iconic high-street favourite has returned, taking over a dedicated space inside John Lewis inside Victoria Gate and yes, we’re already planning the outfit rotations. After Topshop and Topman disappeared from the high street back in 2021, it’s safe to say we’ve all felt the gap in our wardrobes. And of course… Joni jeans, we’ve missed you dearly.
Pollini's Pizza
Lands Lane, Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
These guys are known for dishing out huge New York-style pizza slices for less than £4 in Leeds Kirkgate Market since 2022. And now with a second site in Leeds, the big boy slices are making their way across the city, from classic margaritas to meat feasts.
And you best believe we were the first people down to grab it, because we can’t resist a slice from Pollini's.
Pop Mart
Briggate, Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Pop Mart officially opened on Briggate in January, and Leeds turned out in full force with queues stretching all the way down Thornton’s Arcade. With endless blind boxes to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a Labubu girlie or obsessed with the Crybaby series, you can now get your favourites right here in Leeds.
Clementine Hall -
3rd April 2023 
