It's the first full week of spring- and there's plenty to do now the sun is back out.
Spring is finally here and there's so many things to do to celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Every week, we're going to be bringing you all our favourite things to do in Leeds, along with some exciting one-off events in our city. Every Monday you'll be able to find our cherry-picked list of things to do, starting this week.
Whether you want to get out and bask in the not-so-sunny outdoors, learn something new or hide away indoors and wait out the cold snap, there's going to be loads of things to do in the city centre and beyond to get stuck in to.
Here's our top picks of things to do in Leeds this week.
Leeds Creatives Ukraine Fundraiser
Monday 28 March 2022 from 6pm.
Image: Hyde Park Book Club
Kicking off Hyde Park and Headingley's fundraising efforts for Ukraine, Hyde Park Book Club is hosting a night celebrating arts of all sorts to raise money for DEC and Leeds Together for Ukraine Appeal, a charity providing assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Leeds.
Pay as your feel from 6pm you can hear a reading of Return to Sender by Olga Braga, and poetry from Joe Williams and Hannah Stone in the snug. In the main room there will be a book sale and a creative writing workshop from Hearing Voices: a creative writing workshop exploring some famous images from past wars and conflicts, the concept of photo journalism and war poetry; as well as musical performances from artist and DJs.
Monday 28 March 2022 from 6pm. Find out more here.
The Fratellis at Leeds O2 Academy
Wednesday 30 March, 7-11pm.
Image: The Fratellis
Long-time Indie favourites The Fratellis will be performing at Leeds' O2 Academy this week. Bringing a new load of upbeat, foot-stomping anthems from their latest album, Half Drunk Under The Full Moon, those lucky enough to grab tickets to this gig will get to witness some of the first to witness the new material live, as well as enjoying plenty of classics from their back catalogue.
Tickets from their Saturday 24 October 2020 and Wednesday 21 April 2021 will be valid at this event- keep hold of your original ticket to gain entry to this long-awaited night of Glaswegian rock tunes.
Japanese sushi and Pan Asian grill restaurant, Sakku is hosting its first ever bottomless brunch experience this week- and it's set to be quite the afternoon.
Having been open for just six months, Sakku has locally made a name for itself by bringing back one of the best ways to eat: using local and imported ingredients to bring unlimited dishes back to the dining table, at their hidden Leeds restaurant. Now, the busy restaurant is adding unlimited tipple to the menu and swapping unlimited food for booze during the one-day-only sitting.
Each seat at the table will cost £28.95 and includes four dishes and bottomless draught beer, Prosecco, Pornstar Martini and other cocktails, mocktails and soft drinks for all sittings between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
Name a better way to celebrate spring than decorate your home in floral offerings. At Chirpy, one of Chapel Allerton's most-loved independent home stores, visitors can join local Floral Designer, Kelly Stanford from Fox & Flora and make a versatile arrangement that can be adorn your door as a spring wreath or an arrangement for your table.
Experience wonder and beauty of flowers, and find much more than an artistic licence. This on-off events teaches the mindful practise of creating with nature and cultivate awareness, presence and balance.
Sunday 3 April 2022, 10.30am-12.30pm. Find out more here.
Trinity Kitchen New Food Trucks
Monday 28 April - Sunday 3 April 2022.
Image: Bad Boy Bagel Co.
Taking us into the warmer months are five brand-new food trucks with some seriously irresistible springtime menus at Trinity Kitchen. Think multi-coloured bagels, slow-smoked meat tacos, grilled cheese sarnies and fluffy steamed pittas inspired by traditional Middle Eastern dishes.
The food trucks have been taken over by the BadBoy Bagel Co. and their seriously 'grammable rainbow bagels; Shouk, specialising in Middle Eastern cuisine; Jimmy Macks, the brains behind seasonal slow-smoked barbecue treats; Cheese Yard and a full menu of all things (you guessed it) cheese and Alleycats, bringing huge burgers to Trinity Kitchen.
The new food vendours will be in Leeds for the next nine weeks. Find out more here.
French artist Justin Fitzpatrick explores conceptual metaphors, and uses his talents to demonstrate our world views and perspectives through art. In this solo exhibition, artist Justin Fitzpatrick explores ideas around taste, decadence and bodily transformation.
As well as Fitzpatrick’s own painting and sculpture, Alpha Salad includes the artist’s curated selection of works from Leeds University Library Galleries and Special Collections, including work by Wendy Abbott, Duncan Grant and Käthe Kollwitz, in addition to photographs from the Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture.
The Tetley will be showing Justin Fitzpatrick's work until Sunday 8 May 2022. Find out more here.
Feature Image- Hyde Park Book Club
Eats
A Yorkshire barbecue restaurant has opened in one of Leeds’ coolest venues
A new Yorkshire barbecue restaurant has opened in Leeds city centre, with sandwich fillings cooked over open flame.
Mandy's Barbecue has taken over the kitchens at The Attic - already one of the city's coolest spaces - serving sourdough sarnies by day and small plates in the evenings.
It's brilliant news for The Attic, after their last resident, Fener Bar, closed after just two months after launching.
Headed up by chef Easher Panesar, whose CV includes the former Michelin-starred Man Behind The Curtain, Mandy's has a proudly Yorkshire menu.
He's created a menu of sandwiches with all the fillings cooked over an open fire barbecue, from BBQ rump steak to a Korean chicken thigh.
And when he says it's a Yorkshire barbecue, Easher means it - meat comes from Neil Smith Quality Butcher, fish is from Kirkgate Market (either S Myer's or Tarbett's Fishmongers), and he sources his veg from a local fruit and veg stand.
And the bread is proudly local too, sourced from Leeds indie Bluebird Bakery.
Mandy's Barbecue in Leeds cooks its sandwich fillings over fireMandy's Barbecue has opened in The Attic, taking over what was previously Fener BarProduce is all proudly YorkshireThe sandwich menu at Mandy's BarbecueMandy's Barbecue is now open at The Attic
Once the sarnie menu ends at around 3pm, he pivots into small plates, like Jerk mackerel, BBQ sirloin with kimchi, lamb neck with pea puree, and a dark chocolate ganache with olive oil.
There's a new bespoke cocktail menu, created thanks to celebrated Leeds bartender Sands (who you might recognise from Rinse and Bottle Chop).
Priced at just £8 each, that includes classics like Negroni, Old Fashioned, Aperol spritz, Pineapple Daiquiri, and martinis.
Mandy's Barbecue is open at The Attic in Leeds now.
Iconic Leeds United pub The Moot reopens after six-figure refurb
Daisy Jackson
The Moot Hall Arms, Leeds' favourite football pub, has just reopened its doors after a six-figure refurb.
The iconic Leeds United pub is still covered in local sports memorabilia and merch, but there's even more of it now.
That's because The Moot has now expanded across two floors and three bars, including a brand-new bar and events space upstairs, The Changing Rooms, created to celebrate the rich history of Leeds United.
That extra space is ready for busy matchdays and the full seven-days-a-week programme of events and deals, which includes live music, karaoke, bingo, quiz nights, and more.
And operator Claire says she wants to the pub to be Leeds city centre's best-value sports and entertainment venues, with pints available from £3 in the week.
The popular Craft Union Pub Company venue has reopened its doors today to the bigger, brighter pub, ready to once again attract football fans from across the UK looking to experience its unique atmosphere.
The 'significant' refurbishment includes new decor, bars, furniture, lighting, toilets, and entertainment facilities, like nine TVs, two large projector screens, and three Sky boxes.
Over this weekend and the bank holiday weekend, there'll be DJs, live music, karaoke, themed events, and special guest appearances from former Leeds United favourites Stuart Dallas, Mel Sterland and Noel Whelan.
Inside The Moot in LeedsThe new 'Changing Rooms' bar at The Moot Hall ArmsThere's still plenty of Leeds United merch everywhere
Claire, Operator at The Moot Hall Arms, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be reopening and finally showing everyone what we've been working on.
"Over the last five years we've worked extremely hard to build The Moot into something special. We're proud of the community that's grown around the pub, the friendships that have been made here and the reputation we've built among Leeds United supporters.
"This investment is a huge vote of confidence in the pub and what it has become. We've managed to make The Moot bigger, better and more versatile, while keeping everything people love about it."
Sport remains central to the venue's identity, with the pub continuing to show Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Premier Sports coverage throughout the year.
When it's a Leeds United fixture, the full matchday experience will include pre- and post-match DJs, live entertainment, and full sound for games.
Claire said: "We want The Moot to be much more than somewhere people simply come for a drink. Our ambition is to be one of Leeds city centre's best-value sports and entertainment venues, with something happening every day of the week."
New artwork in the windowsLeeds Leeds Leeds
Alongside its sporting credentials, The Moot Hall Arms has also earned recognition for its commitment to charitable causes, raising more than £100,000 for charities and good causes, supporting organisations including St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds Women's Aid and NECS Uganda.
The Moot's team has also travelled to Uganda in recent years, sponsoring the education of four children, delivering aid and supporting community projects within local villages.
For Claire and her team, the most important thing is ensuring The Moot remains true to its roots.
She said: "We’re passionate about keeping the Moot accessible and affordable. At a time when customers are watching what they spend, we want people to know they can still come into the centre of Leeds, have a reasonably priced pint, watch live sport and enjoy entertainment without spending a fortune.
"Most importantly, we want The Moot to retain its personality. It’s still going to be loud on matchdays, full of Leeds United memorabilia, packed for big games, raising money for good causes and putting on entertainment throughout the week – there’s just a lot more of it now!"
Sophie Smith -
28th March 2022 
