If your pennies won't stretch far enough to take a trip abroad this summer, fear not - because it turns out that you can get your fill of Benidorm living right here in Yorkshire.
In tribute to the hilarious mid-noughties show that captured the heart of a nation, on the Whitby coast there is a Benidorm-themed bar and cabaret lounge.
Called The Metunes, it was opened last summer by none other than Brit comedy star Tim Healey, who is best known for his roles as Les/Lesley Conroy in the hit ITV show.
Housed inside the former Met Lounge, a longstanding favourite of drinkers on the Whitby coast, the themed bar goes out of its way to pay tribute to the show.
From its name, Metunes - which puts its own cheeky spin on the show's famous watering hole Neptunes Bar - to offering all the cheesy pub pursuits enjoyed by 'Brits on tour', the former Met Lounge does its best to bring Benidorm to life here on UK soil.
Inside, you'll find cabaret, karaoke, disco, and mega cash prize bingo, as well as performances from none other than Craig Williams - who fans may remember as the singer from Neptunes Bar on the show.
The singer plays a Thursday-Sunday residency at the bar every week, so if you want to get the full Benidorm experience make sure to head down on one of those nights.
First opened by the Auf Wiedersehen Pet actor last summer, the themed bar can be found inside The Met Lounge - a feature in the town for many years before its recent refurbishment brought it a whole host of new fans.
As well as offering up cheesy Benidorm-style entertainment and pursuits, Metunes Bar also serves up a full all-day food menu including sandwiches, breakfasts, and a variety of different cakes.
Open from midday to midnight seven days a week, the bar can be found just off the North Promenade close to Whitby Beach.
Featured image - ITV
Art & Culture
Inside the historic Leeds mill transformed into a thriving hub for creatives
Nestled in Armley, Assembly House is an independent creative hub bringing artists together.
Assembly House, based on Canal Road in Armley inside a historic Victorian mill, has become a home for creatives across Leeds since launching in 2013.
The artist-led organisation combines working studios with an independent gallery and project space, hosting everything from exhibitions and workshops to community events and live music.
The space is currently home to 80 creatives who make up their community, comprising of professional practitioners including educators, performers, painters, sculptors, illustrators, video artists and designers.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their aim is simple - to offer affordable studios to emerging artists alongside technical support, producing support along with access to workshops, internal film screenings and events.
Assembly House offer a yearly program of exhibitions designed to showcase the studio holders and get their work out there. It's all aimed at helping the artists, whether it's their first show or tenth.
It has also helped bring art into the wider neighbourhood through community murals, public sculptures and activities for local people.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They believe art has the power to bring people together and to evoke emotion and thought, and we've got to say that we absolutely agree.
The space can also be hired by students and independent creatives looking to put on their own exhibitions or bring a project to life.
The fabulous venue is generally open to visitors during exhibitions, workshops and events, with visits by appointment at other times, so it's worth checking its website before heading over.
To have a look at their current programme and to find out more about what Assembly House are doing for Leeds and the community, you can take a look at their website here.
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
Clementine Hall
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Georgina Pellant -
12th June 2023 
