Temple Newsam's Home Farm will gain a new indoor play centre for children after plans to convert an old cow byre have been approved.
The new development will see two new play areas developed, a comfy café offering drinks and light meals, as well as space for a shop area.
The cow byres will be converted into a play area by the end of the year. / Image: Leeds City Council
Due to open in late autumn, the new development will have two play areas, one in the original milking parlour, suitable for up to 12 year-olds, and the second area for toddlers which will be situated in a purpose built extension to the rear yard.
Both areas will take inspiration from the farm and the park bringing the great outdoors inside- a fitting proposal to match the child-friendly Temple Newsam grounds.
The cow byre and its surrounding buildings have a fascinating history. Built over 100 years ago, the buildings were used as a milking parlour to provide clean tuberculin-tested milk to the hospitals in Leeds.
The building and production systems were state of the art for their time and by the 1940s, had Shorthorn cows producing over 70,000 gallons of milk each year.
There's still cows at Temple Newsam, over at Home Farm. / Image: Temple Newsam
The council ceased dairy farming in 1968 and after that time the building had various other uses including being a vehicle depot for the council’s parks department and even being home to West Yorkshire Police’s stables in the 1970’s.
During this time, multiple alterations to the building and some of the original fixtures and fittings, including the magnificent-looking ventilation turrets, had fallen into disrepair so it has become apparent that urgent repairs are going to be needed.
The plans for the cow byre will not only provide the building with a new purpose, but one that will respect its original design and history.
Image: Temple Newsam
Public consultation revealed that visitors were keen that Home Farm should have more indoor facilities so that they could visit at all times of the year and from this the idea, the ‘Playbarn’ was developed. Given the wet weather this half term, this is something we can certainly appreciate.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles said:
“I am so pleased to see that this fascinating old building will be given a new lease of life offering families a place to come along and enjoy for many years to come. Creating more indoor space for people to enjoy at Home Farm was a key finding from a public consultation we did last year so we are excited to move this project forward and deliver on this commitment.
Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024.
We are so, so back.
It's been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a small selection of UK gigs for later in the year including a homecoming gig at the O2 Academy on Friday 6 November.
The dates follow the band’s first show of the year at the 6Music Festival this Friday across The Pennines in Manchester.
After Leeds, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 13 November before making their way down south to the O2 Academy in Brixton on Thursday 26 November.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album Where’s My Utopia? with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August 2024.
It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy. It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.
Since then, the band have remained active, whether writing Where’s My Utopia’s follow-up on scratching the itch to get back on stage, heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives, which was preceded by an intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.
Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to the Autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait.
Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday 27 March. Sign up here.
Viral brunch cafe Acai and the Tribe is coming to Leeds city centre this spring
Clementine Hall
Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.
Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.
Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Images: The Manc Group
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."
They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.
It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.
Sophie Smith -
25th February 2022 
