Father's day is here and it's time to show your dad how much he means to you.
For those of us from sunny Yorkshire, we reckon there's a few things that set our good old Yorkshire dads apart from the rest. Whether he's a flat-cap wearing, garden-loving, country dweller or a BBQ hogging, fixer-upper; there's a few characteristics that they all have in common.
Here are ten things that make Yorkshire dads distinguishable. After all, you can take the dad out of Yorkshire but you most certainly can't take the Yorkshire out of the dad.
Your dad can fix anything, or will at least try to
Image: Unsplash, Tekton
Broken boiler? No problem. Problem with your car? Sure, pass it over.
No matter what skill set (or lack there of) your Yorkshire dad has he will have a go at fixing absolutely anything and everything. Because after all, that's a lot better than buying a brand new one, right?
We may roll our eyes at the thought and shake our heads, but we will always be grateful at them taking a crack at it. And let's be honest, most of the time they do fix it and oh, they most definitely won't let you forget it.
Your dad will find the best bargain for everything
Buying a new garden rake directly off the shelf? Absolutely no chance.
Your Yorkshire dad will only take that as a challenge to find the cheapest one from elsewhere whether that takes hours scrolling on Amazon or digging one out from the back of the garden shed and fixing it himself.
Your dad only cooks when the BBQ makes an appearance
Image: Unsplash, Evan Wise
Every single day of the week your dad isn't bothered about the cooking. But boy oh boy when the barbecue comes out it's a different story.
Of course the designated, novelty apron comes on and the obnoxiously large tongs come out. He will stand proud round the BBQ with a beer in hand whilst you're all drooling over the sausages which were supposed to be ready an hour ago.
Yes your burger may come out like a burnt hockey puck but you're never going to tell him that. Simple 'mmms' and 'aaaahs' will be heard round the table as your dad kicks up his feet and marvels at his brilliance.
He will only turn the heating on in the depths of winter
Image: Unsplash, Erin Mclean
As soon as it gets chilly we all enter dangerous territory. Several glances are exchanged towards the thermostat and you ponder whether it's time to ask your dad if you can turn the heating on. Common answers include 'put another jumper on' or 'make a fire if you want'.
Only once snow settles on the driveway and icicles frame the windows is it finally time to crank up the heating. But only then is it one degree at a time and he will know from miles away if you've secretly swizzled that nozzle to the right one notch.
Your dad definitely has a dad drawer
The dad drawer, a staple in every Yorkshire household. It's usually in the kitchen or in more severe cases there's a whole filing cabinet in the study.
But what goes in this drawer you might ask? All the essentials. Bills, passports, superglue, permanent markers, spare car keys, random cables for different electronic devices from around the house which can never be matched together, you name it and it's in there.
And be warned, whatever you do, do not go hunting unsupervised in the dad drawer, it's got its name for a reason and should always be approached with caution.
Your dad is incredible in an emergency
Image: Yorkshire Tea
I'm sure we can all recall numerous times where our dad has come to our rescue and acted as our own personal superhero.
Whether you're at the side of the road with a flat tire or had one too many at the pub and need a lift home, your dad will be there in a flash and handle the situation in a calm and collected manner. Broken up with your boyfriend? He may be a man of few words but you bet there'll be a cup of tea and a few biscuits on your doorstep to help ease the pain.
Your dad is the best at telling you off
Perhaps not the best of memories, but we have definitely all been there. Whereas our mums may rave and rant at us, once your dad gives you 'the look' you're done for.
The look most commonly comes with a side of silence, or maybe a 'I'm not angry, just disappointed' if you're lucky. He may then slam the door or stamp around the house for added affect, just to show you that you have in-fact made a huge mistake.
One things for sure, you'll never make that mistake again and you'll grovel for the foreseeable until you've made friends again. That will involve gallons of Yorkshire tea delivered and a few bags of liquorice thrown in for good measure.
Your dad absolutely loves Yorkshire
Image: Unsplash
This one may be obvious, but whether your dad no longer lives in Yorkshire and has ventured down south or to sunnier climates, they will always have a special place in their heart for God's Own Country and they won't let you forget it.
And we don't blame them, as we all know there's truly nothing better than taking a long walk on the rolling dales enjoying the spectacular views which Yorkshire has in abundance.
Whether you and your dad are together in Yorkshire still or not, you'll always have this special place we call home to bring your together, no matter where you are.
So here's to the Yorkshire dads, grandad's and dad's to be. You're truly something special.
Pop hitmaker Rick Astley is playing a few UK shows and is treating Leeds to a night of live music as part of The Reflection Tour.
Newton-le-Willows-born singer Rick Astley has achieved worldwide success, most notably with his work in the 80s alongside songwriting and production duo Stock-Aitken and Waterman.
Astley's album Whenever You Need Somebody has amassed 15 million sales across the globe and is a pivotal record that many would use to define 80s music.
On this LP is his huge hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up' which dropped back in 1987, with the track gaining more attention courtesy of social media trickery.
The worldwide recognition of this hit is all down to people online who deliberately link to the music video for this song, with the term being coined 'The Rickroll'.
Now, Rick Astley is returning to Leeds and ready to play out to over 13,500 people at one of Leeds' biggest indoor arenas First Direct Arena this April.
Gig guide | Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Rick Astley is bringing The Reflection Tour to Leeds this April / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
Rick Astley UK tour dates
Fri 10 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Sat 11 April - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
Mon 13 April - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Tue 14 April - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Thu 16 April - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
Fri 17 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Sat 18 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Mon 20 April - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Tue 21 April - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
Wed 22 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - BP Pulse Live
Sat 25 April - London, UK - The O2
Fri 5 June - Scarborough, UK - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Fri 19 June - Newport, UK - Isle of Wight Festival
Wed 24 June - Llangollen, UK - Llangollen Pavilion
Thu 25 June - Lincoln, UK - Lincoln Castle
Sat 27 June - Gloucester, UK - Westonbirt Arboretum
Fri 24 July - Ludlow, UK - Ludlow Castle
Sat 25 July - Sheffield, UK - Tramlines
Sat 30 August - Silverstone, UK - Carfest
Are there any tickets left for Rick Astley in Leeds?
No need to 'Cry For Help', there's plenty of tickets for Rick Astley's Leeds show at First Direct Arena and you can grab yours HERE.
It's been 'Driving Me Crazy' waiting for the right opportunity to do a little Rickrolling of my own - the actual tickets can be found HERE.
Rick Astley setlist for 2026 tour
The Reflection Tour sees Rick Astley play various shows and festivals across the UK / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
This year will mark Rick Astley's first official headline tour since 2024 meaning a full setlist is yet to be confirmed.
Here is a setlist from 2024 when the 80s performer played a series of festival sets:
Never Gonna Stop
Together Forever
Beautiful Life
It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
Dippin My Feet
Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover)
She Wants to Dance With Me
Juice (Lizzo cover)
Forever and More
Hold Me in Your Arms
Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender cover)
Cry For Help
Dance
Angels On My Side
Whenever You Need Somebody (O 'Chi Brown cover)
Good Times (Chic cover)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Maria Love
Never Gonna Give You Up
Stage times for Rick Astley and support act for First Direct Arena, Leeds
Doors for Rick Astley's The Reflection Tour are set to open from 6.30pm with an official starting time of 7.30pm.
Support for this show comes in the form of another celebrated UK performer who achieved prominence the decade after Astley - Gabrielle.
This R&B-pop singer is recognised for her 1993 hit 'Dreams' and is known for soundtracking the 90s and noughties with multiple chart entries throughout the decades.
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in LeedsÂ
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
And about the rickrolling earlier... sorry not sorry.
Featured Images - Press shots via Peter Neill / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
Leeds
Ireland’s famous fast food phenomenon, the spice bag, has landed in Leeds Kirkgate Market
Clementine Hall
You can now grab the ultimate hangover cure at our very own Kirkgate Market.
And it comes from none other than The Fisherman's Wife - a Leeds institution that has been serving up fantastic fish and chips for over 60 years.
But now, they're turning their attention to spice bags.
If you have no idea what we're talking about then allow us to fill you in. And we'd recommend pouring yourself an ice cold glass of water, because it's about to get real salty up in here.
The spice bag is an Irish delicacy that is often devoured after a few Guinness on the streets of Dublin, for example.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It consists of shredded and battered chicken, chips, onions and peppers - all deep fried, loaded into a bag and tossed in lashings of salt and pepper seasoning.
Oh, and of course dipped or lathered in a sauce of your choosing. The classic being curry sauce, obviously.
It's been available in Leeds once before at a pop-up in Trinity Kitchen, but now The Fisherman's Wife is here to make them a permanent option for anyone with that salty craving.
You've got a couple of flavours to choose from too, including peri-peri, plain, salt & chilli and of course the classic salt & pepper.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can then add a drizzle of sriracha, curry sauce (obviously) or sticky honey if you're looking for that sweet and salty balance.
The best part? They're selling these for just £6.50.
So next time you've had a few too many the night before, get yourself to The Fisherman's Wife inside Leeds Kirkgate Market's food hall and get yourself a spice bag. You'll be cured in no time.