If you love a good brew, then you won't want to miss Leeds first-ever dedicated tea festival.
Held at Temple Newsam, the British obsession with tea will be celebrated with some specially chosen events including tea dances, themed crafting sessions and baking.
Taking place from Saturday 2 October, events planned for the festival include dance lessons, a chance to visit the walled garden and sew your own tea bags, and a visit from the Yorkshire Tea blending teamwho will talk about different tea varieties, tastes, and blends.
There'll also be an exhibition of a rather impressive stitched afternoon tea, created by Leeds crafters Love Art Leeds CIC, on display in the Still room throughout.
Fittingly, it transpires that the stately Leeds home where the festival will be held has its own connection to tea stretching back over 370 years.
Believe it or not, the home is connected to the first written records of tea drinking in the whole of the country - as revealed by an apothecary receipt dating back to 1642.
Found amongst a number of papers held for the estate by the West Yorkshire Archives, the Civil War-era bill for medicinal ingredients includes an order for a number of bottles of “China drink" - the old name given for tea by the English. Each bottle was priced at four shillings and sixpence.
It's thought to be the oldest reference to tea drinking in the country, predating Samuel Pepys famous 1660 diary reference, which states: "afterwards I did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had drank before, and went away.."
A special Temple Newsam tea, inspired by the estate and created by members of staff, will also be available to purchase throughout the festival.
Adam Toole, curator at Temple Newsam, said: “The house and the estate have made so many memorable contributions to the history of the city and the country over the centuries and we’re always making new discoveries about the people who lived and worked here.
“It’s fascinating that Temple Newsam played a part in the story of tea in Yorkshire, and we hope our visitors will join us over the next week to explore that legacy while they enjoy a cup or two.”
To find out more, visit the listing for the festival here.
Feature image - Temple Newsam
Leeds
Leeds City Council confirms plans to repair historic Lower Kirkgate with work set to begin this month
Leeds City Council has confirmed that work to stabilise buildings on Lower Kirkgate is set to begin later this month, with repairs expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
Back in 2024, Lower Kirkgate in Leeds city centre was closed following the partial collapse of a building, leaving one of the city's oldest streets inaccessible.
Since then, the street has remained closed while plans were developed to address the structural issues affecting the buildings.
Now, almost two years after the initial incident, the council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.
The buildings are privately owned, but Leeds City Council says it will step in to carry out the stabilisation work to prevent further deterioration and protect the historic properties.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased that, following months of careful planning and preparation, we are now in a position to begin stabilising these privately owned buildings.
“A contract has been awarded for the work, which is scheduled to get under way later this month and is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
“It should be stressed that the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, with the owners of the buildings allowing their condition to deteriorate over many years and then failing to take the necessary steps to address the resultant structural issues.
“By stepping in and carrying out this work itself, the council will be able to arrest the deterioration of important heritage assets on one of Leeds’s oldest streets. As always, we thank the local community for their continued patience and support.”
Further details about the work, including when the street may be able to reopen, have not yet been confirmed.
Canadian rock legends Nickelback announce Leeds gig on huge world arena tour
Clementine Hall
Nickelback announce world arena tour in support of their new album - and they're coming to Leeds.
The Canadian rockers will be bringing their biggest hits as well brand-new music to arenas around the world.
Formed in Hanna, Alberta, the band made up of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair, have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide.
Best known for rock anthems including Rockstar, Photograph and How You Remind Me, Nickelback have built up a huge global following over the course of their career.
The upcoming tour will see the band celebrate their new album, Everything Under The Sun, and they'll be kicking off the UK leg of the tour right here in Leeds at the First Direct Bank Arena.
The tour follows their record-setting Get Rollin' world tour, and will once again take them to venues across North America, Europe, and Australia.
The group have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide, and achieved billions of streams across digital platforms.
Their new album will be released at the end of the month on Friday 30 October, so you'll have plenty of time to get to know their new tracks before they come to Leeds on Saturday 22 May 2027.
They'll be supported on the tour by Don Broco, an English four-piece featuring Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney, Tom Doyle and Matt Donnelly. Known for their genre-defying sound and dynamic approach to modern rock.
Nickelback 2027 UK Tour Dates in full
22 May - Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
24 May - London The O2
28 May - Birmingham Utility Arena
1 June - Glasgow Ovo Hydro
2 June - Manchester Co-op Live
Tickets for Nickelback at the Leeds First Direct Arena go on sale next Friday 16 October and you can get yours HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
1st October 2021 
