Themes include Mamma Mia, Disney, Spice Girls and boy band nights.
Fans of the Alice in Wonderland bar on Swinegate will appreciate the immersive topsy-turvey experience that the bar offers. It's nothing quite like anything you'd expect.
Now, you can pair 'Eat Me, Drink Me' nibbles and teapot cocktails with music that Lewis Carroll couldn't have possibly anticipated in a new series of karaoke nights at The Alice Bar.
Until Friday 4 February, you can also get 50% off all tickets to Leeds’ Alice in Wonderland themed bar immersive cocktail experience. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift, use the code ‘LOVE’ to receive half price tickets, saving up to £16.00 per person.
The hidden bar is decked out with floating tea pots, fairy lights, characters from the book and kitsch tea party decor that creates a fantastical atmosphere like that in the story of Alice in Wonderland.
Image: Explore Hidden
Across multiple events, guests can expect different themed karaoke nights from their favourite artists.
There will be a Mamma Mia evening, where Alice meets Abba in a night of all-singing, all-dancing feel-good music, complete with complimentary cocktail or mocktail upon arrival.
There's also going to be a chance to spice up your life at the Spice Girls nights or wail the words to your favourite boy band and become a true Uptown Girl.
If you prefer the 1951 Alice in Wonderland movie, the Disney-themed karaoke night will be just for you. Expect songs from all your favourite musical movies, as well as a full down the rabbit hole experience inside the bar.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Starting at 7pm, the following themed nights will take place in 2022 til late:
Monday 31 January - Spice Girls Karaoke (tickets here)
Tuesday 1 February - Spice Girls Karaoke (tickets here)
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Big name restaurant closes Leeds city centre site after seven years
Clementine Hall
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Sophie Smith -
31st January 2022 
