A bird's-eye view of Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire
X
Leeds
The barbers getting Leeds talking about mental health with Andy’s Man Club
“Traditionally, men aren’t seen to be particularly open to talking about their feelings, so if we can help to encourage people to share their stories and feel supported, that’s a real positive for us.”
W2 Barbers has teamed up with men's mental health charity Andy's Man Club to get Leeds talking about its mental health, and offering haircuts for a good cause at the same time.
On Sunday 14 August 2022 from 11am - 3pm, W2 on Easterly Road, Oakwood will be offering haircuts, beard trims and mini facials to those in attendance, all whilst raising money for the worthy charity.
The idea is that barbers are already well-known for being confidential listeners and advice-givers, so by introducing Andy's Man Club as a further place to seek support in a confidential, relaxed environment, the fundraiser hopes to raise awareness for mental health support.
Image: Supplied
All proceeds during these hours will be donated to Andy's Man Club, plus there will be plenty of music and games, as well as a BBQ with the team from AMC on hand to chat about the services that the charity provides.
This fundraiser isn't a one off, but rather a monthly occurrence- and so far the collaborative event over £1,400, but are hoping to hit the £1,500 mark this weekend.
The Halifax-born mental health charity relies predominantly on donations to run their 100+ sessions across the UK.
Here in Leeds, Andy’s Man Club hosts its sessions every Monday at 7pm at Leeds College of Building, North Street, Milford Sports Club, Kirkstall and Vale Circles, Beeston.
Richard Wyatt, owner of W2 Barbers said: “We’re honoured to be working with Andy’s Man Club to try and provide help to the men of Leeds.
“Traditionally, men aren’t seen to be particularly open to talking about their feelings, so if we can help to encourage people to share their stories and feel supported, that’s a real positive for us.”
Image: W2 Barbers
Liam Pearce, Facilitator at Andy’s Man Club Leeds said: “We’re so grateful to W2 for hosting these events to raise money for our cause. Many attendees have mentioned how helpful the events have been in encouraging them to take that first step, reach out and talk to someone about their mental health.
“Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to meeting more people next weekend!”
To find out more about Andy's Man Club, including how you can support the charity, or find support from their dedicated team, visit the Andy's Man Club website.
Feature Image- Supplied
Leeds
Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Sophie Smith -
11th August 2022 
