Leeds

Call Lane bars ready to celebrate new outdoor space in Leeds city centre

Popular Leeds city centre food and drink destination Call Lane to welcome back outside revellers for seated al fresco drinking and dining.

The Hoot The Hoot - 8th April 2021

Popular Leeds city centre food and drink destination Call Lane is set to welcome back hundreds more outside revellers for seated al fresco drinking and dining following recent renovations and changes to the street made by Leeds City Council. 

The long-awaited changes to the thriving bar and restaurant hub have seen the expansion and laying of new pavement and dramatically reduced traffic following a successful trial in Summer 2020. The ongoing improvements on Call Lane leave it well-placed to be the next great destination in a growing list of bustling outdoor city centre spaces.

Already making the most of their new surroundings is local bar and restaurant group Akito Ltd who will be opening three of their four sites for outdoor drinking and dining from Monday 12th April in line with the government’s reopening roadmap.

https://twitter.com/Oportobar/status/1379113276303368196

With new furniture, outdoor heaters and rain cover, the bars (including Leeds nightlife mainstays Oporto, Knaves Kitchen, Neon Cactus and Power, Corruption and Lies) will be ready to welcome their dearly-missed customers in all weathers and circumstances from 12PM - 12AM, seven days a week. Bookings won’t be required for the three Akito venues, leaving space for walk-ins of groups of up to six.

All sites will be fully seated, offering table service exclusively and logging track and trace details for all guests in line with current covid regulations. From Mexican street food and cocktails, ‘Disco Dim Sum’ to vegan fast food, craft beer and coffee, the widespread and diverse offering from the various Call Lane venues will ensure that all tastes are catered for. 

Following their reopening on the 12th, the bars plan to make use of the new and long awaited outdoor space to host BBQ’s, events, bank holiday specials and lots more over the Summer months. The independent Akito group along with their neighbours on the lane are excited to bring another great outdoor social space to Leeds city centre and welcome back the crowds who make Leeds such a beloved place to eat, drink and dance. 

Ross Millar, Operations Manager, Akito Ltd said: “Down on call lane we are chomping at the bit to welcome people back for al fresco drinking and dining in our new and extended outside area. With extra seating available and no booking necessary the summer is going to look beautiful! We have worked really hard over the past months to ensure complete safety for our guests is achieved with all the necessary covid procedures in place.

"Having done weeks of extensive research and development on new food and drink offerings in our venues we are super excited for people to come down and sample our creations. It’s been such a tough year all round for everybody, I personally feel a real sense of excitement and emotion for the coming months when we are able to get back to what we know and see some lovely faces.”

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council has worked with hospitality businesses across the city as they prepare to welcome back customers from 12th April. Large parts of the city centre have been transformed over the past year, with some of our key streets and spaces now offering wider footways, more room for outdoor seating, and newly planted trees”

Oporto, Knaves Kitchen, Neon Cactus & Power Corruption and Lies will be open from 12PM - 12AM, seven days a week. Food will be served until 10PM.

Leeds

Smash-hit West End musical Trainspotting is coming to Leeds later this year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Leeds.

30 years on from the film that changed everything, and following its successful world premiere run in London’s West End, Trainspotting The Musical is heading out on a major UK tour later this year, and will be taking to one of Leeds' most iconic stages this winter.

Written by Irvine Welsh – as adapted from his best-selling debut novel – and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Trainspotting The Musical has been described by critics as ‘radical, invigorating and life-affirming’ since its premiere.

It’s said to be an unforgettable production that’ll have even the most sceptical audiences leave on a ‘consciousness-altering high.’

In 1996, the breakthrough British film of the same name was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year, winning a slew of awards in the process – including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and even being ranked tenth in the BFI’s top 100 greatest British films of the 20th century.

Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back… but this time, live on stage.

 “I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film,” creator Irvine Welsh commented as the UK tour was announced this week.

“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”

Trainspotting The Musical will taking to the stage at the Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 7 until Saturday 12 December 2026.

Get your tickets when they go live here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Leeds

Leeds speakeasy crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world by industry experts

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The beloved Domino Club is receiving its flowers, and rightly so.

Rapidly becoming one of the industry’s most respected accolade of excellence, The Pinnacle Guide is a worldwide ranking of the best bars across the globe.

Based on a thorough self-application process, rigorous assessment modules, followed by a series of spot check interviews and anonymous in-bar reviews, it's no easy feat to get a spot on this list.

Which is why it makes The Domino Club's achievement all that more impressive.

Known amongst locals and visitors alike as basically one of the coolest bars in town, the hidden speakeasy invites you through a barbershop in the Grand Arcade where downstairs you'll find a dimly lit jazz and cocktail bar oozing sex appeal.

Not only are the cocktails exceptional, but their live music listings is something to behold playing everything from jazz and funk to cabaret and disco every Wednesday - Sunday.

Announcing the news to Instagram, The Domino said: "Listed by The Pinnacle Guide. The Domino Club has been recognised on the global list of the world’s best bars.

"What began as a hidden basement bar in Leeds, built around live music, cocktails and atmosphere, is now being recognised alongside some of the finest bars in the world.

"A huge thank you to our team, musicians, suppliers and every single guest who has supported us over the years. This means a lot. Leeds belongs on the world cocktail map."

We absolutely could not agree more and if you haven't ventured behind the barbershop and discovered the magical Domino Club, then we very much recommend you do.

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Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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