There will be a family-fun day of free activities on Saturday 14 May 2022 to mark the occasion.
After what feels like an eternal road works sign outside Leeds Corn Exchange and Call Lane, Leeds City Council has confirmed that the multi-million pound developments are now complete.
The facelift has included introducing new seating areas, trees and sandstone paving to make the area more attractive, as well as a spot that's able to welcome nature and act as an accessible area for city commuters, shoppers and visitors with respective interest.
Forming an important part of a public realm scheme and a major package of Connecting Leeds highways improvements, (included as a component of the £173.5 million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme), we reckon just about everyone in the city centre will be excited to see the removal of the construction and reveal the end product.
As part of the work, new bus, cycle and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure has been put in place in the area around the Corn Exchange, but this also continues across the wider city centre too.
The public realm initiatives have worked in tandem with the construction on Meadow Lane, Cookridge Street and Greek Street, and according to Leeds City Council "underline the council’s commitment to giving Leeds a greener, better connected and more inclusive city centre."
Marking the occasion this Saturday 14 May 2022, a day of free entertainment and activities suitable for all ages will take place at the new construction-free site outside the Corn Exchange.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
“The Corn Exchange is one of the jewels in Leeds’s crown and we are so pleased that it now has the high-quality setting that it deserves.
“The creation of the public space and the improvements to local roads will give the area an exciting new lease of life while at the same time encouraging active travel. People-focused infrastructure projects like these will also make our city more investable and help unlock its full commercial potential.
“We are very grateful for the support and patience shown by residents and businesses, including the city’s bus operators, while the work has taken shape.
“Saturday’s celebration event will be a great way to showcase the changes that have been made. It promises to be a real day to remember.”
Nearly 1,750 square metres of public realm has been created outside the Corn Exchange by upgrading two existing pedestrian areas and removing the stretch of Call Lane that runs between New Market Street and Crown Street.
Feature Image- Leeds City Council
Leeds
Tom Odell announces huge outdoor Leeds show as part of Sounds of the City
UK singer-songwriter Tom Odell is set to play a huge outdoor Leeds show this summer.
Sounds of the City is making a triumphant return this summer and we couldn't be more excited.
Being added to the already star-studded lineup is Tom Odell, a Chichester-born singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt piano ballads and distinctive tone.
You may also know him from a certain John Lewis advert which made sure there were no dry eyes in the house.
The announcement follows a huge year for Tom Odell, who released his latest album A Wonderful Life and completed a major UK arena tour.
Known for his emotionally charged, piano‑led anthems, Tom Odell first rose to prominence after winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award in 2013 and has since become one of the UK’s most successful contemporary artists, with massive global hits like “Another Love”, which has now surpassed three billion streams on Spotify.
The ‘Another Love’ singer will perform on Saturday 4 July and will be supported by Matt Maltese.
Already announced for Sounds of the City are Dylan Gossett, Alabama Shakes, Wet Leg, The Human League and The Cribs.
The Millennium Square gigs are always fantastic fun, with previous acts including Blossoms, McFly and Mika bringing huge audiences to the city.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 6 February at 10am and you can get your tickets here.
Pre-sale starts this Thursday 5 February which you can access by signing up to Millennium Square's mailing list here.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Sophie Smith -
12th May 2022 
