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Inside the new Leeds craft shop where you can make your own phone cases, water bottles, and notepads

What a cute business

Daisy Jackson - 24th July 2026

A new crafting paradise has opened in Leeds city centre, right in time for the summer holidays.

Happy Hour Workshop has already been a smash hit over in Greater Manchester, and now owner Lili has brought her playful and creative business over to Queens Arcade.

The brand-new, sunny yellow crafting destination has walls absolutely crammed with colourful supplies, with a big focus on the current trend of cream gel DIY.

The level of customisation here will send an indecisive person into a tailspin.

First you can choose the item you want to customise, whether it’s a mirror, a claw clip, a pencil case, a handheld fan, a phone case, a water bottle, a notepad, or just about any other useful item you can think of.

Then you’re let loose with a bowl and dream, to peruse the many, many drawers of colourful charms you can add to your chosen product.

There are literally thousands of charms - food items like hot dogs and ice cream cones; characters like Labubus and Minions; and adorable motifs like bows and rainbows.

The wall of craft supplies

Thousands of charms to choose from — The wall of craft supplies

You could spell out your name with bubble letters, make a whole buffet’s worth of fake food items, design yourself a beautiful garden, or create a new world for the K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Your final step before heading to your craft station is to choose a colour cream gel, which you can pipe onto your item like icing a cake before wedging your charms into place.

As well as the charms, Happy Hour Workshop is offering other crafting experiences like bracelet making, money box painting, paint by numbers, slime making, and loads more to come.

You’ll find it at 9 Queens Arcade and it’s open now.

Read more: Leeds is set to be transformed into a huge interactive game of Trivial Pursuit this week

Leeds

Pints of Knowledge, Callum Campbell’s fastest-growing event, is coming to Leeds city centre this summer

Clementine Hall

The pub night that's packing out venues across the UK is coming to Leeds.

Let us introduce you to Pints of Knowledge, a phenomenon founded by Callum Campbell that has built a social media following of more than 160,000 people.

This is different to your average night out, it's a chance to meet new people and spark interesting conversation all in the relaxing surroundings of a pub.

The event has attracted thousands to its unique mix of expert talks, conversation and community in pubs across the UK.

Image: Supplied

And if you're looking to get in on the action then you're in luck, because Pints of Knowledge is arriving at The Wardrobe on Sunday 9 August.

So, what can you expect? From landmark legal history and the hidden pressures behind big systems to the evolving language of gaslighting and radical cinema, Sunday's Leeds programme will demonstrate exactly why Pints of Knowledge has struck such a chord with audiences across the UK.

Founder Callum Campbell, who has spent more than a decade producing live events across Britain, said bringing the concept to Leeds was the natural next step - and we're so happy he thought so.

Image: Supplied

He said: "I've always wanted to bring Pints of Knowledge to more cities across England, and Leeds has such a strong appetite for ideas and conversation. Watching this grow has been amazing, and I can't wait to bring it here.

"As more people look for experiences beyond a traditional night out, Pints of Knowledge offers something different: expert speakers, thought-provoking conversations and the chance to meet new people, all in the relaxed surroundings of a pub.

"People still love going to the pub, but they're looking for more from the experience. Pints of Knowledge is about hearing incredible stories, asking questions, meeting interesting people and leaving having learned something new."

Image: Supplied

The Pints of Knowledge programme at The Wardrobe will look like this:

12pm - Human rights lawyer Mahnoor Omer presents '10 Legal Cases that Changed History'.
2pm - Georgina Shute asks 'Why billion-pound systems are built by people who can't finish their to-do lists'.
4pm - Isobel Logan explores 'Gaslighting: The Evolution of a Concept Across Art, Relationships and Politics'.
6pm - Angelos Koutsourakis will examine 'Third Cinema, The Global South & Climate Change'.

Campbell added: "One hour you can be unpacking landmark legal cases, the next you're hearing about the psychology behind gaslighting, before finishing the day exploring cinema and climate change. That's what makes Pints of Knowledge different.

"This is just the beginning. We've seen an incredible response across the UK, and we're excited to build on that by bringing Pints of Knowledge to more cities across the country.”

Pints of Knowledge takes place at The Wardrobe in Leeds on Sunday 9 August, and you can get your tickets here.

Read more: Beloved Leeds coffee brand announce opening date for ANOTHER city centre site

Featured image - Supplied

Leeds

Beloved Leeds coffee brand announce opening date for ANOTHER city centre site

Clementine Hall

One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.

North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.

They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.

And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.

At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.

And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.

“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”

“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.

“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”

Read more: Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds