Leeds

Leeds Bradford Airport set for complete ‘shutdown’ as 130 workers go on strike

"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports."

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 5th October 2026

Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.

If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.

The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.

The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.

Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.

Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.

Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations.

"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.

"The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."

Read more: Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer

Featured Image – Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)

Leeds

Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.

Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.

Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.

And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.

The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.

In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.

Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".

As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.

And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."

We will absolutely take that.

Read more: A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.

It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.

Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.

For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.

Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.

But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.

We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.

This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.

All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?

Read more: Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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