Visit the only medical museum in the north for free this weekend.
National Lottery ticket holders will be able to visit one of Leeds' best known museums this weekend to celebrate the staggering £30 million raised by the National Lottery players for 'good causes' every week.
On both Saturday 26 March and Sunday 27 March, anyone with a valid National Lottery ticket or scratch card can enter Thackray Museum of Medicine free of charge.
Whether you decide to make Mother's Day an educational trip to the museum or find solace from avoiding the crowds outside, the museum has a range of exciting exhibitions for all ages to learn from.
The new galleries tell a rich story of healthcare, from herbal remedies in apothecaries to genetically modified medicine, with displays including recreated Victorian streets and a 19th-century operating theatre.
Current exhibitions comprise ‘Periods: A Brief Jaunt Up North’, a stigma-busting collaboration with London’s Vagina Museum, and ‘Can Robots Care?’, which explores the facts, fictions and futures of robots designed for care.
Thackray has also recently benefited from a £4 million refit thanks to National Lottery funding, reopening its doors in summer 2021 after an extended closure.
Image: David Lindsey
Nat Edwards, CEO of Thackray Museum of Medicine said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in The National Lottery Open Week this year by opening up our doors on the weekend of the 26th and 27th March to National Lottery players.
"We’ve been fortunate to receive National Lottery funding, which has enabled us to create a museum fit for a diverse, 21st century audience. Our open weekend is our way of saying thank you to everyone who has bought a National Lottery ticket, helped us on our journey and made a vital contribution to supporting good causes.
"We’re excited to welcome you to our magnificent museum and show what it has to offer!"
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
Brand-new ‘party pub’ to take over the old Revolution site on Call Lane after £600,000 investment
Clementine Hall
We hope you're ready to party Leeds, because a 'party pub' experience is coming to Call Lane.
Following a whopping £600,000 investment, Bonnie Rogues is preparing to open in the former Revolution site in Leeds city centre that will close this month.
After a major refurbishment, Leeds’ first Bonnie Rogues venue and the sixth site for the fast- growing UK brand will open in November 2026.
Designed as an all-day-to-night social destination, Bonnie Rogues combines live music, live sport, and late-night celebrations in one immersive venue.
From big nights out to spontaneous after-work drinks and even Sunday Roasts, Bonnie Rogues aims to offer something completely different from the traditional pub experience.
Expect live performances, crowd-involved entertainment and interactive moments in an atmosphere that flows seamlessly from day to night.
Russell Quelch, CEO of NEOS Hospitality, said, “Leeds has such a strong social scene and a real appetite for experience-led venues, so we think Bonnie Rogues will fit perfectly into the city.
"It’s a concept that brings together everything people love about going out - live music, sport, food, entertainment and great atmosphere, all in one place. We’re excited to bring something new to Leeds and can’t wait to welcome guests later this year.”
The Leeds opening forms part of a wider rollout of Bonnie Rogues venues across the UK, as NEOS Hospitality continues to expand its portfolio following its acquisition of multiple Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites earlier this year.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more.
Sophie Smith -
24th March 2022 
