Merrion Street Festival is returning to Leeds city centre "bigger than ever" before this Bank Holiday weekend.
Merrion Street will be throwing the street party to end all street parties this Sunday 29 August, with eight operators on the street having joined forces with neighbours the Grand Arcade to host the first Bank Holiday celebration since lockdown restrictions were lifted in the city.
Expect eclectic music from local DJs, top class entertainment, and incredible food and drinks in one of the city’s largest outdoor drinking areas.
Visitors can tuck into food and incredible cocktails from Manahatta and Liv Bar, get their chicken fix from Yard&Coop, dance to incredible music at the award-winning MOJO, spice things up with authentic street food from Zaap Thai, sling some bourbon and beer at Mean Eyed Cat, slam tequilas at Verve, and also compete with mates in ball games at Roxy Ball Room.
The outdoor seating area on the street will be opened up to provide the biggest street party vibe in the city, and bring Leeds to life and its people together for the first time in two years to a soundtrack provided the best in local DJ talent.
Merrion Street will be throwing the street party to end all street parties / Credit: Yard & Coop | Flickr
As the party spills over into the Grand Arcade, visitors can hang out and listen to open mic at Santiago Rock Bar, sip on a wide selection of gins at the illustrious Tailors Speakeasy, watch traditional Latino dancing at Casa Columbiana, listen to live jazz at the hidden gem that is the Domino Club, and grab a bite to eat washed down with a tasty tipple at Leeds’ first wellbeing bar, Better Days. Â
"We’re all looking forward to this event and have each put our hearts and souls into making it truly special for our much-loved guests," said Martin Greenhow, Managing Director of MOJO.
"It’s about time everyone had a bit of summer fun and this will be the ideal way to celebrate the incredible social scene our great city has to offer [as] the pandemic has really taught us that we’re better together, so we want to show the people of Leeds the best time so they can forget about the last year and look to the future.
"It’s going to be incredible."
It's the first Bank Holiday celebration since lockdown restrictions were lifted in the city / Credit: Contakt Photography
Merrion Street Festival is back after staff and customers came together in summer 2020 for a weekend of live music, food and drink after a long hospitality hiatus, and it was such a success that the operators wanted to get more people involved and make this August Bank Holiday the biggest party the street has ever seen.
There will be something for everyone all throughout the day.
Merrion Street Festival will open to the public from midday on Sunday 29 August, and the festivities will run until late.
Featured Image - Contakt Photography
Leeds
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.Â
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Emily Sergeant -
19th August 2021 
