Brighter Days Festival is a new Leeds-based day festival that aims to bring the best of Ibiza to Temple Newsam this summer.
This electric gathering is set to feature two stages and headline sets from Faithless (DJ), Kings of Tomorrow feat Julie McKnight, Roger Sanchez, Fat Tony, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, Angel Lee, Dave Robinson, Kirsten and plenty more.
The event is a duel-location festival, with one day fest at Temple Newsam in Leeds on Friday 12 August 2022, whilst another will take place in Herrington in the North East on Friday 8 July 2022.
The festival is in its second year, but this is the first time that the festival will take place in Yorkshire.
"Brighter Days Festival enters into its second year after been put together at the end of the first lockdown, the seeds were already there and action was taken. It wasn’t with a challenge as Boris delayed the reopening of our industry, meaning Brighter Days was postponed and pushed back to August and moved venues.
"Determined not to be beaten we threw an amazing party at Rainton Meadows in a huge big top which saw thousands of ravers flock for a Sunday afternoon of killer vibes from the master Patrick Topping! The day went off and here we find ourselves going into year two with quadruple the amount of artists and stages, sit tight…"
Image: Brighter Days
The team behind Brighter Days have been in the game far longer than lockdown though. The team have over 15 years experience promoting cutting-edge house parties in the North East, starting at The Arena club in 2007. Putting themselves on the map by bringing names like Avicii, Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler, Eats Everything and The Martinez Brothers, the club closed in 2013 but the pair went on to develop some huge outdoor shows, most notably the Redcar Beach site at Majuba.
Leeds's Temple Newsam Park is the team's latest project and they promise to bring "what will be a little slice of White Isle party heaven this summer. The production, the sound and the vibes will all be served up with plenty of famous Balearic spirit and wild hedonism".
Image: Brighter Days
The escapist location of Temple Newsam, is well acquainted with festivals and its rolling green park surrounded by woodland that hosts some of the North's most essential festivals makes it the perfect location for Brighter Days to debut.
With capacity set at 5,000 people with one huge main stage and a VIP Area as well as food stalls, fairground and licensed bars to keep dancers fuelled. Expect next level production that will fire the synapses while the world class DJs serve up the scintillating sounds at what might just be one of Leeds' most exclusive festivals on the year.
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Sophie Smith -
29th March 2022 
