We really can’t contain our excitement for this one.
To celebrate the launch of the incredible new Roxy Lanes opening next month, we are giving away a party for up to 25 people worth £1500. Prices include 25 x Roxy Feasts (worth £375); 5 x Drinks Packages (worth £600) and 2 x games of bowling (worth £500).
To enter, you'll need to head over to our Instagram page- but first, what can we expect from the huge new Roxy Lanes opening?
Anyone living in Leeds will know the exhilaration of rolling a strike at Roxy Lanes, killer cocktail in hand as screams of applause fill the room. Meanwhile, there’s beer pong balls flying around everywhere. On the other side of the room, there’s bartenders aplenty pouring our favourite drinks quickly enough that we can join the next round of shuffleboard without losing our place in the queue.
Simply, it’s a place of social gathering that we all know and love for its never-ending list of activities and incredible drinks.
The Roxy bar is always the place to be in Leeds on a Friday night for a fun-filled night.
It’s our go-to spot for first dates and work socials, safe in the knowledge there will be no awkward pauses and if in doubt, you can grab a bowling ball and create something to talk about.
Now, in its biggest move to date, Roxy Lanes will be opening a giant new venue, spread across multiple storeys, and giving us more room than ever before to kick back, relax and join the everlasting party inside their four walls.
The classic Long Island will be available at the new Roxy venue.
The new venue, set to open this February at The Light, will have Leeds’ first ice-curling rink- and we’re super excited to add this to our Roxy’s checklist upon our next visit.
Slide stones down the smooth surface and try to hit the bullseye and become the champion at one of the only rinks of its kind in the UK.
Luckily, any anticipated snow for the next month will remain outside as Roxy are implementing an ice-free curling lane. This one-of-a-kind experience will be the first to permanently set up in our city centre and we can’t wait to see how this innovative idea will come to life.
There will be not one, but two lanes of ice-free curling at the new Roxy Lanes.
As a result of opening this giant venue, Roxy’s latest venture will be bowling their balls for the last time at their Bond Street location and retiring the venue to make way for another exciting new venture.
The new 15,000 square foot venue at The Light is replacing former student-hangover-haven, Red Hot Buffet, which closed back in 2021. Given the huge space that Roxy now have on their hands, it really makes sense to bring the best of their new venue, a mere 0.3 miles from their old Bond Street location.
For an extra five minutes’ walk, guests will be impressed by a menu of craft beers to cocktails and spirits, before heading on to play some games.
In the basement, the dedicated game station will be waiting for those who dare to win. Ten bowling alleys, two duckpin bowling lanes, shuffle boards, American pool tables, beer pong and then there’s the new ice-free curling rink upstairs.
It’s a place for the whole family until 5pm to kick back with some light entertainment and competitive action, or to watch live BT and Sky Sports match broadcasts in the upstairs bar area if that’s their preferred past time.
Once it’s dark out, expect the shot to go flying and that wild, fun-loving atmosphere that we all know and love from Roxys to return to all three storeys of the venue.
There’s only a few more weeks to wait until the opening.
Roxy Lanes at The Light on Headrow will open to public on 11th February.
For more information, you can visit the Roxy Lanes Instagram page or keep an eye on our socials- we’ll be bringing you plenty of updates on our experience once the new venue opens.
Leeds
Lily Allen at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, setlist, stage times and more
Following one of the most iconic returns to music late last year, Lily Allen is heading to Leeds with her West End Girl UK tour.
The 'Nonmonogamummy' herself will be performing at the First Direct Arena in Leeds this weekend, following a run of intimate gig dates up and down the country earlier this year.
The demand for this British pop star to add more dates was inevitable and that's exactly what Allen did, as she now kicks off an arena tour across the UK.
Once wasn’t ‘Just Enough', and we've been blessed new Lily Allen dates, including her gig at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Sunday 21 June.
Although the 'Smile' singer refrains from playing some of her older smash hits, this gig is still remarkable, with the Hammersmith-born singer performing the previously mentioned tongue-in-cheek LP in full.
Meet us at the ‘Pussy Palace’ for an evening of messy lyrics and quality vocals, fulfilling all of our nosey desires, she even provides text receipts for us to read.
Expect to feel like you’re having your friend relay the truth about their toxic relationship post-break up and then celebrating them finally leaving that loser - Lily just gets us.
Gig Guide | Lily Allen at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Lily Allen returns to Leeds for a gig at First Direct Arena. Credit: Henry Redcliffe
Lily Allen UK tour dates
16 June – Newcastle Utilita Arena
17 June – Glasgow OVO Hydro
19 June – Manchester AO Arena
20 June– Manchester AO Arena
21 June – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
23 June – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
24 June – Cardiff Utilita Arena
26 June – Birmingham BP Pulse Live
27 June – London The O2
30 June – Dublin 3Arena
Are there tickets left for Lily Allen at First Direct Arena?
Yes and it’d be a real ‘Shame For You’ to miss out on this one.
On Sunday 21 June you can get seats for £49.85, £66.35, or £88.35, or standing tickets for £66.35 - see the latest HERE.
Seriously, ‘What You Waiting For?’ - get it booked.
Lily's gone for a rather novel support act on her West End Girl tour, which is proving to be quite a laugh at arenas so far.
She's pulled in Dallas Minor Trio to warm up the crowds, a trio of cellists who perform a setlist of Lily Allen's biggest hits from through the years.
And if that's not enough, they put the lyrics on screen too, so it's like a true karaoke moment.
Lily Allen setlist for 2026 tour
The show ‘Lily Allen Performs West End Girl‘ will see the singer/songwriter play her brand-new album in its entirety, in the order the songs appear on the record:
West End Girl
Ruminating
Sleepwalking
Tennis
Madeline
Relapse
Pussy Palace
4chan Stan
Nonmonogamummy
Just Enough
Dallas Major
Beg For Me
Let You W/In
Fruityloop
Stage times for Lily Allen at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Lily Allen has announced a gig at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Credit: Charlie Denis
These are the only times that are confirmed, but it's expected that Lily Allen will be on stage around 9pm:
Doors open 6pm
Starts 7.50pm
Getting to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide
Clementine Hall
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Sophie Smith -
27th January 2022 
