Diaries at the ready because summer is here and Leeds is overflowing with exciting things to get up to.
Are you sitting comfortably? Because you're in for an exciting read.
It seems this week's theme is: festivals. We've got Tramlines over in Sheffield, the Yorkshire Dales food festival in Skipton and a Youth music festival happening in the city centre.
And if that's not enough we've got fun foodie openings, unmissable live music events and so much more. Keep reading to find out what's going on in and around the best city on earth...
Leeds Bear Hunt
Begins Saturday 1 July 2023 | Various locations around Leeds
Image: Leeds Bear Hunt
Leeds Bear Hunt is an exciting new trail popping up around Leeds city centre all summer long. Raising money for Leeds Hospital Charity, there will be 35 different giant beat sculptures to find hidden in plain sight, and taking inspiration from the Michael Rosen classic children’s book, you can go on a bear hunt to find them all.
To find out the locations and collect rewards for your bear hunt efforts, you need to download the app on your phone.
If you’ve been down to The Cheesy Living Co. before, you’ll know just how well these guys know their cheeses.
Now taking their foodie options to a whole new level, The Cheesy Living Co. has announced it will be taking on a new street food venture at Trinity Kitchen. Named The Cheesy Chip Shop, we reckon this is going to be far from your average hangover cure.
The clue is in the name really, expect cheesy chips but on a whole other level.
We've been absolutely loving the Sounds of the City series over at Millennium Square. We've seen Mcfly, Bastille, Blossoms so far and it's not over yet. The absolute legend that is Nile Rodgers will be taking to the stage and it's going to be a fantastic night.
The Youth Music Festival is in its seconds year, and brings together over 500 children and young people in a celebration of musical talent. Featuring over 50 different school’s work, the Youth Music concert kicks off the festival with “36 concerts in 36 days”.
Friday 21 July – Sunday 23 July 2023 | Funkirk Farm, Skipton
Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival is a county-wide celebration of cookery classes, tastings, workshops and bars, live music- and there will even be Gino D’Acampo, Si King and Dave Myers from The Hairy Bikers and Yorkshire’s own James Martin in attendance too. An ideal day trip from Leeds if you’re looking for a way to taste some of the county’s finest and still have plenty of time to head back into the city centre for the evening.
Friday 21 July – Saturday 23 July 2023 | Hillsborough Park, Sheffield
Sam Fender headlined in 2022. / Image: The Sheff
Fine, this isn’t in Leeds – but it is well worth a trip to Sheffield for! After a sellout year, Tramlines is set to return for 2023. There’s little information about headliners at present, but there’s a good reason those tickets are flying off the shelves, so keep an eye out for any updates or read about Tramlines 2022 here.
Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 July 2023 | Castle Howard, York
Image: Castle Howard
If you’re looking for a day trip from Leeds for the whole family, Castle Howard has a whole host of activities all summer long.
‘Swim through Castle Howard’s Great Lake, cycle through the Howardian Hills, run through the undulating countryside of the estate before a sprint finish tops everything off in style right in front of the main doors of the house. Throughout the weekend, athletes and spectators will be able to enjoy a fun-packed festival village featuring live music, shopping, food and drink, children’s entertainment, yoga and more.’
Domo is ready to open its doors and sun-drenched terrace this Friday.
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Opening this Friday 5 June, we had a peek inside and let us tell you, it's even better than we imagined.
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
First off, the interior is just drop dead gorgeous.
From the moment you step inside you feel as though you've been whisked away to an Italian island, the walls are lined with hundreds of booze bottles and on each table you'll find beautifully hand-painted plates ready to be adorned with delicious food.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Every corner is dotted with antique trinkets, and we already know the stretching terrace will be the place to be when the sun comes out.
Now, onto the food.
From small plates made for sharing to hearty bowls of seafood pasta, everything is made with the freshest ingredients and made entirely in-house.
You could do a lot worse than plonking yourself on the terrace with mates, ordering a selection of their cocktails and tucking into a heaping plate of fried calamari and prawns or a carefully curated plate of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses.
They also serve pizzas and salads, all accompanied by a brilliant wine and cocktail list. Whether you're after a long lunch, celebrating an occasion with a slap up meal or fancy a few nibbles - Domo can cater to all.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.
“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”
A much-loved Leeds coffee shop is celebrating 15 years in the city with £1.50 coffees
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds' best-loved coffee destinations, Laynes Cafe, is marking 15 years in the city - and is saying thank you with £1.50 coffees.
When? This Wednesday 3 June.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
It's practically a Leeds institution at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
To celebrate an impressive 15 years in the city, this Wednesday 3 June they'll be selling £1.50 coffees all-day.
Not only that, Laynes will be rolling out a brand refresh with Saul Studios, refreshing its daytime menu (including what Dave reckons might be the best hash browns in the world…maybe), and continuing to grow Laynes Bakery, which launched in 2023 and now supplies a growing list of independent cafes and delis across Leeds.
Dave Olejnik, founder of Laynes Cafe, said: "We never really got to celebrate being 10 — covid had other ideas — so 15 feels like the one to do properly. When I opened Laynes in 2011, the aim was to create somewhere that really cared about coffee, quality and hospitality. To be celebrating 15 years now is incredibly special. Leeds has changed so much in that time, and it's been amazing to see the city's independent food and drink scene grow and flourish. We're really proud to have been part of that journey.
"Rather than mark it with one big day, we wanted to celebrate across the whole year — kicking off with £1.50 coffees on June 3rd as a thank you to everyone who's kept us going. This next chapter for Laynes is a bit of a refresh with Saul Studios, an updated menu with quite possibly the best hash browns in the world, and the bakery continuing to grow. Feels like a great way to celebrate where we've come from while continuing to evolve."
Clementine Hall -
14th July 2023 
