From hilarious live comedy gigs to the grand unveiling of the city's Valentine's fair, there's so much to do in and around Leeds this week.
We hope you've all had a wonderful start to February and if you're looking for things to do to spice up your week, then we have most definitely got you covered.
Celebrating the end of Dry Jan? How about a beer-fuelled pub quiz on Thursday night followed by a whole club night dedicated to Taylor Swift on Friday night.
And it doesn't just stop there, there's some brilliant music acts taking to the stage in Leeds this week, from California-based band Mom Jeans to Scottish rock legends Mogwai.
The foodies out there will definitely want to keep reading as there's an all-you-can-eat cheese night taking place on Tuesday and we are also shouting out a brand new Sunday Roast which we guarantee will get your mouth watering.
Mom Jeans
Monday 6 February 2023 | Leeds University Stylus
Image: Mom Jeans, Facebook
The California-based band are embarking on a world tour. With three albums under their belts, expect a combination of alternative indie rock and ‘midwest emo’ tunes with sweet melodies.
Thursday 9 February 2023 | The Adelphi, Hunslet Road
Image: Homage2Fromage
Combining eight different variations of cheddars, reds, whites and blues, Homage2Fromage is joining forces with to bring Leeds a night that we could only dream of. Unlimited cheese will be served for a whopping two and a half hours, and there’s absolutely no limit on how many crumbly bits, hard or soft cheeses you reach for.
The next event is on Thursday 9 February 2023, with a special Valentine’s Day selection of, in the words of Homage2Fromage “sexy, sultry, sensuous cheeses. There will be some soft and yielding, others big and strong – and YES! WE WILL BE MELTING (cheese not hearts!)”
The latest entrant to the Leeds pub quiz scene is one of the cities cosiest riverside pubs. Having only just launched last week, expect to see fresh faces with fingers on buzzers to answer each question as quickly as possible- there's a bar tab on the line!
Get yourself over to SALT in plenty of time for the 8pm kick off, and why not grab a pint and a pie whilst your at it?
Valentine’s Fair
Friday 10 February – Sunday 19 February 2023 | Millennium Square, Victoria Gardens and Cookridge
Image: Leeds City Council
Returning for its 30th anniversary, the Valentine’s Fair is set to take over Leeds city centre once more. Find a huge range of rides, attractions and games that are fun for the whole family, including the 360° spinning ride The Superstar, the 40m-high Booster Ride, huge swinging pendulum The Devil Rock, dodgems, and, of course, Leeds Wheel of Light.
The games will take over the spaces at Millennium Square, Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street besides food and drink stalls aplenty.
Find out more here.
Mogwai
Saturday 11 March 2023 | O2 Academy
Image: The Hoot Leeds
In their 24 years, Mogwai have packed in nine studio albums (and an additional live one), four compilations, four soundtracks and a record label. Focusing on a minimalistic approach to emotive music, the interludes continue to draw crowds across the UK and beyond.
Tickets cost £37.25 for seated or balcony via See Tickets.
Galentines Bottomless Brunch
Saturday 11 February 2023 | Revolution Electric Press, nr Millennium Square
Image: Revolution Electric Press
This year it’s all about celebrating the month of love with your mates, and Revolution Electric Press more than got the memo. From £30 per person, round up your nearest and dearest for unlimited cocktails and Prosecco for two whole hours, and grab a delicious brunch option whilst your at it.
From Saturday 4 February 2023 onwards | Infirmary Street and Headingley
Image: The Box
There’s plenty of Leeds sports bars showing the Six Nations all month long, but if you want to book yourself a seat surrounded by likeminded fans, The Box is an obvious choice.
With locations in the city centre and Headingley, so you’re never far from a cold pint of Budweiser or a bottle of wine either. You can grab 2-for-1 cocktails, a 20% student discount and a pornstar martinis, served by the stein here too.
Saturday 11 February 2023 | City Varieties Music Hall
Image: Leeds Heritage Theatres
Come For Me is an openly glamorous and honest musical exploration of what it means to enter your thirties as a woman online, in love, and inspired to romanticise the prospect of freezing your eggs.
Catherine Cohen has won universal praise for her work on stage, screen and beyond. Co-host of the smash-hit podcast Seek Treatment, she has also featured in many hit TV shows & feature films.
Friday 10 February 2023 | Belgrave Music Hall, Cross Belgrave St
Image: Taylor Swift
Calling all Taylor Swift fans, this is the event for you. Swiftogeddon will be taking over Belgrave Music Hall for a night of back-to-back hits from the American pop sensation. "A night dedicated to worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift: non-stop Swifty all night: deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits."
Swiftogeddon will take over Belgrave Music Hall from 11pm until 3am. General admission tickets are priced at £10, plus a £1 booking fee, and are on sale now at eventbrite.co.uk.
If you haven't tried Stuzzi's new Sunday Roast yet, then we highly suggest you do. Their new Sunday menu incorporates everything you'd except from that oh so comforting roast plus so much more.
Choose from medium-rare roasted sirloin, served in true Stuzzi style with a crispy beef and horseradish tortellini and a rich red wine and osso bucco gravy; a delicious-sounding Porchetta with sage and lemon rolled belly pork, crackling and cotechino ‘pig’ in blanket or even a olive brined Celeriac roasted and charred, Peroni battered confit shallot for those looking for a meat-free alternative.
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.
Clementine Hall -
6th February 2023 
