Summer is finally here and along with the sun comes loads of exciting things happening in and around Leeds.
From obstacle courses to foodie festivals to open-air music performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy (or endure) this week. So slap your sun cream on and welcome the hot weather and longer evenings with open arms at one of our top picks.
Curated Makers Market
Friday 24 - Sunday 26 June 2022 | Trinity Leeds
Image: Curated Makers
This well loved festival showcasing local artists and creatives is coming back to Trinity Leeds.
Head to the ground floor of Trinity shopping centre where Curated Makers will be hosting 15 markets stalls, giving the public just a taste of what local, independent businesses have to offer. Support small and come find yourself (or others) the perfect gift that is made locally and with plenty of love.
Tickets are free.
Nile Rodgers and Chic
Friday 24 - Saturday 25 June 2022 | Piece Hall Halifax
Image: Visit Calderdale
Taking over the incredible outdoor venue and kicking off the weekend is the legendary Nile Rodgers and Chic. Showcasing their endless catalogue of hits such as 'Le Freak', 'Everybody Dance' and 'Good Times', this will truly be a night to remember.
Put on your dancing shoes and head to the piece hall ready to boogie on into the moonlight. There will even be special guests including Rebecca Ferguson and August Charles. We can't think of any better way to celebrate the start of summer.
This weekend at Bramham Park, those brave enough will have the opportunity to tackle what is known as one of the most challenging obstacle courses in the country. Obstacles that contestants will have to endure include ice cold plunge baths, fire pit jumps, climbing walls and mud slide.
If you don’t fancy doing the course but still fancy being a part of it then the entire event is free and can host up to 10,000 spectators. Not only can you watch those endure the gruelling endurance test comfortably from the sidelines, but you can also enjoy live music and an array of food and drink. Read morehere.
If you’d like to challenge yourself and be a part of this amazing event, then you can enter here on Total Warrior’s website.
The first of it's kind, the Yorkshire Feastival will take place in the beautiful Nidderdale Countryside and promises to be a day to remember.
Live cooking demos, craft markets, live music, cocktail making, forestry school, inflatable village, you name it. There's an activity here for everyone and we can promise you'll be going home with a huge smile and a full belly.
Tickets start from just £6.50 and can be booked online here.
Barry Manilow
Saturday 25 June 2022 | First Direct Arena
Image: First Direct Arena
Head down to the Copacabana and have a groove to Barry Manilow at the First Direct Arena. With such a catalogue of non-stop classics, you are guaranteed to have the time of your life. You won't be able to resist tapping your foot and singing along to every lyric, even if you thought you didn't know them.
If you're tying the knot soon or simply adore weddings, then this Sunday head to the beautiful Parsonage Hotel in York to gaze at all things wedding.
This idyllic countryside hotel which is the perfect wedding venue in itself, is teaming-up with award winning events company The UK Wedding Event for a free wedding fayre offering couples the chance to see it all for themselves. The day is set to feature around 35 top wedding suppliers to help brides and grooms plan their big day.
Admission is free but pre-booking is advised and can be done here.
Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra
Sunday 26 June 2022 | Piece Hall Halifax
Image: The Piece Hall
The critically acclaimed 'Ibiza Classics' show is coming to the historic and iconic venue of The Piece Hall in Halifax.
Legendary dance music pioneer and DJ Pete Tong with the HeritageOrchestra conducted by Jules Buckley will bring a taste of Ibiza to The Piece Hall in Halifax this summer. Grab your mates and dance along to some party anthems in this beautiful open-air concert hall as the sun comes down.
If you can't make it to Ibiza this year, this could be the next best thing.
It's fantastic news for our city as Leeds has been crowned one of the best cities in the UK for foodies.
It's news that we've been pretty certain of for some time, but it's still nice to be recognised isn't it?
It comes from a new study carried out by credit card brand Aqua who analysed 30 major UK cities across a range of dining and social media metrics, including cuisine variety, restaurant availability, meal affordability, Michelin recognition and TikTok hashtag volumes.
Coming in at number on was, of course, London.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With 47 cuisines, 22.5 restaurants per 10,000 residents and 81 Michelin-starred establishments, the capital unsurprisingly continues to dominate the UK’s culinary scene.
But in at number two was our glorious city of Leeds, supported by the highest restaurant density in the study, with 38.5 establishments per 10,000 people, and strong affordability compared with cities in the south.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We will absolutely take that.
Other northern spots to feature on the list include Sheffield and Bradford in sixth and eighth place.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
London
Leeds
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Wolverhampton / Leicester
Sheffield
Birmingham / Glasgow
Bradford / Swansea
Preston
Milton Keynes
Here in Leeds we've got so many fabulous food spots, with new openings cropping up every month it's hard to keep track.
From the multi award-winning Bavette Bistro in Horsforth to the highly acclaimed indie Bundobust that started off in Leeds - you certainly won't find yourself hungry or at a loss for somewhere to eat here.
From Hope to Hardship: Small Island Brings Windrush Stories to Leeds Playhouse
Declan Kelly
An emotional journey of dreams and displacement.
Leeds Playhouse’s latest production brings a vital and often underrepresented chapter of British history powerfully to the stage.
Small Island, directed by Olivier Award-winner Matthew Xia, serves as a compelling microcosm of the migrant experience during the Windrush generation, placing memory, dreams, empire, and entitlement firmly at its core.
This bold and deeply affecting staging expands Andrea Levy’s celebrated novel into a rich, immersive theatrical experience that feels both epic in scope and strikingly intimate. Moving fluidly between Jamaica and postwar London, the production captures the dislocation, resilience, and quiet courage of those who arrived with hope, only to be met with hostility and exclusion.
Image: Supplied
Hortense and Gilbert’s pursuit of dignity and opportunity is portrayed with warmth and nuance, while Queenie’s compassion and Bernard’s unease reflect a nation grappling with profound social change. The play weaves together multiple narratives shaped by the Windrush era, each driven by a desire for a better life, and each revealing the emotional and physical toll of that journey.
What sets this production apart is its remarkable balance between sweeping historical scope and emotional intimacy. The lilting rhythms of calypso infuse the piece with moments of joy and nostalgia, while stark staging and visual contrasts underscore the bleak realities of 1940s Britain. The parallel lives of the characters highlight the shared struggles faced by many Caribbean migrants of the time.
Image: Supplied
One of the most striking elements is the rotating house in Act Two, which becomes a powerful visual metaphor for division and displacement, physically embodying the discomfort and fractured realities of the characters’ lives. Meanwhile, the use of projection reminiscent of archival broadcast footage transports the audience across continents, deepening the sense of time, place, and lived experience.
At times, the play is harrowing, bringing the struggles of the Windrush generation into sharp focus and leaving the audience in disbelief at the treatment endured. There are moments so charged that you feel compelled to respond to challenge, to question, to intervene. Yet amid the hardship, there remains a strong sense of warmth and the enduring promise of hope. Bronte Barbe delivers a compelling performance as Queenie, portraying her compassion with sincerity and strength.
Image: Supplied
However, the standout performance comes from Anna Crichlow as Hortense, offering a powerhouse portrayal that beautifully captures a character driven by ambition, resilience, and deep self-respect.
For those who may have only briefly encountered the Windrush generation in education, this production feels especially vital. It not only illuminates the trials and tribulations faced by a generation but also resonates with ongoing conversations about migration and belonging today.
There is a force in its vision that allows the audience to feel both the physical and emotional realities of the story. Though it does not shy away from bleakness, it ultimately offers connection, reflection, and a reminder of the enduring human capacity for hope.
Image: Supplied
Overall, Small Island is a captivating and emotionally rich production from start to finish. The cast skillfully balances moments of humour with deeply moving scenes, creating a theatrical experience that lingers long after the final curtain. The stories it tells of resilience, injustice, and aspiration feel more relevant than ever.
Theatre continues to act as a powerful lens through which we can better understand both our history and our present, and this production stands as a compelling reminder of why these stories must continue to be told.
Running at Leeds Playhouse, Quarry Theatre until 28 March and you can get your tickets here.
Clementine Hall -
20th June 2022 
