The Great British Sewing Bee returns to BBC this week (Wednesday 27 April 2022) with a new home here in Leeds.
Viewers watching the new season of the BBC One show might notice a few changes to this year's season- including the swap of their usual London home to one right here in Leeds.
Located at Sunny Bank Mills, the new Leeds filming spot will share one of the city's biggest creative hubs with TV screens across the UK and beyond.
Now in its sixth-generation of owners, Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley has been serving the local community since 1829. Having been regenerated to form an open, airy space that effortlessly fuses work, leisure and culture, the Mills operate with a tea room, gallery and beautiful creative and business spaces all year round.
It is hoped that the new filming location will pique interest in the historic Mills, as well as offering Sunny Bank Mills ample opportunity to show off its amenities.
Celebrated judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young will be making a comeback but this year Joe Lycett has given role of presenter to Sara Pascoe.
So who can we expect to see on our screens this evening?
Whilst we know very little about the contestants at present, we're convinced there's good reason they have beaten the applicants and landed a spot in the final twelve of this year's show.
Sadly, there's no contestants from Leeds to rally behind, but there's plenty of talent to gasp in awe of over the coming weeks.
Image: The Great British Sewing Bee
The show is also looking for new contestants for the ninth series of the show. All you need to is be over the age of 16 and be able to commit to 6-8 weeks of filming between August and November 2022.
As the show is looking for up-and-coming talent, they also ask that entrants have not completed any sewing NVQ or other equivalent sewing-related qualification and you cannot have worked full-time as a dressmaker, sample machinist, pattern cutter, tailor or seamstress at any time during the last 15 years to apply for the show.
A giant model of the sun is now illuminated in Wakefield.
The sun has arrived in Wakefield… and we’re not just referring to that one that’s popped up in the sky at long last (sort of).
We’re taking about Helios, the amazing art installation that’s about to stop off at Wakefield Exchange as it tours around the UK.
Created by renowned artist, Luke Jerram, the beautiful art piece measures a whopping seven-metres in diameter and has been created using images captured by NASA.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Helios builds on the success of Luke Jerram’s previous installations in Wakefield, including the hugely popular Museum of the Moon.
With its striking scale and rich scientific detail,the artwork provides a safe and captivating way to encounter the Sun up close, highlighting everything from solar flares to the phenomena that created the unforgettable Northern Lights visible across the UK in 2024.
Stepping beneath the breathtaking glowing sculpture, audiences can experience an atmospheric fusion of solar imagery, sunlight and a specially commissioned surround‑sound composition that brings the science and mystery of our nearest star vividly to life.
Alongside the striking sun instillation, Wakefield Exchange will present a full programme of free, family‑friendly, space‑themed activities throughout the summer.
Visitors can enjoy hands‑on workshops, creative crafts, dressing‑up sessions and playful drop‑in experiences.
Helios will be hosted by Wakefield Exchange from Friday 12 June until Sunday 6 September 2026, and you can find out more here on their website.
Grassroots Leeds music venue secures long-term future as part of community ownership scheme
Clementine Hall
Northern Guitars in Leeds has had its long-term future secured after the building has been purchased as part of a nationwide community ownership initiative.
If you've ever been on a night out on Call Lane, then you will know of (or have heard) Northern Guitars.
It's about as grassroots as it gets, a proper intimate venue supporting artists of all levels.
And now the much-loved city centre venue, which has become a staple of Leeds' music scene, is one of the latest independent music venues to benefit from a scheme designed to protect cultural spaces from the pressures of the commercial property market.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been acquired by community benefit society Music Venue Properties (MVP), an organisation set up by the Music Venue Trust to buy the buildings occupied by grassroots venues and rent them back to operators on long-term agreements.
The move means the brilliant Northern Guitars can continue doing what it does best without the uncertainty that often comes with being in an increasingly challenging landscape.
MVP was launched in 2022 in response to the growing number of grassroots venues disappearing across the UK. According to the organisation, more than a third of the country's grassroots music venues have closed over the last two decades, with many struggling due to short-term leases and rising property costs.
Since launching, MVP has raised more than £7 million through community investment and funding, using the money to secure permanent homes for venues that play a vital role in nurturing emerging artists and supporting local music scenes.
This is a proper win for Northern Guitars and we're absolutely chuffed to know that they'll be going absolutely nowhere.
Sophie Smith -
26th April 2022 
