As the nation's revellers count down to restriction-free partying on July 19, one nightclub in Leeds isn't planning on wasting any more time than is strictly necessary.,
The Backroom on Call Lane is preparing to open its doors at one minute past midnight for an epic "freedom" party they're calling "Leeds BIG re-opening party".
Taking to social media to share the news, the nightclub said on Facebook:
"If you haven’t already booked Monday off work yet, this is your friendly reminder to get that holiday request in now, because we PROMISE you do not want to miss this one!"
Inside The Backroom on Call Lane in Leeds / Image: The Backroom
“We aren’t waiting until Monday night and we don’t think you should either! Be sure to join us for a night of good music, dancing and good vibes.”
Promising a solid selection of hip hop, house and smooth r&b rhythms, DJs Dan Hills, Chris Powell and friends will take to the decks to provide the selections throughout the early-hours of the morning.
Inside The Backroom on Call Lane in Leeds / Image: The Backroom
The nightclub will be open until 6am, giving punters a solid nearly six hours of partying as they ring in the early hours of what has been dubbed "freedom day".
The Backroom said: “After 16 months closed WE WILL 1000% be re-opening.”
It's' been a tough time for nightclubs and other members of the late-night events sector, who were the first to close and are now the last to reopen.
The 'Big reopening party' takes place on July 19, starting at 00:01 / Image: The Backroom
Plans for the lifting of remaining restrictions on July 19 were confirmed by the Prime Minister on Monday 12, with him addressing a press conference from the briefing room inside Downing Street.
He said he would: “lift legal restrictions and to lift social distancing, but we expect and recommend that people wear a face-covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don’t normally meet, such as on public transport.”
"As a matter of social responsibility we’re urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS Covid Pass which shows proof of vaccination, recent negative test or natural immunity, as a means of entry.”
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations.
"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.
"The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
Clementine Hall
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Georgina Pellant -
14th July 2021 
