Get ready for Drift Shop, an immersive drift karting experience which is set to open in the Merrion Centre later this year.
Now you've heard of go karting, but have you heard of drift karting? If you haven't, allow us to introduce you.
Drift karting is an adrenaline seeking adventure where drivers will zoom around the purpose-built track, competing against others to try and take home the trophy.
Drift Stop is the brainchild of owner and director Andreas Aristotelous, whom after building bespoke drift cars for his two young children during lockdown decided to bring the full on thrill seeking, immersive experience to Leeds.
The exciting new venue will also feature a range of arcade games offering a mix of classic and modern options from Ferrari Twin, Sega Rally and Street Fighter Multi-play to Table Football, Fastrack Air Hockey and Boxing. There will also be food and drink options available for you to refuel between races.
Image: PR
Opening in the popular Merrion Centre in the heart of the Leeds Arena Quarter, Drift Stop will be joining some of the city's most popular independent national eateries, big brand restaurants, cafes and entertainment values.
Andreas Aristotelous, owner/director of Drift Stop said; “I am thrilled that the Drift Stop vision to deliver a fun and affordable, fully immersive, audio, visual, sports & gaming entertainment venue in the heart of Leeds is now becoming a reality."
“One of the best graffiti artists in the business, Andy Parle has transformed the space with huge art installations that are set to assault the senses as guests drift around the track. We are confident the unique karting experience, combined with nostalgic tech and gameplay, will prove popular with all ages and be a fantastic addition to the city’s Arena Quarter”.
Bookings for the Drift Stop open September 2022, so if you're after an adrenaline hit then you can find it here.
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."
Clementine Hall -
22nd August 2022 
