The Light in Leeds is bringing the popular City Beach back to Cookridge Street this summer.
Following its huge success in 2021 and 2022, The City Beach invites anyone and everyone to take part in fun beach activities throughout the summer.
The Light will be transformed into a huge sandpit to make you feel like you're on holiday.
Frisbees, beachballs and bucket and spades will all be on hand for children to enjoy some fun and games in the giant sandpit.
Equally importantly, deck chairs will be provided for parents to relax in as they watch their little ones get stuck in building sandcastles and digging holes.
Image: The Light Leeds
The City Beach this year will also host a series of exciting events named 'Summer Sessions' for families and cocktail lovers alike, throughout the month of August.
The beach will be open until Sunday 3 September, with four free headline events taking place over the next few weeks.
First up on Wednesday 2 August is 'National Play Day' where children can get involved in a whole host of fun activities on the beach without driving to the coast. From glitter pace paint and dance parties to playing with bubbles and foam, this is the perfect way to entertain the little ones during the summer holidays.
'Sax on the Beach' on Saturday 5 August will see live music from local saxophone player Sarah Sax and DJ performers One2manyDjs between 3-7pm, complete with delicious food and drink on offer from The Radisson.
Do you love an Aperol Spritz? Then you'll want to head down to The City Beach on Saturday 19 August for their 'Spritz Session'. Complete with live music and food form 3-6pm, this is going to be a summer evening to remember.
And last but not least, the 'Family Beach Day' on Thursday 24 August will see Leeds Children Charity joining in on the celebrations and bringing with them a variety of beach-themed interactive activities. Including arts, crafts, games and giveaways for everyone to enjoy from 11am-4pm.
Stephanie James, Marketing Manager at The Light commented: “We are thrilled for the City Beach to return to Leeds this summer and are equally excited to offer such an exciting array of activities for all ages!
“With the beach freely accessible right up until the end of the school holidays, parents will be able to keep their children entertained and occupied, whilst being able to enjoy some of the best bits of the seaside, right here in the city.
"We’ll be hosting themed events throughout August to appeal to all audiences and can't wait to introduce live music and cocktails for our adult audience this year at the beach."
To find out more about The City Beach and the Summer Sessions, take a look at their website.
Domo is ready to open its doors and sun-drenched terrace this Friday.
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Opening this Friday 5 June, we had a peek inside and let us tell you, it's even better than we imagined.
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
First off, the interior is just drop dead gorgeous.
From the moment you step inside you feel as though you've been whisked away to an Italian island, the walls are lined with hundreds of booze bottles and on each table you'll find beautifully hand-painted plates ready to be adorned with delicious food.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Every corner is dotted with antique trinkets, and we already know the stretching terrace will be the place to be when the sun comes out.
Now, onto the food.
From small plates made for sharing to hearty bowls of seafood pasta, everything is made with the freshest ingredients and made entirely in-house.
You could do a lot worse than plonking yourself on the terrace with mates, ordering a selection of their cocktails and tucking into a heaping plate of fried calamari and prawns or a carefully curated plate of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses.
They also serve pizzas and salads, all accompanied by a brilliant wine and cocktail list. Whether you're after a long lunch, celebrating an occasion with a slap up meal or fancy a few nibbles - Domo can cater to all.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.
“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”
A much-loved Leeds coffee shop is celebrating 15 years in the city with £1.50 coffees
Clementine Hall
One of Leeds' best-loved coffee destinations, Laynes Cafe, is marking 15 years in the city - and is saying thank you with £1.50 coffees.
When? This Wednesday 3 June.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
It's practically a Leeds institution at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
To celebrate an impressive 15 years in the city, this Wednesday 3 June they'll be selling £1.50 coffees all-day.
Not only that, Laynes will be rolling out a brand refresh with Saul Studios, refreshing its daytime menu (including what Dave reckons might be the best hash browns in the world…maybe), and continuing to grow Laynes Bakery, which launched in 2023 and now supplies a growing list of independent cafes and delis across Leeds.
Dave Olejnik, founder of Laynes Cafe, said: "We never really got to celebrate being 10 — covid had other ideas — so 15 feels like the one to do properly. When I opened Laynes in 2011, the aim was to create somewhere that really cared about coffee, quality and hospitality. To be celebrating 15 years now is incredibly special. Leeds has changed so much in that time, and it's been amazing to see the city's independent food and drink scene grow and flourish. We're really proud to have been part of that journey.
"Rather than mark it with one big day, we wanted to celebrate across the whole year — kicking off with £1.50 coffees on June 3rd as a thank you to everyone who's kept us going. This next chapter for Laynes is a bit of a refresh with Saul Studios, an updated menu with quite possibly the best hash browns in the world, and the bakery continuing to grow. Feels like a great way to celebrate where we've come from while continuing to evolve."
Clementine Hall -
31st July 2023 
