Valentines Day, the Six Nations, the Superbowl and so many events to look forward to. And they're all in the shortest month of the year. How ever will we fit them all in?
February is one of those months that's unpredictable. Will it snow? Will we be so warm we can head over to the beach? Both have been possible in recent years. Regardless of the weather, this February marks the first non-restricted month in quite some time for the UK, and you can bet that Leeds is making the most of that.
There's rescheduled concerts, long overdue nights out that mark the end of Dry January and a bundle of special occasions to celebrate this month, so here's the best things to do to make the most of it.
Vice City is a DJ based club night paying homage to the greats from the 70s and 80s and they'll be at The Wardrobe to play nothing but Fleetwood Mac all night. You can scream the lyrics to Go Your Own Way or dance to Rumours for those just as Stevie-obsessed before going for another round of Rhiannon, Don't Stop, Gypsy and just about every other Mac-song you can think of.
Celebrating the Year of the Tiger in style over the weekend will be North Brew Co. and Little Bao Boys. At both North Brew Taps and Springwell, there will be a host of cocktails, bao buns and fortune cookies on offer across two days of new year celebrations. Expect Chinese-inspired sippers like Lychee and Ginger Margarita, made from Tequila, lychee liqueur, house-made ginger syrup and lime juice, with a grapefruit salted rim or opt for a Green Tea Fizz and Passionfruit with vodka, passion fruit and house-made green tea syrup, topped with soda. That's not all though, Little Bao Boys will announce their specials next week.
Friday 4 February and Saturday 5 February. Find out more here.
Bongo's Bingo is back for another round of midweek madness at the O2 Academy. We’ve been told that this year, Bongo’s Bingo enthusiasts should expect the same nostalgic escapism from previous shows, with the added chance of winning iconic prizes like Henry Hoovers, mobility scooters, karaoke machines and more. In addition to the crazy prizes, crowd renditions of Mr Brightside, dance offs, and ‘hands in the air’ moments aplenty are all guaranteed to make an appearance.
Wednesday 9 February and Wednesday 23 February. Find out more here.
The long-awaited new Roxy Lanes will open to the public from Friday 11 February in their all-new location at The Light. The 15,000 square foot venue will host bowling alleys aplenty, as well as all your favourite games, drinks and pizza. The new venue will have Leeds’ first ice-curling rink- and we’re super excited to add this to our Roxy’s checklist upon our next visit.
To make Valentine’s Day weekend a celebration you and your loved one won’t forget anytime soon, Grön Kafe in Oakwood is offering up a two hour session of bottomless booze and Instagrammable brunch options- and it’s beautifully designed. Everything right down to the banana bread is impressive, which takes serious commitment. On the menu, there’s plenty more to choose from than loaf cake to tuck into.Drinkswise, the bottomless experience includes the likes of mimosas, beers, sparkling wine and Aperol Spritz, so no doubt there will be a beverage for any palate to taste.
Saturday 12 February - Sunday 13 February. Find out more here.
Superbowl LVI Special at The Box
Image: The Box
Food til 1am, the most incredible half time line-up and a whole late night of Super Bowl madness. It'll be a go hard or go home kinda late Sunday night at The Box for the Super Bowl. Expect plenty of pints before and during the game before watching the likes of Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar on the stage. It's going to be a wild night and you absolutely should book a ticket in advance, this one will be heavily booked up.
The puppy pop-up cafe went viral after Leeds United legend Kalvin Phillips dropped by with his little sausage dog last year and now its back for the 2022 season. Get your tails wagging for the company of over 150 sausage dogs over a seven hour event in doggy heaven. Expect 200 ‘puppuccinos’ (dog coffee) to be served, as well as unlimited treats whilst your dachshunds make their way through ball pits, tunnels and chew on provided toys.
Ever fancied yourself a Van Gogh in the making? Brasserie Blanc's pop-up event is giving you the opportunity to sip and paint. Glass in one hand, paint brush in the other, there's no experience needed for you to unleash your creativity and create your very own starry night. Tickets include paint, brushes, canvas and apron; expert guidance and the canvas will be yours to keep upon completion.
The Dancing Queen bottomless brunch is the latest themed brunch from Explore Hidden and it’s full of Mamma Mia themed activities- so much so that booze will be the last thing on your mind, it’s all about the singing, the dancing and the fancy dress here. Not only will you be able to spend ninety minutes in the company of likeminded Mamma Mia lovers, but you and your Super Troupers will be singing your hearts out to all the classic Dancing Queen Hits sang by an ABBA tribute band too.
An incredible Lewis Carroll-inspired drinking experience has opened in Leeds, giving Alice in Wonderland fans the chance to fall down their very own rabbit hole. Lover of the book series (or Tim Burton’s 2010 reimagining) will be able to meet the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter themselves as part of this fantastical 90-minute experience. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift, use the code ‘LOVE’ to receive half price tickets, saving up to £16.00 per person.
Wednesday 2 February - Sunday 27 February. Find out more here.
Thai favourite Giggling Squid launched a brand-new menu exclusive to the city- and celebrated with a huge party.
Known for its beautiful colourful interiors, tropical-inspired decor and a menu packed with fragrant Thai favourites, Giggling Squid is bringing a proper little taste of Thailand to Leeds.
And the best part? They've now brought a city-exclusive set menu for us to get stuck into.
Priced at just £31.95 per person for two courses and a drink, or £37.95 per person for three courses and a drink, the new menu is all about getting stuck into a proper feast in true Thai fashion.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Things kick off with a choice of appetisers for the table, including prawn crackers or chilli chickpeas, the perfect way to settle into your meal.
Starters then include spicy popcorn chicken, prawn and squid lettuce cups, vegetable spring rolls and salt and pepper squid - so there's plenty of options whether you're after something fresh, crispy or with a bit of a kick.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For mains, you can opt Thai green curry served with jasmine rice, cashew stir fry and spicy crispy pork belly.
Or, if you're a noodle lover, get slurping the yellow tamarind duck noodles or keep it classic with a pad Thai stuffed to the brim with your choice of chicken, prawn or vegetable.
And, of course, no Thai feast would be complete without something sweet to finish.
Dessert options include apple pie spring rolls, coconut pudding with mango lime sauce and Mother-in-Law's chocolate mousse.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Drinks wise you can choose any soft drink, small beer or a glass of house wine and that's all included in the brilliant price, how good is that?
To celebrate the menu, The Giggling Squid hosted a launch that transported diners to the bustling streets of Bangkok on Park Row.
We're talking free canapés, cocktails, giveaways, a DJ set from Leeds' very own DJ Dman and of course, a goodie bag for guests to take home with them.
The set menu is available until 8 November, Monday - Sunday from 4pm until close.
Sound up your street? You can book in for the all-new set menu at Giggling Squid Leeds here.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
News
10 brilliant new bars, restaurants and cafes that have opened in Leeds recently
Clementine Hall
Leeds has welcomed a whole host of new places to eat and drink recently, and there’s a lot to get excited about.
We all love our food and drink, and it's safe to say we love writing about it.
So please, allow us to indulge by telling you all about our top 10 favourite new openings that have popped up in and around Leeds over the past few months.
But fair warning, continuing to read on may cause extreme hunger...
Rotisserie Club
22 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
A new rotisserie chicken spot has landed in the city centre, serving everything from full and half roasted birds all served with their crispy house dripping roasties, as well as viral chicken Caesar wraps and rice bowls.
Dip or drench your chicken in their range of sauces and you’ve got yourself something worth licking your fingers over.
From the team behind Domino Club and Roland's comes Paper Plane, your newest cocktail bar that is a love letter to an analogue time where everything was made by hand.
The interior is inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars complete with music played exclusively on vinyl to match, and the menu is perfectly curated, coming alongside its own martini menu served straight from the freezer.
After multiple pop-ups around the city, Acai Social Club has finally found a permanent home in Leeds, meaning getting your acai bowl fix is about to get a whole lot easier.
And the best bit? Unlimited toppings. There's also matcha, coffee and smoothies on the menu, plus new toppings dropping every week to keep things interesting.
Tahin
10 Kirkgate, LS1 6BY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One of the city’s favourite Turkish takeaways is back in the city and we couldn’t be happier for their return.
Formerly located in The Core, Tahiis a family-run takeaway that is whipping up the freshest dishes for you to eat on-the-go. Even at 4pm they’ve got queues out the door for authentic Turkish flatbreads Pide, Za’atar, Shawarma and more.
With fresh chicken and lamb ready to be shaved, warm, welcoming faces to greet you and prices you just can’t turn down because most dishes are under a tenner.
Alfonso's Deli
New Road Side, Horsforth, LS18 4QD
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Famed for its toasted Cuban sandwiches, coffee and stacked deli subs, Alfonso's Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches in the city.
And now they’ve opened a second site in the suburbs with Horsforth providing all the good stuff we know and love it for, plus fresh bakes which they’re making downstairs - oh, and you can also get yourself a cigar.
If you don’t know about Burgerism then get to know. The cult burger brand is famed over in the North West for their juicy, crunchy-around-the-edges smash burgers and now they’ve brought them to Meanwood.
Rizia's Bottega
114 Bolling Rd, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley LS29 8PN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road on the outskirts of Ilkley, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.
The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots, which always has queues down the street, has made its way across to Leeds at last.
Bruncho has opened on The Headrow, bringing its hit products like French toasts, Middle Eastern brunches, and iced matchas, to Leeds city centre.
Bruncho has also made a name for itself with its viral creations, including Labubu Dubai pistachio French toast (how many 2025 buzzwords can you get in one menu item?) and its collection of drinks served at -86°C. We're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
Vietnamese powerhouse Pho opened a permanent spot on Boar Lane and it's serving up the likes of beef brisket pho, crispy spring rolls, three meat combo rice bowls, and chicken curries - yum.
Mandy's Barbecue
3 Sheaf St, Leeds LS10 1HD
Images: The Hoot Leeds
A new Yorkshire barbecue spot has taken over the kitchen at The Attic near Aire Park serving up sourdough sarnies by day, with fillings cooked over fire. Expect your lunchtime to be levelled up with BBQ rump steak, Korean chicken and plenty of other local produce on the menu. Then, come evening, things switch up with small plates - including jerk mackerel, BBQ sirloin with kimchi, and lamb neck.
Sophie Smith -
1st February 2022 
