A single stroll around Leeds and you can understand why it consistently makes lists of Best Cities to Live in.
Both culturally rich and economically vibrant, the Athens of the North doesn’t exactly need to be told what distincts it from others in terms of appeal, but why not do it anyway? Just in case you were in doubt about the place in which you grew up or are considering a big move to…
WE INVENTED CLUEDO
Well, Murder as it was originally known. Creator Anthony E. Pratt may have grown up in Birmingham, but in 1944 he took the idea for his board game to Waddington’s Games in Leeds. They loved it and five years* later, the rest was history.
*World War II delayed the release date.
HIPPOS ONCE ROAMED THE STREETS
This is mad, isn’t it? Hippos? Down Briggate? Apparently so, yeah.
In 1984, during the construction of the Armley Gyratory, the bones of an ancient hippo dating back 130,000 years were found. It remains one of the city’s greatest discoveries. You can see the thing for yourself at Leeds City Museum.
Leeds
WE ONCE HAD A TRAMLINE
Anyone who lives in Leeds has probably complained about the public transport at some point. Maybe that’s all you do. Calls for a tram system have been gaining popularity over the last decade and rightfully so.
It might anger you to know one has already been and gone. Been there, done that, got the highly-efficient tram across the city.
The transit system opened in October 1891 and used single-decker horse drawn trams until the introduction of steam and electric ones at the turn of the century. It sadly closed in 1959.
WE MADE THE FIRST EVER FILMS
It’s all Hollywood these days. Hollywood this, Hollywood that. But the motion picture has humble origins in, you guessed it, Leeds.
Now it wasn’t the invention of a Loiner, but French artist Louis Le Prince filmed the very first films in Leeds, where he’d lived since 1866. The Roundhay Garden Scene at Oakwood Grange and the Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (two classics you have to see before you die) were both shot in 1888 and paved the way for every movie since.
WE HAVE THE LONGEST RUNNING WEST INDIAN CARNIVAL IN EUROPE
The Notting Hill Carnival gang love to rub their big street party in the rest of are faces but the reality is, their beloved festival is a paltry imitation of a greater and older northern festival. Shock!
The Leeds West Indian Carnival has been going longer than any other in Europe, actually. Every August bank holiday weekend, Chapeltown puts on the best Caribbean-influenced parade the world has ever seen. And they’ve been doing so since 1967.
If you haven’t been, you’re really missing out.
Trinity Leeds
WE MADE FIZZY DRINKS
Leeds lad Joseph Priestley is one of the most improtant scientists of the 18th century. Why? He was credited with the discovery of oxygen.
His greatest achievement however, came with the invention of carbonated water. His method of infusing water with carbon dioxide gas was eventually nabbed by J.J. Schweppe in the late 18th century to start his world-famous drinks company.
WE HAVE THE LAST GAS-LIT CINEMA IN THE UK
The Hyde Park Picture House has long been a refuge of students and cinema buffs alike. It opened just before the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and continues to draw newcomers in 2021.
If you’re wanting to watch a film, new or old, you could pick worse places than this novelty getaway.
WE STARTED M&S
Alright, you probably knew this one. You should do anyway.
Michael Marks opened up a penny bazaar in Leeds’ Kirkgate Market back in 1884. A decade later, he teamed up with Tom Spencer to expand the business, moving to Boar Lane and then Briggate, where the store remains today.
WE GAVE THE INTERNET TO THE COUNTRY
Leeds? The world wide web? T’internet? Before anyone else? Yep.
In 1998, Leeds produced the UK’s first internet provider, Freeserve. It was later sold to a French company called Wannadoo in 2000 for a WHOPPING £1.65 billion. At the time, Freeserve had accumulated almost 2 million active customers.
So there you have it. Any more we should be aware of? Let us know.
News
Plans to turn one of Leeds’ most historic buildings into padel courts approved
One of Leeds’ most iconic buildings is set to be brought back to life.
Plans for a brand-new padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse on Wellington Road have been approved by Leeds City Council’s West Plans Panel.
Consent has been granted for Ollo Padel to transform the Grade II* listed Roundhouse into a state-of-the-art sport, fitness, food, drink and community venue subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, The Roundhouse was once home to the steam locomotives that powered industrial Victorian Leeds. In recent years, the building has stood largely unused.
Image: Supplied
The approved plans will restore and protect the landmark building and give the site a new, long-term future as one of the city’s most distinctive leisure destinations.
The three-acre site, located on the edge of Leeds city centre, will include nine outdoor doubles padel courts under a 10-metre canopy, plus a dedicated indoor coaching court within The Roundhouse itself.
At the heart of the site will be the Ollo Clubhouse; built around an all-day kitchen and bar, it will combine a comfortable lounge and co-working space, meeting rooms and live sport and events spaces.
The kitchen and bar will be run in partnership with Southbank Provisions, the independent Leeds hospitality team behind Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Galleria whilst the gym will be operated by fitness and performance specialists Northbound, who will bring strength and conditioning practice, Hyrox training and pilates classes to The Roundhouse.
Image: Supplied
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the venue aiming to open in early 2027.
Luke Gidney, Founder & CEO Ollo Padel: "This is a huge day for Leeds, for The Roundhouse and for Ollo. The Roundhouse has been part of the city’s story for nearly 180 years. It’s an incredible building but it needs people, energy and purpose again. Our plan is to bring it back to life as a place where people can play, eat, work, meet friends and feel part of something.
"Padel is growing so quickly because it’s fun, social and easy to pick up. But for us, this is about more than just the courts. We want Ollo to become a proper community destination for Leeds, somewhere welcoming, joyful and full of life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to Leeds City Council’s planning team, our case officer, the wider council team and everyone who has supported the project to this point. This has been a complex project but the sport and engagement throughout has been brilliant. Now the real work starts and we cannot wait to open the doors for you.”
New study crowns Leeds as one of the friendliest cities in the UK
Clementine Hall
New research has revealed a global ranking of cities with the best customer service, with Leeds taking one of the top spots.
If you've been wondering which cities across the world are the friendliest of them all, then look no further because MoneySuperMarket have done the work for us in a new study.
In a world where social media culture plays a huge part in people's lives, online customer reviews are pretty important to local businesses.
To uncover the global locations that are home to the best customer service, the businesses insurance experts analysed over 100,000 reviews of leisure and hospitality businesses in 107 cities worldwide.
They looked at the language in the reviews to see how often friendly workers and staff were mentioned, building a global ranking of the cities where customer service truly stands out.
Out of a whopping 107, Leeds came in at a very respectable number 12. Now we think that's pretty good going.
Outside of the UK, Hanoi, Paris, Montreal and Abu Dhabi were highlighted for their friendly customer service whilst Edinburgh tops the global ranking, with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also making the world’s top 10.
The top 10 cities in the UK with the best customer service are as follows:
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Birmingham
Bristol
Belfast
Leeds
Glasgow
Cardiff
Manchester
London
Alicia Hempsted spoke on the study: “As businesses grow and engage with more customers, it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Public liability insurance is an important safeguard for those working with the public, helping to cover costs if something goes wrong, while also showing customers that their experience is taken seriously - from the moment they walk through the door to long after they’ve left.”
Josh Teal -
24th May 2021 
