A huge all-day African and Caribbean food festival is taking over Leeds' Kirkgate market later this month - and it's going to be completely free to attend.
Promising to be Leeds biggest Caribbean and African food festival, those heading down will find a host of emerging and well-established food vendors cooking up and serving their mouth-watering recipes, many passed down throughout generations
Hosted by The Cultural Arts Heritage Circle (Nubian Noire), the free-to-attend festival will celebrate an array of national dishes in a celebration of African and Caribbean heritage and culture.
Maureen's on Roundhay Road is one of the most recommended spots for Afro Caribbean food in Leeds / Image: thelastsuppernorth
Taking over Kirkgate Market's food hall from 10 am - 5 pm on Saturday, 28 August, there'll be an array of food on offer here covering everything from Barbadian to Gambian cuisine.
There'll also be arts and crafts stalls as well as calypso music playing at the event, so if you're sad to be missing out on Leeds West Indian Carnival this year you can still head down for a dance.
It's all being put together by Nubian Noire, also known as The Cultural Arts Heritage Circle - first set up in 2019. The woman behind the project, Dionne Edwards, is on a mission to support BAME businesses and young entrepreneurs as small business battles its way out of the pandemic.
Black businesses have been particularly affected by the pandemic, according to Dionne, especially those within hospitality - so she was especially keen for Nubian Noire to do something to help support the community.
Safe to say, if you're a fan of Afro Caribbean food you won't want to miss this.
The food festival is free to attend but you will need to register in advance to secure a place. To register for your ticket, click here.
Alternatively, if you're a trader who would like to take part in the festival then you can email artsheritagecircle@gmail.com.
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.
At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.
And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Georgina Pellant -
3rd August 2021 
