Mark your calendars, tell your mates, grab your sunglasses - it's time to raise a glass to summer.
Is there anything better than dancing in the sunshine with all your mates, drink in hand, with the smell of street food wafting in the air? We don't think so.
And you can absolutely be living this life next Saturday 9 August at The Junction, as they'll be hosting their ultimate Summer Fair.
From 1 - 9pm, you can head over to the scenic Monk Bridge Viaduct and enjoy live DJs, music, street food, ice cream, a fully stocked bar, games (did someone say tug of war?), face painting and a live sketcher to remember the moment with.
Image: Supplied
The best part? It's completely free entry and it's all to raise money for Latch.
Latch is a fantastic charitable organisation that refurbishes derelict and rundown houses in the Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley areas of Leeds.
Once fully modernised and furnished, the properties provide supported housing for people who are homeless or in housing need. It's a fantastic cause and you can support it all whilst partying with your mates - it's a win win.
And that's not all The Junction has on this summer, there's so much for you to get involved in to really embrace the last few summer weeks.
Image: Supplied
If you're an early bird who likes to catch the worm, then head over to The Junction for Sunrise Yoga with We Are Wellness.
From 7.30 - 8.30am you can breathe in, stretch out and rise with the sun. It's all completely free and open to residents and non-residents, there's numerous dates throughout summer and you can book your spot here. We can't think of a better way to kickstart the day.
If yoga isn't your thing then do not fret, The Junction are all about learning new skills and are hosting craft workshops in collaboration with Esk House and Studio Dawn.
Image: Supplied
Whether you want to try your hand at plant pot painting, coaster painting or just fancy a relaxed paint and chill - there's a workshop for everyone. Have a read and choose yours here.
For the music lovers out there, The Junction are hosting two afternoon acoustic sessions for you to jam out to on the weekend. Jake Kirkham will be taking to the stage on Sunday 10 August whilst Matthew Grant will be providing the tunes on Saturday 23 August.
Taking place from 3-5pm, these sessions are completely free to attend and open to all. No need to sign up, just sit back, relax and enjoy.
The Junction are constantly keeping busy and providing amazing events like these throughout the year, and you can keep up to date with it all via their website here.
It's a fantastic community and a great opportunity to meet like minded people, so if you haven't yet - get involved.
When bands reunite, it's usually pretty easy to guess what the motive is. A looming tax bill, an incoming divorce, a tanking solo career, for example.
But with The Maccabees, those scenarios feel a long way removed.
This is a band that called it a day at the top of their game - and then have returned even stronger, and seemingly because they just missed being on stage together.
Addressing the near-decade apart while on stage at Kirkstall Abbey, The Maccabees frontman Orlando Weeks sums it up simply: "For a long time we were a band, and then we weren't a band for a bit, and now we're a band again."
He's as softly-spoken a frontman as they come, but then The Maccabees never have leaned entirely on their frontman for their live energy - not when he's flanked by the White brothers.
Felix White spends half the gig sporting an ear-splitting grin, and the other half screaming words of encouragement at the audience like a crazed Top of the Pops presenter. The organised-fun patter might grate if he weren't so phenomenal the moment the music starts again.
Then brother Hugo is a brooding, powerful figure, usually standing with his legs so wide apart I'm surprised he doesn't split his trousers. His stage presence is so cool, so confident, it's hard to take your eyes off him.
Orlando's otherworldly voice is really allowed to shine through with songs like Spit It Out, when the stage reduces to a single spotlight and the other band members actually squat down to minimise the distractions.
The tempo shifts of Marks to Prove It, the urgency of X-Ray and the layered beauty of Wall of Arms all underline just how tightly the band play together.
There will be new music on the way, eventually, and they give us a glimpse into that with The Ballad of So Long, a swooping epic that suggests they still have somewhere new to go.
It's hard to complain that they don't have much more to show us yet - not when the alternative is a greatest hits, belt-every-word live show.
By the end of the night, as The Maccabees wrap up their show at Kirkstall Abbey, there's a quiet confidence about them. They know this comeback works, and we'll be lapping it up for as long as they'll stick around.
Judging by the reaction inside Kirkstall Abbey, everyone else does too.
The popular Manchester brunch spot serving all things viral is coming to Leeds
Clementine Hall
A brunch spot made famous across the pond is opening a site in Leeds.
If you're a fiend for all things brunch, then this news is going to get you a little bit excited.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its innovative watermelon sandwiches.
Oh, and they also went viral for serving a Labubu French Toast...but we'll let the photos do the talking on that one.
Images: The Manc Group
They've currently got one site in Manchester city centre with one more almost ready to open its doors, and now they're making their way across the Pennines and opening their first Yorkshire cafe right here in Leeds. Aren't we lucky.
Announcing the exciting news to Instagram, Bruncho said: "We’ve been keeping a HUGE SECRET, but now it’s finally time to share… LEEDS CITY CENTRE WE’RE COMING FOR YOU!!
"Keep your eyes peeled on our socials, we’ll be announcing our opening date SOON!!"
Images: The Manc Group
With queues constantly forming at their cafe in Deansgate, Manchester - we're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
It's not the first brunch spot to make their way over, with Federal opening on Boar Lane earlier this year that has been packed out ever since.
We'll of course keep you in the loop with opening dates as and when we find out but for now, Bruncho we can't wait to welcome you to our city.
Clementine Hall -
5th August 2025 
