A massive Hot Wheels-themed monster truck event is coming to Leeds city centre as part of a brand new UK tour.
You can file this under one for the kids and for the big kids.
Following the success of the brand’s award-winning ‘Glow-N-Fire’ event earlier this year, Hot Wheels is hitting the road once again and bringing the explosive show to yet more domestic audiences.
Whether you’re a monster truck enthusiast, part of the wider motorhead masses, or simply looking for something fun to do with the little ones, you should be all over this.
Image: Supplied
What is Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire?
Produced by Family Entertainment Live, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ sees versions of the genuine collectable toys brought to life on the biggest scale possible.
Remember that old miniature car you had that looked like a shark? Yep, they’ve even got that.
But there’s much more than just colossally large vehicles; as well as the debut of an all-new truck called the ‘Rhinomite’ – the dynamite Rhino-themed truck which charges horn-first into challenges and looks to destroy the competition – the new and improved experience will feature never-before-seen stunts.
Performed not only by the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks drivers, but also by a talented roster of FMX, you can expect the likes of no-handed front flips and much more by these impressive professionals.
Returning not only to the capital but now Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester too, more and more Brits are going to be able to see the action for themselves.
Image: Supplied
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live – UK tour dates
Saturday to Sunday, 3-4 January 2026: AO Arena, Manchester
Sat-Sun, 10-11 January: The O2 Arena, London
Sat-Sun, 28-29 March: First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds
Sat-Sun, 4-5 April: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Sat-Sun, 11-12 April: Utilita Arena, Birmingham
With special children’s pricing, VIP packages and even the chance to participate in the official pre-show party, held two and a half hours prior to every performance, there really is so much value-for-money to be soaked up from this high-octane piece of live entertainment at the First Direct Bank Arena.
The pre-show party, specifically, gives fans a unique opportunity to access the arena floor where they can get up close and personal with the outrageous Hot Wheels designs and the truly epic size of a minster struck, as well as grab autographs and selfies with their favourites.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Leeds tickets
Glow-N-Fire won the most recent Pollstar ‘Family Show of the Year’ award and has sold thousands of tickets this year alone, so it goes without saying that you have every reason to give this one a go.
Tickets for next year’s Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live show go on sale this Friday, 5 September at 10am.
An independent wine bar in Leeds city centre was broken into over the weekend.
And do you know what the sneaky thief stole? An empty bottle.
Latitude Wine Bar on The Calls issued a statement about the break in over the weekend, they said: "Some unscrupulous ______________ (insert expletives in the comments) decided to smash our window last night to grab a magnum of chartreuse out of our window.
"Obviously it was a dummy bottle, so more fool them, but it also makes this criminal damage more pointless. DON'T THEY KNOW HOW MUCH GLASS COSTS!?
"Well, this puts a real dampener on the month so if any one feels like popping in to buy a bottle in the shop or a glass in the bar or heading online to place an order this weekend it would really help to support an independent wine merchant and bar.
Images: Latitude Wine Bar
"Thank you to one of our customers who found the abandoned dummy bottle and returned it to us today. Legend! Santé and happy Friyay!"
So not only did the thief smash the window to steal an empty bottle, but they didn't even take it home with them.
In classic Leeds fashion, fellow indies flocked to the comments to support Latitude with many promising to pop in over the weekend for a glass or two.
One comment read: "Do you need a sign in your window saying “this is a dummy bottle you dummy”" whilst another said "Damned spit buckets! I’m sure we’ll be in soon, keep your chins up fam."
So if you've been meaning to pop in for a glass of the good stuff, there's no better time than the present.
Inside the new Leeds craft shop where you can make your own phone cases, water bottles, and notepads
Daisy Jackson
A new crafting paradise has opened in Leeds city centre, right in time for the summer holidays.
Happy Hour Workshop has already been a smash hit over in Greater Manchester, and now owner Lili has brought her playful and creative business over to Queens Arcade.
The brand-new, sunny yellow crafting destination has walls absolutely crammed with colourful supplies, with a big focus on the current trend of cream gel DIY.
The level of customisation here will send an indecisive person into a tailspin.
First you can choose the item you want to customise, whether it’s a mirror, a claw clip, a pencil case, a handheld fan, a phone case, a water bottle, a notepad, or just about any other useful item you can think of.
Then you’re let loose with a bowl and dream, to peruse the many, many drawers of colourful charms you can add to your chosen product.
There are literally thousands of charms - food items like hot dogs and ice cream cones; characters like Labubus and Minions; and adorable motifs like bows and rainbows.
The wall of craft suppliesThousands of charms to choose fromYou can customise a glass tumblerOr make a notepadOwner Lili outside Happy Hour Workshop Leeds
You could spell out your name with bubble letters, make a whole buffet’s worth of fake food items, design yourself a beautiful garden, or create a new world for the K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Your final step before heading to your craft station is to choose a colour cream gel, which you can pipe onto your item like icing a cake before wedging your charms into place.
As well as the charms, Happy Hour Workshop is offering other crafting experiences like bracelet making, money box painting, paint by numbers, slime making, and loads more to come.
You’ll find it at 9 Queens Arcade and it’s open now.
Danny Jones -
5th September 2025 
