Leeds Kirkgate Market will be home to the great Yorkshire Vegan Festival this summer.
Taking place in June, there'll be over 80 stall owners in attendance on the day - with products spanning skincare, homeware, food, clothing, toiletries and world food.
The likes of VDogs, Greek Vegan Deli, House of Habesha, There’s No Catch (vegan fish and chips) and Those Vegan Pizza Guys are all confirmed to visit with tasty vegan treats.
There'll be a new event taking place this year, too - providing guests with the ultimate vegan food and camping experience. Titled VFest UK, the occasion will feature some huge headline acts, a club night, circus skills workshops, an assault course, and a zip wire experience.
Naturally, there will be a big focus on food - with plenty of food stalls and caterers on hand, plus appearances from TV Chef Matt Pritchard and Guinness World Record Holder Fiona Oakes.
Vegan doughnuts from Doughnotts laden with plant-based toppings / Image: Doughnotts
But there'll also be opportunities to go boating on the lake, take part in group entertainment, watch fun shows and hear international speakers giving talks on their areas of expertise.
The event is working with a number of organisations including Cats Protection, Four Paws UK, Greenpeace, Plantlife, Ramblers, Viva!, We The Free, Woodland Trust and WWF. All money raised on the day will go to support these organisations.
Non-profit UK animal welfare charity Miracle's Mission is also involved and will attend in the capacity of an organisation that works with sick, injured and difficult animals.
More food stalls confirmed to take part in the festival include Bonnie Yau's Food, Dalton Moor Farm, Doughnotts, Ella’s Instant Vegan Yorky Puds and Pancakes, Just Deserts Yarm, KO-CO Brownies, MKS Food, Telltale Tea, The May Bakery, Tyne Chease, and Vegan Sweet Tooth London.
Skincare, make-up, toiletry, candle and crafts stalls will include Devaiya Oils, Earth's Garden, Lavender and Lilac and Tropic Skincare.
Bo's Book, Jewellery Star, Olive and Hope, Vegan recipes and information, Pet Respect and Trad Collective, and Vegum are also down to attend.
Taking place on Sunday, 20 June from 10am to 4pm, 100% of ticket sales go towards helping the event's partner charities.
Get tickets and find out more information on their website.
Feature image - Geograph.
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Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Georgina Pellant -
7th June 2021 
