Ninja Warrior UK has revealed it will be expanding into Leeds next month, sharing plans to open its biggest park yet in the city this August.
The new Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park will be inspired by the ITV game show; where 250 competitors from across the country take on six different obstacle courses, tackling warped walls and floating steps along the way before one is ultimately crowned the champion.
At this mega day out for all the family (well. all the family over aged 4), you'll need to balance and swing your way across the courses, dodging obstacles and using your ninja skills to maneuver across classic challenges from the TV show like the big dipper and cargo swing.
What's more, to give the opening the real authentic Nina Warrior experience, TV co-host Chris Kamara will be at the new Leeds site welcoming the park's first-ever visitors when it opens its doors on 5 August.
The courses here will have varying levels of difficulty, making it as accessible to everyone as possible.
The new site will also feature a Ninja Cafe and inflatable ‘airpark’ with bouncy balls, tunnels and a battle zone.
Inside the new battle room at Leeds Ninja Warrior UK / Image: Ninja Warrior UK Leeds Facebook
Adventure sessions, which start from £11 for an hour, give you the freedom to explore the park at your own pace and tackle some of those more daunting obstacles as and when you feel ready to do so.
The new site in Leeds comes as part of an agreement between ITV and its new Ninja Warrior UK operator, BGL.
BGL currently manages existing sites in Sheffield and Southhampton, and the partnership agreement includes plans to open three new sites every year in the first five years.
A mock up of how some of the course will look at the new Leeds site / Image: Ninja Warrior UK Leeds Facebook
The new site, which is set to be the biggest to date, will be the eleventh UK opening - following sites in Stoke-On-trent, Wigan, Cardiff, Gloucester, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Eastbourne, Southampton, Watford and Leicester.
There are also plans to open two more in Harlow and Bradford later this year.
“We’re so excited to be bringing a slice of brilliant, wholesome family entertainment to Leeds with the Ninja Warrior UK brand, which is loved by all age groups,” said Jacob Clarkson, general manager at Ninja Warrior UK.
“We like to think we’ve created the perfect and safe place to escape to with each and every session carefully organised and managed so that parents, guardians and grandparents have no excuse.”
"Expect to tackle some obstacles very similar to the television show – including a chance to try and beat our very own warped wall,” Clarkson added.
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Georgina Pellant -
28th July 2021 
