Angry members of the public chanted for a Leeds preacher to be arrested in Briggate this week after he was caught on camera asserting that "homosexuality is an abomination".
Police were seen escorting a man from the city centre on Tuesday afternoon as a surrounding crowd chanted for his arrest.
Various preachers were seen using a microphone to spout homophobic slurs and voice offensive and awful views on the LGBTQ+ community.
Local man Jordan Denny captured the moment on film, sharing a clip showing a man speaking down a microphone to passers-by:
"Does God accept the LGBT community? Listen, homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God.
"It says in the bible if a man lies with a man the way a man would lie with a woman it is an abomination."
He continues: "The bible says that lesbianism is [an] unnatural and vile passion. The bible says that homosexuals shall not inherit the kingdom of God, so God does not accept homosexuality."
Jordan was also with a friend at the time, who is transgender and was apparently abused by one of the preachers multiple times as he repeatedly "called her a man".
At first, it was only a handful of people challenging the preacher - but they soon grew into a huge crowd.
"Once we started chanting more came around and we had about 70 people supporting us against discrimination," said Jordan.
"He was Anti LGBTQ+, racist and said that this was freedom of speech. However this is a hate crime. We quickly called the police and made sure they got taken down and arrested!
"I’m so happy that as a city we became closer and came together to stop this awful speech! He was making us all feel very little and overpowered us with his speaker."
Police have confirmed they still have the man in custody following his arrest yesterday afternoon.
A spokesman for the force said: "Police in Leeds received several reports of an ongoing hate incident on Briggate in Leeds during Tuesday afternoon.
"Officers attended and located and arrested a male on suspicion of public order offences. He remains in custody and enquiries are ongoing.
"All reports of hate offending are taken very seriously by West Yorkshire Police and are fully investigated."
News
Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
Georgina Pellant -
9th June 2021 
