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Chow Down returns to Leeds for 2023 with new day parties, food festivals and Urban Garden

Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 16th March 2023

One of Leeds' most talked about open-air bar concepts is back for 2023 - and this year is set to be its biggest yet.

The Temple Arches venue is set to host a brand-new Urban Garden space, perfect for soaking up the summer sun. The new addition will make Chow Down 'the largest garden in the city centre', with the jam-packed events calendar lasting all summer long.

Sell-out successes like Bingo Lingo, Camp Presents Drag Brunch and DJ nights will return for the 2023 season, and there's been a huge injection in new food festivals and days and nights out in the city centre that'll have people across Leeds and beyond heading down to the arches.

Chow Down will reopen in April. / Image: Chapter 81

Expect food meets drawing classes in a new Floating Arts events and the return of Dog Social, a dog-lover's heaven that gives chance for four-legged friends and humans to explore the arches with hundreds of like-minded individuals.

Also new for this year, Chow Down is hosting everything from Leeds Indie Food Wing Fest to Battle of the Burger and a Taco and Tequila Festival - there's truly going to be something for all foodies this year.

And that's before we've even began to look at the regular food traders that'll be supplying a feast of food from around the world all summer long.

drag brunch.
Drag Brunch is back for 2023.
people cheering.
Images: Chapter 81

Taking over the first resident kitchen will be much-loved new pop-up Braizin' Squad, with slow roasted meats to the masses. These guys have been seriously commended for their roast dinners over the past few months, including a mention from The Observer and ranking in the Top 15 Sunday Roasts in the UK from Rate Good Roasts- but turns out this is only the beginning of the culinary offerings available.

Jamie Marrion, Braizin’ Squad says “Keep your eyes peeled for us at Chow Down this spring, expect Smokey flavours, braised meats all cooked over fire and regular specials as we like to keep everything fresh..” 

Read More: The Sunday Roast with slow-roasted meats that’s voted one of the best in the country

Braizin’ Squad's Jordan Kaye, Jamie Marrion and Michal Marud. / Image: Chapter 81

Also returning for 2023 is Bastards Bistro. The pop-up brought Leeds winter warmers like festive fries and juicy beef burgers, and huge pots of dipping gravy throughout the festive period - and were undoubtably one of the most popular options over the festive period as a result.

Additional foodie options will come from a rotating street food offers from the likes of Archchi’s, Cluck n Dough, Colombo Street, Fire & Dough, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen, Homeboy Pizza Co, Nasi Lemak, Nikos Comfort Kitchen, Little Bao Boy, Little Red Food Cluck, Shoot The Bull and Sri Non Thai. 

Chow Down's Winter Village saw the space transformed for the festive season with foodie options from Bastards Bistro.
Images: The Hoot Leeds

The Tipple Cocktail Bar has also had a makeover and will be serving up the perfect pint and speciality cocktails to sip inside the bigger-than-ever space.

Matt Long, Founder Chow Down and New Citizens, is excited about the return of Chow Down for 2023:  “With the opening of our brand-new urban garden, which will be the ideal spot to soak up the sun this summer, I expect a very busy season. In addition to our own Taco & Tequila weekender, we will be hosting a number of new events this season, such as Guilty Pleasures, Floating Art, the Battle of the Burger, the Wings fest in collaboration with Leeds Indie Food, and the Wings fest.”

Read More:

Chow Down will open on Thursday 6 April 2023 to mark the beginning of the long Easter bank holiday weekend, running from Thursday - Sunday until the end of August.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday 17 March for the first eight weeks of events. Chow Down scrapped its entry and booking fees last year, so although you can reserve a table down at Temple Arches to check out the new venue, walk-ins will also be accepted.

You can find out more about Chow Down 2023 and book tickets here.

Feature Image- Chapter 81

News

Inside Leeds’ new neighbourhood bakehouse from the team behind Silver’s Deli

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Silver's Bakehouse is finally here, and it's just as fabulous as we'd hoped.

Just when you thought Leeds’ favourite sandwich spot couldn't get any better, they go and open a bakery.

Silver's Bakehouse has opened its beautiful pastel green doors today over in Farsley to queues of excited fans eager to get their first taste.

So, what's on offer at Silver's Bakehouse?

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Well, as masterminds of the almighty sandwich you'll be happy to know you can still get one here. However, their iconic sub sarnies have had an Italian makeover and are now served in fresh, springy sourdough which is baked onsite.

Elsewhere on the menu you'll find brown butter buttermilk brownies (try saying that three times), a range of delicious cookies, sausage rolls, soft amaretti biscuits and Dark Arts tiramisu.

There's also a fab selection of Italian drinks on offer in a swanky new fridge, as well as a coffee menu so you can pick a brew to go hand in hand with your chosen baked good.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The interior is just as gorgeous, complete with yellow walls, red tiles and a mirror hanging above the baker's table so you can really see all the magic happen.

And trust us, it is magic.

There's a couple of benches outside so you can plonk yourself in the sunshine to enjoy your sarnie, which is what we'll be doing in this glorious bank holiday sunshine.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

You can really tell this is a proper labour of love, and Chris and the team have done a cracking job of keeping that Silver's spirit in there.

Go and say hello to congratulate them on this fabulous new opening, it's a great addition to Farsley and the Leeds foodie scene.

Read more: An Italian-American ‘paninoteca’ and diner serving stacked subs has opened in Leeds

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

News

Government to slash prices of bus travel, cinema tickets and LOADS more across UK for kids this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Cinema tickets, trips to the theatre and the zoo, and children’s meals out are all set to be cheaper than ever this summer.

That’s because the Government has announced its newest initiative, Great British Summer Savings, which means that from 25 June through to 1 September 2026, a temporary reduced rate of VAT – down from 20% to 5% – will be introduced on children’s meals in restaurants and family leisure activities over the summer period.

Children’s meals served in restaurants, children’s and family tickets for the cinema, theatre, exhibitions, shows, and concerts, and admission tickets – for both children and adults – to a wide range of different attractions will be eligible for the discount.

Whether you want to visit an amusement park, fairs, circuses, museums, zoos, adventure parks, soft play centre, or something similar this summer, it just got a whole lot cheaper.

This aim of this initiative is to make family days out more affordable, while also supporting businesses through increased footfall.  

The Government says it will work with eligible businesses to get the scheme ‘up and running’.

The Government is slashing the prices of cinema tickets, bus travel, and LOADS more across UK for kids this summer / Credit: Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash) | Supplied

And to make it even better, this is a UK-wide initiative, so no matter where you are in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the reduced rate will apply.

Going one step further, there will also be free bus travel for children aged between five and 15 in England in August, helping to support families getting out and about this summer. 

The Government says the Great British Summer Savings initiative supports the action it has already taken to reduce the cost of living – including cutting energy bills, freezing prescription charges, protecting motorists from fuel duty increases, and raising the minimum wage.

Businesses will be able to apply the 5% rate of VAT on eligible sales between 25 June and 1 September 2026.

Read more: Leeds zoo named one of the best in the country as it receives national mark of excellence by experts

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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