There will be a family-fun day of free activities on Saturday 14 May 2022 to mark the occasion.
After what feels like an eternal road works sign outside Leeds Corn Exchange and Call Lane, Leeds City Council has confirmed that the multi-million pound developments are now complete.
The facelift has included introducing new seating areas, trees and sandstone paving to make the area more attractive, as well as a spot that's able to welcome nature and act as an accessible area for city commuters, shoppers and visitors with respective interest.
Forming an important part of a public realm scheme and a major package of Connecting Leeds highways improvements, (included as a component of the £173.5 million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme), we reckon just about everyone in the city centre will be excited to see the removal of the construction and reveal the end product.
As part of the work, new bus, cycle and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure has been put in place in the area around the Corn Exchange, but this also continues across the wider city centre too.
The public realm initiatives have worked in tandem with the construction on Meadow Lane, Cookridge Street and Greek Street, and according to Leeds City Council "underline the council’s commitment to giving Leeds a greener, better connected and more inclusive city centre."
Marking the occasion this Saturday 14 May 2022, a day of free entertainment and activities suitable for all ages will take place at the new construction-free site outside the Corn Exchange.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
“The Corn Exchange is one of the jewels in Leeds’s crown and we are so pleased that it now has the high-quality setting that it deserves.
“The creation of the public space and the improvements to local roads will give the area an exciting new lease of life while at the same time encouraging active travel. People-focused infrastructure projects like these will also make our city more investable and help unlock its full commercial potential.
“We are very grateful for the support and patience shown by residents and businesses, including the city’s bus operators, while the work has taken shape.
“Saturday’s celebration event will be a great way to showcase the changes that have been made. It promises to be a real day to remember.”
Nearly 1,750 square metres of public realm has been created outside the Corn Exchange by upgrading two existing pedestrian areas and removing the stretch of Call Lane that runs between New Market Street and Crown Street.
Feature Image- Leeds City Council
Leeds
A breathtaking giant sculpture of the sun has arrived in Yorkshire for the summer
A giant model of the sun is now illuminated in Wakefield.
The sun has arrived in Wakefield… and we’re not just referring to that one that’s popped up in the sky at long last (sort of).
We’re taking about Helios, the amazing art installation that’s about to stop off at Wakefield Exchange as it tours around the UK.
Created by renowned artist, Luke Jerram, the beautiful art piece measures a whopping seven-metres in diameter and has been created using images captured by NASA.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Helios builds on the success of Luke Jerram’s previous installations in Wakefield, including the hugely popular Museum of the Moon.
With its striking scale and rich scientific detail,the artwork provides a safe and captivating way to encounter the Sun up close, highlighting everything from solar flares to the phenomena that created the unforgettable Northern Lights visible across the UK in 2024.
Stepping beneath the breathtaking glowing sculpture, audiences can experience an atmospheric fusion of solar imagery, sunlight and a specially commissioned surround‑sound composition that brings the science and mystery of our nearest star vividly to life.
Alongside the striking sun instillation, Wakefield Exchange will present a full programme of free, family‑friendly, space‑themed activities throughout the summer.
Visitors can enjoy hands‑on workshops, creative crafts, dressing‑up sessions and playful drop‑in experiences.
Helios will be hosted by Wakefield Exchange from Friday 12 June until Sunday 6 September 2026, and you can find out more here on their website.
Grassroots Leeds music venue secures long-term future as part of community ownership scheme
Clementine Hall
Northern Guitars in Leeds has had its long-term future secured after the building has been purchased as part of a nationwide community ownership initiative.
If you've ever been on a night out on Call Lane, then you will know of (or have heard) Northern Guitars.
It's about as grassroots as it gets, a proper intimate venue supporting artists of all levels.
And now the much-loved city centre venue, which has become a staple of Leeds' music scene, is one of the latest independent music venues to benefit from a scheme designed to protect cultural spaces from the pressures of the commercial property market.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been acquired by community benefit society Music Venue Properties (MVP), an organisation set up by the Music Venue Trust to buy the buildings occupied by grassroots venues and rent them back to operators on long-term agreements.
The move means the brilliant Northern Guitars can continue doing what it does best without the uncertainty that often comes with being in an increasingly challenging landscape.
MVP was launched in 2022 in response to the growing number of grassroots venues disappearing across the UK. According to the organisation, more than a third of the country's grassroots music venues have closed over the last two decades, with many struggling due to short-term leases and rising property costs.
Since launching, MVP has raised more than £7 million through community investment and funding, using the money to secure permanent homes for venues that play a vital role in nurturing emerging artists and supporting local music scenes.
This is a proper win for Northern Guitars and we're absolutely chuffed to know that they'll be going absolutely nowhere.
Sophie Smith -
12th May 2022 
