The dates of this October’s Light Night Leeds have been changed.
The city is about to get illuminated once more, because Light Night Leeds is making a triumphant return once again.
But, if you saved the dates back in August when it was announced then you may want to dig out your diary again, as Leeds City Council have altered them.
After discussions with artists, stakeholders and sponsors, the decision has been taken to now hold this year’s annual cultural spectacular on Wednesday 22 October and Thursday 23 October.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Light Night Leeds was originally due to take place on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October.
The change has been made due to the scheduled Leeds United vs West Ham match, which takes place on the evening of Friday 24 October.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Both these occasions are of course hugely important for the city in different ways, and we want to do everything possible to ensure everyone attending them can have the best experience.
“Hosting such a high-profile match on the same evening as one of the biggest events in our city’s cultural calendar would put a massive pressure on the city’s public transport and road network and the sheer numbers of people expected in the city centre could also prove difficult to manage.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“That’s why we have decided to balance the needs of both fans and visitors by bringing Light Night Leeds forward by one day, which will hopefully ensure a fun and memorable cultural spectacle followed by a successful match day, with Leeds securing all three points.”
This year’s theme is Landmarks and will aim to celebrate some of the city’s historic civic buildings, modern architecture and public spaces as well as asking visitors to contemplate their own personal landmarks and the places which are important and memorable to them.
Key pieces will include an enchanting projection on the face of the iconic Queens Hotel celebrating 200 years of the modern railway.
An independent wine bar in Leeds city centre was broken into over the weekend.
And do you know what the sneaky thief stole? An empty bottle.
Latitude Wine Bar on The Calls issued a statement about the break in over the weekend, they said: "Some unscrupulous ______________ (insert expletives in the comments) decided to smash our window last night to grab a magnum of chartreuse out of our window.
"Obviously it was a dummy bottle, so more fool them, but it also makes this criminal damage more pointless. DON'T THEY KNOW HOW MUCH GLASS COSTS!?
"Well, this puts a real dampener on the month so if any one feels like popping in to buy a bottle in the shop or a glass in the bar or heading online to place an order this weekend it would really help to support an independent wine merchant and bar.
Images: Latitude Wine Bar
"Thank you to one of our customers who found the abandoned dummy bottle and returned it to us today. Legend! Santé and happy Friyay!"
So not only did the thief smash the window to steal an empty bottle, but they didn't even take it home with them.
In classic Leeds fashion, fellow indies flocked to the comments to support Latitude with many promising to pop in over the weekend for a glass or two.
One comment read: "Do you need a sign in your window saying “this is a dummy bottle you dummy”" whilst another said "Damned spit buckets! I’m sure we’ll be in soon, keep your chins up fam."
So if you've been meaning to pop in for a glass of the good stuff, there's no better time than the present.
Inside the new Leeds craft shop where you can make your own phone cases, water bottles, and notepads
Daisy Jackson
A new crafting paradise has opened in Leeds city centre, right in time for the summer holidays.
Happy Hour Workshop has already been a smash hit over in Greater Manchester, and now owner Lili has brought her playful and creative business over to Queens Arcade.
The brand-new, sunny yellow crafting destination has walls absolutely crammed with colourful supplies, with a big focus on the current trend of cream gel DIY.
The level of customisation here will send an indecisive person into a tailspin.
First you can choose the item you want to customise, whether it’s a mirror, a claw clip, a pencil case, a handheld fan, a phone case, a water bottle, a notepad, or just about any other useful item you can think of.
Then you’re let loose with a bowl and dream, to peruse the many, many drawers of colourful charms you can add to your chosen product.
There are literally thousands of charms - food items like hot dogs and ice cream cones; characters like Labubus and Minions; and adorable motifs like bows and rainbows.
The wall of craft suppliesThousands of charms to choose fromYou can customise a glass tumblerOr make a notepadOwner Lili outside Happy Hour Workshop Leeds
You could spell out your name with bubble letters, make a whole buffet’s worth of fake food items, design yourself a beautiful garden, or create a new world for the K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Your final step before heading to your craft station is to choose a colour cream gel, which you can pipe onto your item like icing a cake before wedging your charms into place.
As well as the charms, Happy Hour Workshop is offering other crafting experiences like bracelet making, money box painting, paint by numbers, slime making, and loads more to come.
You’ll find it at 9 Queens Arcade and it’s open now.
Clementine Hall -
5th September 2025 
