Everything you could possibly want from a mate or date night, all under one roof.
Located less than half an hour from Leeds city centre you'll find one of Yorkshire's favourite hangout spots to eat-drink-play and everything in between.
Regardless of whether you're looking for an activity to fill a rainy day with the kids; a first or fiftieth date or just a treat that'll keep every single one of your mates entertained, when we say there's plenty to do here - we really do mean it.
There are plenty of choices to fill your day, including screen treats, bowling feats and loads of places for eats. Take your chances in the escape room and see if you can beat the clock or try a round of crazy golf before ending the day with cocktails- the combinations really are endless.
Catching a movie is a must at Cineworld. Grab the obligatory popcorn and unwind with the latest blockbuster movie or experience the world’s first multi-projection immersive cinema auditorium where the 270-degree viewing experience surrounds you in your seat!
Image: Xscape Yorkshire
For those looking for something different, the 4DX cinema is revolutionising the experience and brings special effects like wind, fog and scents into screen- and that’s before you've experienced the high-tech motion seats that truly immerse you in the movie.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of an escape artist, or just want the opportunity to test out your detective skills, The Escapologist is the perfect activity for all ages. Take on one of their four escape rooms and follow it up with one of their delicious mocktails or cocktails in the beautiful bar area – there is even Harry Potter potions for the kids.
Image: The Hoot Leeds / Xscape Yorkshire
There's also plenty of adventures for aspiring Tiger Woods': expect two types of crazy golf, try out 4D glow-in-the-dark Adventure Golf or travel back in time to the pre-historic age at Volcano Falls just watch out for the giant T-Rex.
If that's not enough, there's Gravity Aerial Adventures, Urban Climbing Walls and Trampoline Park; Laser Zone; Snozone; Tenpin Bowling; ImmotionVR and the FunStation games arcade.
Food and Drink offerings
There are some seriously exciting foodie options here too.
For the ultimate burger feast, look no further than Friday's Ultimate Cheese Dipper Burger, it's basically two beef burger patties piled high with a huge gooey offering of cheese, bacon and even some mozzarella sticks between three burger buns.
The Ultimate Cheese Dipper Burger from Fridays. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those looking for the perfect sharing board to end an intimate evening will be drooling over the Ask Italian selection.
Expect cured meats alongside a selection of cheeses and a huge burrata for picking alongside other authentic Italian favourites like pizzas, pastas and salads aplenty.
Antipasti Sharing Board from Ask Italian / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Round off your meal with a dessert from sweet-tooth specialists, Heavenly Desserts.
Whilst Nutella and strawberry on pancakes is that classic sweet treat combo and the perfect end to the week, there's also cookie dough served with milk chocolate sauce and vanilla gelato or a full menu of signature waffles, cheesecake and crumble to choose from- all of which come highly recommended.
Chocolate Crepe from Heavenly Desserts. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
If these options aren't enough to satisfy your chosen company, there's still almost 20 different places to grab a bite to eat or drink away the evening at the likes of Bella Italia, Burger King, Dominos, Five Guys, Nando's, Pizza Express, Pollo to Go, Taco Bell and Wetherspoons.
How to get there
Xscape Yorkshire is in Castleford, less than half an hour from Leeds city centre, making it an accessible option for commuters to access day and night, and escape the bustle of the city centre with ease.
If you're driving, leave the M62 at Junction 32 and follow the Xscape signs, you can see the image for car parking spots highlighted in yellow with the overflow carpark highlighted in green.
Follow the dotted line to find parking. / Image: Xscape Yorkshire
At the main roundabout directly in front of the Centre take the 4th exit for our Main Car Park. Postcode WF10 4TA. Car parks highlighted in yellow (overflow green).
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Leeds
The Leeds bakery serving up fresh pastries straight from their backyard
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Here’s five of the best new openings coming to Leeds this year
Clementine Hall
We're almost half way through the year, so let's see what else we've got to look forward to...spoiler alert, it's a lot.
So far we've had everything from ice bath cafes to listening bars open up in Leeds, and it seems like 2026 is the gift that keeps on giving.
Allow us to get you excited about what's coming to the city...
Dishoom
68–78 Vicar Lane, LS1 7JH
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one is a biggun' as the ever so popular Indian restaurant is set to open this August in a beautiful Grade-II listed building on Vicar Lane which was formerly Flannels.
First opening in London, Dishoom now has restaurants dotted all over the UK including a huge site in Manchester. The group is famed for its lavish and grand interiors, as well as its home-style curries, grills and breakfasts including its legendary bacon naans.
Acai and the Tribe
88 Vicar Lane
Image: The Manc Group
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
This Japanese restaurant serves a menu full of sushi as well as grilled meats on sticks, sharing sides and build-your-own hand rolls. All of this is wrapped up in the most gorgeous interior, which you can see from their jaw dropping new Manchester site.
Occupying the Grade II-listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat. Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June.
Okay, this one might not be happening this year...but we still had to mention it so please forgive us.
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Sophie Smith -
28th June 2022 
