Chow Down is back for 2023 - and it promises to be its biggest year yet.
From new residence kitchens bringing slow roasted meats and sensational seasonal dishes to Temple Arches to the biggest garden in the city centre with huge new events like Battle of the Burger and Wings Fest - there’s really something for every occasion this summer.
Opening from Thursday 6 April and running all the way through until the end of August, Chow Down promises to bring the summer season to life with seemingly endless selections of dog-friendly events, drag brunches and Guilty Pleasures nights - it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Chow Down’s 2023 return, including all the new features and how to grab tickets or reserve a seat down at the much-loved Temple Arches event space.
Image: Chapter 81
New for 2023
The new space is tipped to the biggest garden in the city centre - and there's going to be a whole lot of space to spread out under the arches this year. Now you could find a cosy corner under shelter to while away the evening cocktail in hand, but this new green space is going to be the ideal space to soak in the summer sun and feel the heat on your back whilst watching the sun go down.
The cocktail bar has also had a refurb ready for the summer season - and you can expect a whole host of speciality cocktails at the new Tipple Cocktail Bar. Naturally, there will also be the known-and-loved summer staples like an Aperol Spritz to while the night away too.
Food and Drink
This year, there will be two resident kitchens and a huge range of rotating street food trucks to tuck into all summer long.
Bastards Bistro
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Following the success of the winter Chow Down season, Bastards Bistro is back for 2023 - and bringing a brand new menu to Temple Arches. The popular foodie pop-up was loved last year for gravy-drenched festive fries and burgers - but as spring turns to summer, Bastards Bistro promises to bring a whole host of new seasonal-inspired dishes - and we can’t wait.
Announcing the news last week, the foodies behind Bastards Bistro have said: "Back at our fav spot with a jukebox full of classics / best sellers & new shit to get your chops round all spring & summer! MENU LOADING . . . ."
Braizin' Squad
Image: Braizin Squad
New for this year, slow roasted foodies Braizin' Squad will be joining Bastards Bistro under the arches all summer long - and whilst the menu is yet to be announced, judging by the chef's recent success over in Meanwood we're in for a real treat.
Having been commended by both The Observer and ranking in the Top 15 Sunday Roasts in the UK from Rate Good Roasts for their sell-out slow roasted Sunday dinners, Braizin' Squad may not have been on the Leeds foodie scene for long, but they're certainly making a huge impact.
Announcing the news, Braizin' Squad said that they're "Reyt excited to announce our residency @chowdownuk right next to our big mushy @bastardsbistro! Can't wait to start slingin some proper smokey scran your way this spring!"
Street Kitchen takeovers
Homeboy Pizza Co. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Little Bao Boys. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Throughout the summer season, the street food trucks will host an ever-changing selection that brings some of Leeds' most loved pop-ups to Chow Down, along with plenty new vendors to try out.
Expect Little Bao Boys to bring vegan and meat-filled steamed baos with Little Red Food Cluck offering fried chicken goodness to the masses (with plenty of GF options).
Meanwhile Archchi's has a traditional Sri Lankan menu that's inspired by their own family recipes, Homeboy Pizza Co. will return with a curated menu of wood fire pizzas and bringing street food from around the world with South Korean flavours, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen will also be at the arches this summer.
But if all this isn't enough, you can expect to see the likes of Igloo Pizza, Oi Dumplings, Niko’s Comfort Kitchen, Cluck n Dough, Colombo Street, Fire & Dough, Nasi Lemak, Nikos Comfort Kitchen, Shoot The Bull and Sri Non Thai too.
Events
In addition to the day-to-night parties, copious cocktails and unlimited tunes - all these events have been announced so far for 2023.
Drag Brunch
Images: Chapter 81
Camp Presents... Drag Brunch is back for 2023, and given there's a 100% sell-out rate, don't hang about before booking these. The afternoon occasions sees some of CAMP's best kings and queens take the stage, with a different theme (like Beyonce and Lady Gaga) at each occasion.
Hosted by Sue Pertrouper, there's two events in the diary you can choose from at present, with plenty more to follow across the summer season.
Book Drag Brunch on Saturday 8 April here or Saturday 6 May here.
Bingo Lingo
Image: Chow Down
Another event brought back due to popular demand, Bingo Lingo promises to be nothing like your average game at Mecca. Expect stage battles, non-stop party anthems and some seriously silly prizes, all whilst seeing if you can get yourself a full house.
Tickets cost from £10 each, with the first two events on Saturday 22 April and Friday 19 May on sale now here.
Dog Social
Image: Chow Down
If your wanting to find a space to hang out with your four-legged friend, then the return of the Dog Social is the perfect opportunity to check out Chow Down. Along with supplying treats, doggy ice cream and the perfect garden space for your dogs to unwind in the sunshine, Chow Down will also host competitions for the best dressed dog, amongst other exciting categories.
The first Dog Social will be held on Friday 7 April, with free entry, but booking on the Chow Down website here is always recommended to avoid disappointment.
Guilty Pleasures
Image: Guilty Pleasures
A northern favourite is coming to Leeds for an unforgettable night of pop party tunes. From that era where you'll find "umbrella-era Rihanna downs shots with Whitney Houston, while Taylor Swift doesn’t stop moving to the funky funky beat with S Club 7 and Katy Perry loses it over the fact that Backstreet is back, all right? Not actually, but you know what we mean."
The first Guilty Pleasures night will be held on Friday 12 May, but Chow Down promises plenty more nights of non-stop pop hits throughout the summer. Tickets cost from £10 each, with three different arrival times, all of which are available to book here.
Leeds Indie Food Presents... Wings Fest
Images: Chow Down
Leeds Indie Food, the biggest food festival organisers in Leeds, will be bringing a weekend of all things wings at the aptly named Wings Fest in May. From 19-21 May, a feast of wings from far and wide will be available down at the arches- with free entry too.
Traders are yet to be announced, but you can reserve your table for the weekend here to avoid disappointment.
How to get tickets
Chow Down opens from Thursday 6 April 2023. / Image: Chapter 81
Last year, Chow Down made the decision to open entry up to all without needing to worry about putting down a deposit or reservation fee - however, if you're looking to visit during busy times (think weekends especially) then you're always best reserving a table to avoid disappointment.
You can book your table on the Chow Down website here, and find out more about how to book the ticketed events like Bingo Lingo here too.
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End of an era as historic Leeds pub announces shock closure with ‘heavy heart’
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
We’re In Love (Actually) at Lawrence Batley Theatre – romance is actually around each and every one of us | Review
Declan Kelly
Love is so much more than a rental Rom-Com movie.
Before heading off to Goole, we managed to catch We're In Love (Actually) stop off at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield on Thursday 24 September, giving audiences the chance to experience the latest work from Dark Horse as a northern-based theatre group.
If you don’t know much about Dark Horse Theatre Company, then I guess it’s time to find out.
The company shines a light on brilliant creatives with learning disabilities, challenging perceptions while giving its actors the opportunity to showcase exactly what they can do. Dark Horse premieres original work created by an ensemble of nine actors and theatre makers, while also providing vocational training to help actors with learning disabilities develop their skills and prepare for the industry.
Image: Supplied
And what better way to showcase that creativity than with a hilarious, heartwarming and wonderfully nostalgic love letter to the rom-com?
Set inside a video store on its opening day, We’re In Love (Actually) sees the staff quickly realise that their customers only seem to want one thing: romance films. The problem? There aren't any.
So, naturally, they decide to make their own.
From the moment the lights go up, the production transports us back to the nostalgia of video stores, where choosing a film was once an event in itself. The set creates that familiar Blockbuster feeling, with a huge screen hanging above the stage that helps transform the video store into a live film set.
And this small-scale production has a surprisingly huge creative pull. The staff begin piecing together their own romance film, taking inspiration from Titanic and Romeo and Juliet to Notting Hill, Love Actually and Pride and Prejudice.
Image: Supplied
The multimedia is one of the production's biggest strengths. Mark Craven live films many of the romance scenes on stage, with the action projected onto the screen above in real time.
It’s such a simple technique, but it makes the production feel so much bigger than its scale. Watching the actors create these cinematic moments while simultaneously seeing them appear on screen gives the show a real theatrical edge. There’s even a touch of Katie Mitchell in the way live performance and filmmaking are brought together, and honestly, it feels like the sort of inventive technique that wouldn’t look out of place on the National Theatre stage.
But we aren't just watching it happen - we're part of it.
From singing along to Céline Dion to playing a game of finding a movie star from the audience, the production constantly breaks the fourth wall and brings everyone into the story.
Image: Supplied
And this only adds another layer of comedy.
The cast have a brilliant sense of comic timing, with the character dynamics creating plenty of laughs throughout. Juliet, played by Rebekah Hill, is a particular standout, leading the ensemble with plenty of personality and leading lady talent. One of the highlights for me was her singing, getting the audience involved to then suddenly declare, “Just me, now”, is something that had me belly laughing.
One of my favourite moments is actually one of the simplest. The cast begin naming off romance films, only for Eve, played by Meghan Denton, to shoot them all down because apparently nobody wants to watch romance films.
And it got me thinking: are these sorts of films becoming dated? Do they give us false representations of what love actually is? We see a love story within this production between Rebekah Hill's character Juliet and Joe Sproulle’s Leo, and honestly I ship every moment.
But the question sits underneath the comedy throughout the production around the idea of love.
Then comes the second act, which kicks off with a full The Full Monty number - and what a way to start.
The production continues its journey through Notting Hill, Love Actually and Pride and Prejudice, before giving us the obligatory love triangle, because what would a rom-com be without one?
Image: Supplied
Rob, played by Mark Craven, gets his own Love Actually-inspired moment with the iconic handwritten signs for Juliet, and it’s exactly the kind of cheesy romantic moment you want from a production like this.
But underneath all the jokes, film references and romance anthems, there’s a much bigger message.
Towards the end, Eve begins to question the idea of love we so often see portrayed on screen. Because, actually, those perfect cinematic romances aren't always what love looks like in real life.
Love can come in all different forms. It can be romantic, but it can also be platonic. It can be found in family, friendship, community and in the people around us.
Romance is actually around each and every one of us - and that feels like the perfect message for this production.
But with Dark Horse behind it, there’s another layer that makes the whole thing feel even more important. It gives a group of actors who you might not always see taking centre stage the opportunity to lead a production, showcase their talents and, quite simply, have a bloody good time doing it.
And you know what? It’s pure joy.
Every actor who graces that stage deserves their flowers, and this production genuinely left me wanting more.
I think this is a production everyone needs to see. It shines such a bright light on the incredible talent on that stage, and it’s exactly the sort of work regional theatres such as Leeds Playhouse should be looking at when programming their seasons.
Representation, and more importantly visible representation, is beyond important. Seeing actors with learning disabilities leading a production, making an audience laugh and completely owning the stage shouldn’t feel like a rarity, it should be something we see far more often.
We’re In Love (Actually) doesn’t just give these actors a platform; it gives them the space to completely own it.
Showing at Goole Junction on 30 September - 1 October, tickets are available here.
Sophie Smith -
30th March 2023 
