Join all your favourite small businesses in Leeds over Halloween weekend for an afternoon of tasty treats and early Christmas shopping.
In Leeds, we're pretty passionate about supporting small businesses.
After all, we do have a spectacular selection of bakeries, bars, gift shops, designers, creatives and more on offer in the city.
Whether it's championing the Yorkshire's finest brownies from The Savvy Baker or tucking into some delicious Chinese from Mans Markets, supporting your local is not only a great way to sample fresh dishes or get to know the latest trends, it's also good for the local economy.
According to a recent report, 63% of independent business’ profit goes back into the local economy.
The Savvy Baker will be hosting the small business event at their HQ but the amazing brownies are regularly available at pop-up locations across the city centre. / Image: The Savvy Baker
High Street stores give just 40% back, so why not head down to the Halloween Small Business Event in the city next weekend and find the city's latest hidden treasure.
On Saturday 30 October, the small business event will be hosting a wide range of Leeds-based companies, some of which only usually sell online.
Since there's nothing like seeing your online wish list basket in real life, this event is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself and get some early Christmas shopping out of the way without worrying about delivery delays.
Hosted by The Savvy Baker, there will be plenty of independent stores to choose from along with Arches Sweets, Burtz Drinks, The Cheesy Living Co. and you'll even be able to grab your caffeine fix from Kopi Coffee too.
Get in the spooky spirit with Halloween Face Painting and prizes for the best dressed dog in attendance.
There will be plenty of treats on hand for your furry friends too, with Pick N Tricks supplying dog-friendly biscuits that look so delicious, you'd easily mistake them for human treats.
There will also be the chance to check out Poppy's Potting Shed, The Resin Room and Thiccc Sauce on the day too.
Get down, support your locals and bring a genuine smile to a real company that cherish every order they receive.
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Sophie Smith -
20th October 2021 
