A bird's-eye view of Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire
X
News
Kirkstall Abbey claps back at review that complains it has “no roof”
“Having visited Westminster Abbey in London, I found this one a severe disappointment. Maybe I'll return another time and hope they've finished it” said the anonymous review.
A tourist in Leeds has had a bit of a shock this week after visiting Kirkstall Abbey to discover it has no roof. Completely outrageous behaviour, we're sure you'll agree, from a historic monastery that was destroyed during the reign of Henry VIII.
Writing under the moniker of Tripod, the anonymous tourist complains that having visited Westminster Abbey in London, they found Kirkstall a "disappointment" and that they would return "another time and hope they've finished it.”
They also shared their dismay that it had been left open to the elements for years - adding it was unfit for any monk to live, even one with "Bear Grylls-style survival skills."
Then they finished by throwing shade at Leeds City Council for slacking on the upkeep. Because clearly, that is the problem here.
An amused team at the Abey replied, delivering an impromptu history lesson to reviewer 'Tripod'.
Elaine F, General Manager at Kirkstall Abbey, wrote: “You are indeed correct when you say it is a ruin. It is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
“The abbey was begun in 1152 and by 1182 the greatest of the buildings still standing today had been built, such as the church and chapterhouse.
“In 1534, Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII Head of the Church of England.
“Henry chose to abolish all religious houses in England because of their connection to the Catholic Church and their allegiance to the Pope. These events later became known as the ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries’.
“On 22 November 1539 the king’s agents entered the abbey’s chapterhouse, where, in the presence of all the monks, Abbot John Ripley signed the deed of surrender.138329043104
“With the monks gone the abbey grounds were sold and many of the stones used to build the abbey were recycled for other local building projects.
“We may not have a roof but we think we're the loveliest abbey ruins around! Best wishes from the team at Kirkstall Abbey..”
Feature image - Tim Green
News
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
15th July 2021 
