For the first time ever, Kirkstall Abbey has announced it will be charging tourists an entry free.
Out-of-town visitors to the 12th-century monastery will be asked to pay £5 to gain admittance as the cash-strapped council looks for new ways to raise funds.
Kirkstall Abbey is a hugely popular tourist attraction for those who live close to Leeds, and it's expected that the charge could raise an additional £160,000 for the council
Admission for local residents, meanwhile, will continue to be free - with Loiners now being asked to provide proof of address with them when they visit.
Read more:Kirkstall Abbey claps back at review that complains it has “no roof”
The council has been told it needs to save £64.5m next year but has promised to put some of the funds raised back into the 870-year-old site.
Plans for improvement at Kirkstall Abbey include a new on-site cafe and new audio tours, which the new fees will help pay for.
Leeds city council deputy leader Jonathan Pryor said that Kirkstall Abbey was a "treasured part of the city's heritage" and that the council's finances had required it to come up with "innovative and creative ways" to protect the site.
He added that the council had "consulted broadly with the public both in and out of Leeds".
However, some families have vowed to 'boycott' the abbey over the news that an admission fee will be charged.
Initially, the fee was going to be set at £8 but following consultations that showed it to be unpopular it was dropped to £5 instead.
The abbey was first built by monks in 1152 on gifted land and was used as a residence until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.
Today it might appear as a ruin, leading one visitor to complain last summer that it 'has no roof', but in spite of this it is still considered to be one of the most complete Cistercian monasteries in Britain.
Feature image – Tim Green
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New and improved LEGO store with Yorkshire-inspired models announces opening date
The 456sq m store will give shoppers the chance to fully immerse themselves in the world of LEGO building.
No matter what age, you just can't beat a bit ot LEGO.
And it's safe to say that excitement is well and truly building (get it?) as the LEGO Group has announced its new store will open at Trinity Leeds on Thursday April.
To celebrate the opening there will be specially-designed, Yorkshire-inspired LEGO models available to see and pose with on launch day.
The new and improved store will include a LEGO Pick a Brick Wall, where shoppers can search for the perfect piece to complete their masterpiece, start a brand-new build, or customise an existing LEGO set.
Images: Supplied
There will also be free build challenges and events in-store, as well as a create your own LEGO Minifigures area giving customers the chance to mix and match from a wide selection of pieces, with ‘Brick Specialists' on hand to offer expert advice.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: “The new LEGO store is bigger and better than ever before with some incredible interactive elements that will allow creativity and imaginations to flourish. As the only LEGO store in West Yorkshire, it has already proved incredibly popular here at Trinity Leeds, and this new store will bring even more of what LEGO fans love.”
The new LEGO store comes alongside a whole host of new openings inside Trinity, including schuh, Jerk Junction, Lane7 and Footasylum.
Award-wining Leeds sandwich shop Silver’s Deli to open neighbourhood bakehouse
Clementine Hall
Silver's Deli is opening up a sister shop, and this time it's about everything baked.
We all know and love Silver's Deli for their stacked subs and breakfast sandwiches that could cure any hangover no matter how severe.
They're so good, that they even bagged the coveted Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Award last year.
And rightly so, because Silver's is absolutely class.
And it seems there's just no stopping Silver's, as they've just announced that they'll be opening a sister shop named Silver's Bakehouse serving up everything, yep you guessed it, baked.
It'll also be in Farsley where the original Silver's is, and they're labelling the new venture as 'your neighbourhood bake shop'.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Silver's Deli said: "Well it’s happening. I said no more shops, but it’s kinda necessary, and I just love all things baked.
"There’s waaaaaaaaay too many details to share on this right now, but go give our sister shop @silvers_bakehouse a new follow and hold on tight. This is gonna be fun as fuck."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Customers can expect a wider range of Silver's goodies that they're unable to whip up in the current space. From soft amaretti biscuits and their famous cookies to sausage rolls and brownies that the team have been working on for 12 months.
We're in no doubt that this venture is going to be absolutely brilliant, and you best believe we'll be first in line to try one of those brownies.
Silver's Bakehouse will be located on Town Street in Farsley and is expected to open this May.
Georgina Pellant -
11th May 2022 
