A Polish bakery in the West of Leeds had a record day for sales on Thursday, as hundreds of its doughnuts flew off the shelves in the name of 'Fat Thursday'.
Karpaty Polish bakery in Armley saw local residents flock to its doors as they stocked up on sugary treats like rose petal and plum jam-filled doughnuts ahead of Lent.
Fat Thursday or, as it is known in Poland, Tłusty Czwartek, is a day when people typically treat themselves to their favourite pastries and other sweet treats ahead of the religious period of abstention.
Karpaty
The bakery is hugely popular with local residents, as was shown yesterday when it sold over 1,000 of its doughnuts in just four hours.
Sandra Draszanowska, 22, who works at the bakery told the Yorkshire Evening Postyesterday that the bakery had been open since 7am and they had had queues spilling out of the doors and down the street all morning.
Image: Karpaty
She told the paper that she couldn't believe how busy the shop had been and that it was her first shift working on Fat Thursday, adding "Both Polish and English customers have been in, everyone loves it".
As well as their rose petal and plum jam doughnuts, another popular treat enjoyed at Karpaty on Fat Thursday were angel wings or Polish Chrusciki.
A key element of the Fat Thursday tradition, these treats are also a popular sweet enjoyed all over Poland all year long.
Crusty angel wings (Faworki) at Karpaty bakery. / Image: Karpaty
Made from wheat flour, eggs, margarine, sugar, salt, sour cream, alcohol, vinegar, these traditional sweet crisp pastries are made from dough that has been shaped into thin twisted ribbons, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
People travelled from far and wide to get their treats, with one customer saying he had come all the way from Bramley to pick up doughnuts for his family.
Called Stan, he said he had lived in the UK for 13 years but still loved to celebrate Fat Thursday.
Speaking to the YEP, he said: "All the family love different flavours."
"I always come to Karpaty as their doughnuts are absolutely huge.
"I live in Bramley but make the trip.
"It is definitely worth it."
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Inside Sheffield’s new supersize JD Sports Store that has just opened in Meadowhall
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Georgina Pellant -
25th February 2022 
