Leeds was found to be the city with the joint lowest pass rate for driving tests.
There's nothing quite like sitting your driving test. The shaky hands clutching on to 10 and 2 for dear life as you attempt three point turns whilst an instructor looks out for every mistake you could possibly make.
And whilst there's nothing like that euphoric feeling when you reach the end with a certificate in hand, it's certainly not an easy process.
For those sitting their test this month, car insurance searcher Compare The Market has revealed that this is actually the most promising month for hopeful future drivers, as it has the highest pass rate month of the year.
February has the highest pass rate of the year. / Image: Unsplash
Coming in with a 51.4% pass rate, February is officially the month learners are most likely to pass their test, followed by the spring months of April, March and May, which come with a pass rate between 49.3% and 50.9%.
Rank
Month
Pass rate (%)
1
February
51.4%
2
April
50.9%
3
March
50.4%
4
May
49.3%
5
July
49.1%
6
June
48.3%
7
August
48.1%
8
January
47.9%
9
September
47.1%
10
October
47%
11
November
46.8%
11
December
46.8%
Table: Comparethemarket
When considering the road conditions in the winter months, the study seems to make sense.
To come up with this list, the study used government driving test statistics from January 2017 - April 2022, before analysing the most popular cities for high pass rates.
However, the overall pass rate did vary between cities.
Leeds pass rate sits at 39%, according to the study. / Image: Unsplash
The city most likely to find a pass at the end of their driving test was found to be Cardiff with a 55% pass rate, closely followed by Bristol, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Manchester.
Leeds sits in joint last place of the studied cities, with a pass rate of 39%.
Rank
City
Pass rate
1
Cardiff
57%
2
Bristol
55%
3
Edinburgh
51%
4
Nottingham
49%
5
Manchester
46%
6
Sunderland
45%
6
London
45%
7
Sheffield
44%
8
Glasgow
43%
9
Coventry
42%
9
Liverpool
42%
9
Stoke-on-Trent
42%
10
Leicester
41%
11
Birmingham
39%
11
Leeds
39%
Table: Compare The Market
In some parts of the country, driving test wait times are as long as six months (still), and so the study notes there's more pressure for learner drivers to pass first time.
So what can be done to ensure that you can swap that red learner plate for a green one?
Gary Warrington, a Grade A driving instructor, revealed his expert tips on passing in winter:
Practice when the weather conditions aren’t perfect
Always allow plenty of space from the vehicles ahead of you
Make sure you know how to switch on the headlights and wipers of the vehicle you’re driving while remaining in full control
Never start driving with a misted-up front or rear windscreen – learn how to operate the controls to clear them and wait until you have full visibility before setting off (this is also important when sitting your test)
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around
Clementine Hall
A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.
There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.
The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.
The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.
The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.
Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”
They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."
We really couldn't agree more.
And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.
The Hoot -
16th February 2023 
