Get ready for the most colourful event of the year, because Leeds Holi Festival 2024 is back.
Holi Festival, known as the Festival of Colours , is a joyous celebration of peace, love, happiness and equality through live music and bright colours.
The beloved festival has grown exponentially since its inception in 2016 and is now hailed as the biggest open air colour festival in the UK.
This year it is set to be bigger and better than ever before, once again uniting cultures and spreading love and positivity through music, colours, and street food.
Image: Leeds Holi Festival
The journey began in 2016 when Leeds' first Holi Festival saw 230 Holi lovers paint the town, followed by 1200 people in 2022 which proudly earned Leeds the title of the "Biggest Colour Festival in Yorkshire".
And it didn't stop there, a whopping 2700+ people gathered last year, hailing from various cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and walks of life, to celebrate the festival.
And we are certain it's only going to get even bigger this coming March, as the festival is expecting to host over 5,000 guests.
Image: Leeds Holi Festival
This year, the festival has been extended to a two-day extravaganza and is set to light up the iconic Beaver Works venue on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March from 12.30 to 8pm.
The Sunday will be a special day dedicated to families, specifically children, with the addition of family-friendly activities including bouncy castles and funfair rides.
The joyous celebration is globally renowned for the colourful powders friends and families throw at each other, as well as well as the serving of street food, live DJs and performances right in the heart of the city.
Image: Leeds Holi Festival
Red is the sign of love, yellow is synonymous with healing properties, blue is the colour of Lord Krishna and green symbolises new beginnings. Through the use of these vibrant colours, Leeds Holi Festival aims at bringing different cultures together with different genres of music under one roof.
British-Indian singer-songwriter, Jaz Dhami, will be headlining the event and providing the ultimate party tracks for guests to dance all day
Eshaan Kapoor, founder of Leeds Holi Festival said: "We owe our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed sponsors who have made this journey possible. Our valued partners include Kirkstall Brewery, Slingsby Gin, and the culinary delights of Punjabi Heaven restaurant for a mouthwatering street food experience.
Image: Leeds Holi Festival
"The colours that will light up the festival are proudly sponsored by the renowned Ministry of Colours, ensuring they are herbal and skin-friendly. Leeds Holi Festival is more than just a festival; it’s about finding the right partners who believe in our vision and share our passion for bringing cultures together.
"It’s all about celebrating Yorkshire, embracing the spirit of Leeds, and collaborating with like-minded individuals to grow this festival into a colossal event, with the goal of hosting 20,000 attendees in the next 3 years."
Tickets are on sale now, and you can buy yours here on the Leeds Holi Festival website.
This modern restaurant in the heart of Leeds is redefining how we enjoy Indian cuisine.
If you haven't already dined at Kerala Canteen, then you are sincerely missing out.
Offering South Indian dining like you've never seen before, Kerala Canteen is the world's first Kerala tapas restaurant where guests can enjoy multiple dishes in one sitting.
And it's not just us who thinks it's class, the restaurant has earned recognition as one of the Top 100 Indian Restaurants in the UK, ranked among the Top 3 Indian restaurants in Leeds & Yorkshire, and awarded Best Restaurant by North Magazine — cementing its reputation as one of the region’s most exciting culinary destinations.
Image: Supplied
So, how does it work? Kerala Canteen isn't your traditional curry house, but the concept means you get to try more of the menu in one go.
Guests are encouraged to start with small plates and move onto curry bowls before sharing a biryani per person and ending with a delicious dessert.
The kitchen is led by renowned chef Bobby Geetha, known for appearances on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu.
Image: Supplied
Working alongside him is Abdulkhader Allingal Siddique, whose Michelin-starred kitchen background and deep-rooted Kerala heritage promise authenticity.
Together, they make the perfect dream team in the kitchen.
There's a huge selection of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu too so no one in your party has to miss out, with dishes like the chilli and tamarind cauliflower and gunpowder hasselback potatoes being standouts on the menu.
Visit on a Saturday and get involved in their iconic Bollywood Bottomless Brunch where for just £36 per person you can enjoy one bowl and one side alongside 90 minutes of free flowing drinks.
Image: Supplied
You can choose from prosecco, draught beer, cocktails, mocktails - trust us, the list is endless. And you can enjoy it all whilst bopping along to the best Bollywood beats. Find out more about the brunch here.
Visiting on a Sunday? You have to try their iconic T-Bone Sunday Roast experience, featuring a slow-braised T-bone steak finished in rich beef & bone marrow curry, paired with Yorkshire pudding and gunpowder potatoes. You'll never look at your mum's Sunday roast the same again.
Image: Supplied
Kerala Canteen also offers a private event space for your next big celebration that seats up to 100 guests with custom tapas menu and corporate dining packages available.
Located right next to Leeds Playhouse, it's the perfect spot for those visiting the city centre.
To book your table, take a look at Kerala Canteen's website - thank us later.
Salon Madre – the new tequila bar and pool hall that’s just opened in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
We’ve been waiting for this one and trust us, it’s just as good as we’d hoped.
If you’re a fan of a cheeky margarita, a taco and a bit of a boogie then this is the spot for you - and let’s be honest, who isn’t.
Introducing Salon Madre, made famous over in Manchester and now with another spot in Liverpool, think late nights fuelled by margaritas, cosy dates over tacos and lively game nights.
The new Leeds site is located on Wellington Street, perfect for those wrapping up work over on Wellington Place and looking to blow off some steam.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is huge, with floor to ceiling windows letting loads of light in during the day and plenty of red neon lights setting the vibe for the evening.
There's about 20 different variations of margaritas and tequilas on the menu, as well as fresh Mexican beers on tap if you're not ready for a shot just yet.
But it's not just about the drink, the food menu is top notch too.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
There's tacos and quesadillas all made with hand-pressed tortillas, twice-cooked chicken wings in a range of flavours from Mexican cola to Yucatan buffalo, and of course there's stacked nachos which are perfect for snacking on between sips of margarita.
If you're feeling competitive then they've got six pool tables as well as darts, and Lucha Libre on the big screens if you'd rather watch the play happen than play yourself.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Salon Madre will have DJs on in the evening and on a Friday and Saturday they'll even be open til 1am.
Welcome Salon Madre, we can't wait for this to become our new late-night party destination. You can take a look at their menu here.
Clementine Hall -
27th February 2024 
