The Thackray Museum of Medicinehas received a special award at the European Museum of the Year following an outstanding year of exhibitions.
The Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds has been given a special commendation at European Museum of the Year by the European Forum.
The museum, located in Harehills, was commended for it's remarkable exhibition over the past year and its impressive community engagement.
The prestigious awards ceremony took place in Barcelona on Saturday 6 May 2023, with Thackray Museum of Medicine joining museums from across Europe to claim the prize.
The award praised the museum for being a 'transformative force for bringing together people of diverse backgrounds' as well as for creating 'meaningful connections and promoting social inclusion'.
Image: Supplied
2023 has been a transformative year for The Thackray Museum of Medicine, with a series of successful exhibitions and events drawing a record numbers of visitors.
The launch of the Private Parts exhibition in January, followed by the Behind the Microscope exhibition in February half-term and an incredible Easter holiday welcoming over 4,000 people, has helped the museum exceed its pre-Covid visitor numbers for the first time.
In addition to this, the museum's community space, The Core, has re-opened following a long-term residency with NHS partners, and the museum's partnership project with Leeds 2023 and Sable Radio, Culture Club, has been working with young people to explore the museum's collection.
Image: Thackray Museum of Medicine
Edward Appleyard, Chief Executive of Thackray Museum of Medicine said: "This is a tremendous honour and recognition of the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers, as well as the support of our local community.
"Our mission is to engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with the fascinating history of medicine and healthcare," Edward continued.
"We believe that our success in achieving this mission has been reflected in the record numbers of visitors we have welcomed this year and the positive feedback we have received from the local community. This award is a testament to the power of museums to educate, entertain, inspire and connect people from all walks of life."
To find out more about the museum and to plan your visit, take a look at their website.
A Leeds pub has been crowned one of the very best in the country by The Good Food Guide.
The trusted guide has just released its 100 Best Pubs in Britain list, and we're very chuffed with the results indeed.
Taking the coveted number three spot is our very own The Highland Laddie, a 100-year-old city centre institution that reopened in April 2025 in the hands of new owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton.
These guys also run the Empire Cafe, so you just know it's going to be good.
Last year they soared straight to the top of the list and were crowned the best pub in the whole of Britain by the guide.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This time, the Queen's Arms over in Eccles came number one followed by The Cow in Notting Hill.
We still think bagging third place is quite the achievement, and if you've visited The Highland Laddie yourself you'll know just how much of a special place it is.
Don't just take our word for it, The Good Food Guide labelled the Laddie as 'a true pub with a genuine community vibe'.
They also said: "Reenergised by the team behind the Empire Cafe in 2025, this is everything that a proper English pub should be – 'oh, and they have a mustard menu!'
"Inside, the Laddie ticks all the boxes, preserving the essentials of a traditional old-school boozer and maintaining a genuine sense of community while letting the good times roll. As for the food, it’s ‘both high-end and accessible’, pulling in ideas from all over, whether you fancy a freshly shucked Lindisfarne oyster, a keema toastie or an elevated ham roll with bread cooked over the coals.
"Dig deeper and you might find a lobster madeleine with Yorkshire chorizo butter, a treacle onion tart or pork schnitzel with two fried eggs. Club steaks are served by the inch, there’s no creative let-up when it comes to sides, and the nostalgia is ramped up with the likes of strawberry and Champagne trifle with ‘sprinkles’.
"But never forget that this is a self-proclaimed ‘drinkers’ pub’ dispensing everything from ‘properly served’ British brews and ’the best Guinness in Leeds’ to a staggering line-up of whisky optics."
Popular egg sandwich shop Egg & Co is opening in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
This much loved breakfast spot do one thing and one thing very well...egg sandwiches.
And it may be a familiar name to some of you lot, as Egg & Co recently opened up on bustling Deansgate in Manchester as well as inside Cambridge Street Collective in Sheffield.
This will be their first site in Leeds, though, and we're very 'eggsited' about it...sorry.
If you've got been introduced to the wonders of Egg & Co yet, then allow us to fill you in on what to expect.
Images: The Manc Group
From here, you’ll be able to grab their unbeatable breakfast sandwiches, where soft scrambled egg is piled into warm brioche buns.
There are a dozen or so breakfast butties on the menu here (yes, they do all feature egg), with other fillings ranging from beef patties to turkey bacon to caramelised onion.
And there’s more – sides here include truffle hash browns, curly fries, and chicken bites.
Of course it wouldn't be a breakfast spot without some caffeinated beverages as well, so we predict as with their Manchester site you'll be able to grab your morning coffee and matcha as well as freshly squeezed orange juice fresh enough to cure any hangover.
We don't know of the exact location yet, but we do know it'll be in Leeds city centre.
Images: The Manc Group
Teasing the news on their Instagram, Egg & Co said: "LEEDS, WE’RE ON OUR WAY. You heard it right. Eggandco is heading to Leeds!
"Same eggs. Same fresh sandwiches. Same Eggandco experience. Just a new city to call home."
Of course, in true Leeds fashion, supporters flocked to the comments to show their excitement and demanding an extra clue on the exact location.
Egg & Co are keeping this under wraps for now, but we'll keep you updated as and when we know more.
Clementine Hall -
9th May 2023 
