It's official: Leeds United are back in the Premier League where they belong, and with the promotion parade now confirmed, it's time to plan for the celebrations.
It still remains to be seen whether The Whites will be going up as champions or not, but it's been a huge relief among the supporters to know they don't have to suffer the stress and slog of the playoffs.
With the date for Leeds' open-top bus parade now confirmed, the party isn't just toasting being back up in the English top-flight, but having done so as one of, if not the best, team in the league this year.
Avoiding the additional trauma of the conclusive promotion scraps is part of that, along with seeing your favourite players beckoned through city streets as conquering heroes. Here's the important info ahead of Leeds' promotion parade.
The date for Leeds United's open-top bus parade is this coming bank holiday Monday, 5 May, just a fortnight on from the prospective EFL Championship winners securing promotion with a staggering 6-0 win over Stoke City.
As for when the whole thing kicks off, the festivities are due to get underway from 1pm, with the open-top bus parade itself is scheduled to last somewhere between an hour and 1h30m.
It goes without saying that most people will be staying out and partying until much later than that. Expect crowds to start gathering from early in the day, with road restrictions starting from 8am and lasting until at least 5pm.
The new mural going up in Trinity.The scenes on 21 April.Credit: The Hoot
Where does the Leeds parade route go?
The parade will follow a mile-long route that will take in the full length of the Headrow, as well as City Square, Boar Lane, New Market Street and parts of Wellington Street and Vicar Lane.
Beyond that, you can almost guarantee similar crowds remained gathered throughout various lively sections of the city centre and outside of Elland Road itself for a good chunk of the day.
Here's hoping for similar scenes from inside the Bremner Suite too...
“You’re watching the Ramazani video again aren’t you”
Road closures and travel advice for the Leeds promotion parade
The roads confirmed to be fully or at least partially closed during that 8am-5pm window include:
Albion Street, Bishopgate Street, Briggate, Call Lane, Calverley Street, East Parade, Eastgate, The Headrow, Infirmary Street, King Edward Street, Lands Lane, Lower Briggate, Mill Hill, New Briggate, Oxford Place, Park Row, Vicar Lane, Westgate and Wellington Street.
Meanwhile, according to Leeds City Council, park and ride services will still be operating from Temple Green and Stourton between 10am and 1pm, with return journeys running between 2:30-5:30pm.
Also, while regular city centre buses will also be running, some services will be diverted from their usual routes, with multiple stops suspended for the parade period, so people are being advised to check the Metro website to plan their journeys accordingly.
Credit: The Hoot
Fan hotspots for after the open-top bus tour
lt won't surprise you to learn that the city centre in general will be heaving, but we do have some suggestions as to where the big groups of supporters will be if you want to get involved in the action.
As well as the obvious shouts like The Old Peacock near the ground itself, not to mention beloved Leeds bars and suntraps like Green Room and BOX, you can expect most pubs and venues around the train station to be very busy.
Other notable names include Scarborough Taps, Woodside, The Brotherhood and pretty much most of Headingley we'd imagine.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said of the impending celebrations: "Winning promotion is a marvellous achievement by Daniel Farke and his players - they really have done the whole of Leeds proud over the course of the season.
"Leeds United’s ups and downs are woven into the fabric of life here and, as the city’s Lord Mayor, it’s my absolute pleasure to see them back where they belong.
"I know the club’s fans have been in party mood since promotion was secured, and I’m sure they will relish the opportunity to continue their celebrations at next week’s parade." Hear, hear.
Last but not least, those who can't make it to the parade in person will be able to watch the jubilation from start to finish on LUTV and via their YouTube channel. Party time can't come soon enough!
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason it seems.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June in a vacant railway arch at Fourth Court on Bridge Road in Leeds' Holbeck area.
It won't be your average pizza shop though, you'll have to preorder for now but trust us - it's worth it.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Edges said: "WE FINALLY HAVE an opening date, Thursday 18th June! All pizzas are pre-ordered like we have always done, and are slightly limited for now (still looking for helping hands!!!). The pre-orders will open the day before at 12pm via our Storekit link.
"We’ll be then opening Wednesday to Friday, 4-9pm and Saturday & Sunday 3-9pm. If there are still remaining slots left on the day, you can order up to an hour before the collection time. We have limited seating, for those who travel and would like to eat in. There is plenty of car parking space, to pick up your pizza, too.
"We can’t wait to see you all soon & more importantly, we can’t wait to start making some good food for you again."
We can't wait to get our hands on a coveted Edges pizza slice again, so you best believe we'll be there at the opening with bells on.
The 80-year-old Wakefield butchers that won Jane McDonald’s heart
Declan Kelly
When Wakefield's queen of the cruise ships recommends a pork pie in Yorkshire, you listen.
TV presenter, singer and national treasure Jane McDonald has never hidden her love for her hometown. While her career has taken her around the world, from luxury ocean liners to sold-out theatre tours, Wakefield has always remained close to her heart. And among the many things she proudly champions from her hometown, one local institution receives more praise than most: Allums Butchers.
In fact, Jane has often joked that one of the reasons she still lives in Yorkshire is because of their famous pork pies. Most recently, Jane was once again singing their praises during her album launch at HMV when we interviewed her. She has also recently spoken fondly about the butcher's legendary pies on Alan Carr's podcast.
Hearing her enthusiasm sparked our curiosity, so we decided to make the trip to Wakefield and discover for ourselves what makes these pork pies so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located on Brook Street, Allums Butchers is more than just a place to pick up your Sunday roast. It's a business woven into the fabric of Wakefield's history, with a story stretching back more than 80 years.
The journey began in 1945 when Albert Allum started trading from Wakefield Market.
At a time when local communities depended on independent traders, Albert Allum built a reputation for quality produce, expert craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. Those values helped establish a loyal customer base and laid the foundations for a business that would stand the test of time.
More than eight decades later, the same principles continue to guide the company.
Today, Allums remains proudly family-owned and is run by third-generation butcher Jonathan Allum. While much has changed since Albert's early days on the market stall, the commitment to quality remains exactly the same. The business has grown into one of Yorkshire's most respected independent butchers, yet it continues to place traditional butchery, carefully sourced produce and customer service at the heart of everything it does.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Speaking to us about his relationship with Jane McDonald, Jonathan shared memories that stretch back decades. The pair first met as teenagers when Jane would visit the market alongside her mother. Like many local families, they regularly stopped by the Allum stall and, more often than not, left with one of the butcher's famous pork pies.
Jonathan remembers chatting with Jane as she collected her order.
"I'd often say, 'See you next week,'" he recalled. "And every so often she'd reply, 'No, you won't - I’m off cruising.'"
Jane has gone on to become one of Britain's most recognisable entertainers, known by millions for her television programmes and her successful career at sea and most recently her iconic Mighty Hoopla performance . Yet despite the fame, she never forgot her Wakefield roots. To this day, she remains one of Allums' most loyal supporters and regularly speaks about the business with genuine affection.
Allums' pork pies have become something of a Yorkshire institution in their own right. Handmade using a traditional recipe that has been refined over generations, each pie is crafted using seasoned pork, rich savoury jelly and a perfectly baked hot-water crust pastry. There are no modern gimmicks, just a commitment to making a classic product exceptionally well.
Naturally, we couldn't leave without trying the pork pies ourselves.
Sometimes the best food stories aren't about reinvention or chasing the latest trend. They're about preserving traditions, maintaining standards and doing one thing exceptionally well for generations.
More than 80 years after Albert Allum first opened for business in Wakefield Market, Allums Butchers continues to embody exactly that philosophy. And after finally experiencing their famous pork pies for ourselves, we can confidently say that Jane McDonald might just be right.
Danny Jones -
2nd May 2025 
