Luxury skin care brand, Aesop, has chosen the Victoria Quarter for its very first store in the north of England.
Aesop, which is well-known for its luxury fragrances and skincare, will open the doors to its new shop in the Victoria Quarter this coming January.
It's the place to go to if you're looking for some fancy shmancy hand soap and hand cream that you'll want to show off when your next guests are round.
Managers of Aesop have said the store will honour the wonderful heritage of the Grade II listed space, whilst reflecting Aesop’s craftsmanship.
Images: Aesop
Rachel Bradburn, Leasing Director at Victoria Leeds, said: “Aesop choosing Victoria Leeds for their first store in the north of England strengthens our position as the premier destination for luxury brands.
“It’s a testament to our discerning customer base, but also to Aesop’s thoughtful approach in selecting locations where they can integrate seamlessly into the local community.
“We’re excited to see their unique store design come to life when the store opens, further enhancing our distinctive retail offering.”
Image: Victoria QuarterImage: Aesop
Ryad Djellas, of Aesop, said: “The experience within any Aesop store, and our relationship with our customers, is never a simply transactional one: it is also educational, prescriptive, and sensorial.
“We have been eager to open our first signature store in the north for some time now and were delighted when the opportunity within the County Arcade presented itself.
“The design of our spaces matters deeply to us. We aim to create something of merit, connected to the context of the Arcade. We hope to weave ourselves into the fabric of Leeds and look forward to welcoming customers in the new year.”
To find out more about Aesop, take a look at their website here.
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Clementine Hall -
6th November 2024 
