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Old Chapel Music Studios needs your help to raise £9000 to secure its future in Leeds
Since launching its CrowdFunder, the studio has raised £2500, with the money raised going towards 'nullify the effects of increased rent for the next year - and settle a backdated claim for increased rent lodged by Czar St’s landlords'.
Musical home to Leeds' own Kaiser Chiefs and Pigeon Detectives and countless other artists, Old Chapel Music Studios has been making music accessible for all.
Formerly known as Parkside Studios, the CIC has been offering resources to local Holbeck residents and services to the wider Leeds areas for some 30 years now - but it's future is now uncertain.
Challenged by rising rent costs and the cost of living crisis, Old Chapel needs to raise £9000 in just a few weeks.
Since launching its CrowdFunder, the studio has raised £2500, with the money raised going towards 'nullify the effects of increased rent for the next year - and settle a backdated claim for increased rent lodged by Czar St’s landlords'.
Katie Hayes, CEO of Old Chapel Music CIC, said the following of the Crowdfunder:
“Thank you to those who have shared and donated so far. We’ve been serving the community for over 30 years now and never asked for any financial help in this time. We’ve supported numerous bands to start their careers in the industry, worked in partnership with other organisations and Charities such as Festival Republic on their Re:Balance programme to which we support women in the industry through training & mentoring while offering a safe space for individuals to grow and develop.
"The number and variety of free music workshops that have been on offer over the years, have helped both disadvantaged people and those with Mental Health and Learning Disabilities. We are not JUST at rehearsal and recording studio, we are so much more than this and I want to see the future, that we have planned for, continue and flourish for years to come.
"If we reach our crowdfunder target it will help us cover what we have paid out and by smashing the target we can continue delivering free music sessions, so please share our crowdfunder through your networks and if you can donate anything, that would be great.”
Everyone and anyone is welcome to use the facilities at Old Chapel Studios and the CIC has worked tirelessly to keep its prices affordable for musicians. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Gordon White, guitar tech for the likes of Richard Hawley and Noel Gallagher, works from Old Chapel Studios. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Old Chapel Studios has a history of bringing artists to life in a safe and welcoming environment and is offering a range of rewards for anyone that chooses to donate to the fundraiser, including t-shirts, private rehearsal sessions and recordings.
The studios explains that: "Old Chapel is registered as a Community Interest Organisation (CIC) which has 3 volunteer Directors, 2 part time staff and a pool of freelancers along with some hard working and very dedicated volunteers, who keep the doors open 7 days a week. Leeds Music Trust is our parent charity which comprises a Board of Volunteer Trustees, overseeing the work we do and making sure education and affordability to the community of Leeds, is at the forefront of all our work.
"Today the services we provide as a grassroots music community for amateur and professional musicians, young people and vulnerable adults wanting to learn or practice music have never been needed more. But, the current situation is challenging all the hard work we do."
Leeds Festival 2026 is officially underway and we've rounded up drinks prices at the bars on the festival site.
While many of us will be sipping on warm cans of cider and boxes of wine at the camp sites, you can't take any of your own alcohol into the arena (where all the stages are) itself.
So you'll need to budget for drinks over the course of the weekend if you want to watch the headliners with a pint in hand.
And with headline performances from the likes of Fontaines D.C., Raye, Florence and the Machine and Dave, there's masses of amazing live music on the horizon at Leeds Festival 2026.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We're already on site at Leeds Festival ready to bring you all the action and updates from this massive weekend - staring with, importantly, drinks prices.
So, let's get into it...
This year you're looking at paying around £7 of beer and £7.50 £7.50 for a pint of cider.
Different for this year, is you'll get 10% off if paying with a Paypal debit card which you can get for free - which we think is pretty class and well worth your time.
You can take your own empty water bottles in to refill at water stations around the festival site.
You're also allowed to bring in sealed water/soft drinks which are 500ml or less.
And if you're taking your own booze into the campsites, remember that there's no glass allowed, so you'll need to decant anything into plastic bottles.
Here are all your drinks prices for Leeds Festival 2026
Beer and cider
Budweiser - £7 (£6.30 with Paypal discount)
Corona Extra - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Crisp Apple - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime - £7.70 (£6.93 with Paypal discount)
Rose - 175ml £10 / btl £35 (£9/£31.5 with Paypal discount)
Italian sparkling - 200ml £10 (£9 with Paypal discount)
No and Low
Budweiser Zero - £5.80 (£5.22 with Paypal discount)
Water - £2.50 (£2.25 with Paypal discount)
And that should just about do you in terms of booze - as always, please drink responsibly and look after each other.
For all the other important information, you can consult our complete 2026 Leeds Festival guide down below.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
Leeds
Leeds Festival warning issued as police announce speed cameras and traffic restrictions
Clementine Hall
Leeds Fest is almost here, but festival-goers heading to Bramham Park by car have been warned to take extra care on the roads.
Driving to Leeds Festival has never been particularly easy, but West Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to those driving by car in an attempt to make it somewhat easier.
Ahead of Leeds Festival 2026, temporary traffic management measures will be in place from Wednesday 26 August until Monday 31 August.
The measures are designed to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and help ensure the safe movement of the tens of thousands of people expected to attend the event.
Speed camera enforcement vans will be operating throughout the festival period alongside clearways surrounding the festival site.
Police have warned that drivers caught breaking the temporary restrictions could face prosecution, so it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for the signage as you approach the festival.
Superintendent Dan Wood said: “Leeds Festival is one of the largest events in West Yorkshire and attracts a significant increase in traffic to the local road network.
"The temporary speed restrictions and clearways are being introduced to help keep everyone safe, including festival-goers, local residents and road users.
"We would ask all motorists to pay close attention to the temporary signage in place and allow extra time for their journeys. Speed enforcement will be carried out during the event, and we encourage drivers to comply with all restrictions for their own safety and that of others."
Festival attendees are also being urged to follow the event signage rather than relying solely on their sat nav. Dedicated routes will direct different categories of visitors to the correct locations, including:
Camping entrances
Day / Non-camping ticket parking areas
Drop-off and pick-up points
Staff and authorised vehicle access routes
Motorists who follow sat nav directions alone may be directed to unsuitable routes, causing unnecessary delays for themselves and other road users.
Sophie Smith -
2nd August 2023 
