The Queens Hotel is set to be transformed to showcase a love-at-first-sight animated graphic novel.
In case you've been living under a rock, Light Night Leeds is returning this month and one of our city's most iconic buildings will be hosting one of the biggest attractions.
'One Second Lovestory' will be projected onto The Queens Hotel as one of the key displays on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October.
The artwork tells the story of two people whose daily routine is interrupted as their eyes meet at a train station in the form of a graphic novel on an impressive scale.
Set in a busy station in the morning with people rushing past with their eyes glued to the floor, the beautiful piece by German artist Dirk Rauscher highlights what can happen when you look up.
Image: Leeds City Council
Just next door to Leeds train station and projected onto The Queens Hotel, the animation celebrates 200 years of the modern passenger railway and is sponsored by Markel.
This year’s theme of Landmarks will celebrate some of the city’s historic buildings, modern architecture and iconic public spaces whilst asking visitors to contemplate their own personal landmarks and the places that are important to them.
Dirk Rauscher said: “This is a visual poem about the perceptions of time, offering a lyrical reflection on how fleeting moments shape our reality.
“Dressed as a graphic novel, it’s telling the story of how the blink of an eye can make all the difference.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “As always, we are very excited to be hosting Light Night Leeds again this year, an event that brings thousands of people together to experience and celebrate artistic ingenuity and our city.
“Dirk Rauscher’s artwork promises to be one of the key installations this year and I look forward to seeing it transform The Queens Hotel.”
One Second Lovestory will be shown between 6.45pm and 10pm on both evenings of Light Night.
Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024.
We are so, so back.
It's been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a small selection of UK gigs for later in the year including a homecoming gig at the O2 Academy on Friday 6 November.
The dates follow the band’s first show of the year at the 6Music Festival this Friday across The Pennines in Manchester.
After Leeds, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 13 November before making their way down south to the O2 Academy in Brixton on Thursday 26 November.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album Where’s My Utopia? with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August 2024.
It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy. It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.
Since then, the band have remained active, whether writing Where’s My Utopia’s follow-up on scratching the itch to get back on stage, heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives, which was preceded by an intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.
Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to the Autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait.
Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday 27 March. Sign up here.
Viral brunch cafe Acai and the Tribe is coming to Leeds city centre this spring
Clementine Hall
Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.
Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.
Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Images: The Manc Group
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."
They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.
It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.
Clementine Hall -
7th October 2025 
