Our favourite place to play pool, roll a strike and kick back with killer cocktails are moving and their new location is set to be their biggest yet.
Roxy Lanes will be relocating from their Bond Street location to The Light on Headrow. Although the mammoth new venue will not be open to the public until early 2022, the wait will be more than worth it.
The new venue is a whopping three times the size of their Bond Street predecessor and will incorporate all elements of existing Roxy venues to date inside.
Roxy Lanes new location at The Light will open in early 2022. / Image- Roxy Ballroom
Retiring Roxy Bond Street, which has been open until 2014 seems like the appropriate move for an expansion. Brand Development Manager, Joel Mitchell believes that "whilst the Bond Street venue was a great starting point for us as a brand, it’s now time to up the ante and we’re delighted to be able to expand and offer our customers even more of that Roxy Lanes experience".
The new Roxy location will have all the nights out you could possibly wish for, whether you're looking for an intimate corner or an ice breaker for a first date or fancy a booze-fuelled night out.
Each customer's journey through Roxy's newest venture will start on the ground floor of The Light location, where a large bar area greets customers and offer a huge choice of beverages: from craft beers to cocktails and spirits, before heading on to play some games.
In the basement, the dedicated game station will be waiting for those who dare to win. Ten bowling alleys, two duckpin bowling lanes, shuffle boards, American pool tables, beer pong, need we say more?
Playing beer pong is a UK-wide phenomenon but we especially love a round here in Leeds. / Image: Roxy Ballroom
Grab a second, third or even fourth round of drinks at the dedicated basement bar before heading upstairs to see the new addition for Roxy Lanes, ice curling lanes.
Slide stones down the smooth surface and try to hit the bullseye and become the champion at one of the only rinks of its kind in the UK.
Luckily, any anticipated snow in early 2022 will remain outside as Roxys are implementing an ice-free curling lane. We can't wait to see how this innovative idea will come to life.
The 15,000 square foot venue will also be the perfect place to watch the latest sporting action, with live BT and Sky Sports showing in the upstairs bar area. Children can get a slice of the action up until 5pm when accompanied by an adult.
Feature Image- Roxy Lanes
Leeds
Architects secure planning permission for jaw-dropping ‘boulder house’ on Ilkley Moor
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Sophie Smith -
8th October 2021 
