Relocating from its current location on Bond Street to The Light on The Headrow, Roxy Lanes is opening a mammoth new venue today and it's a whopping three times the size of its predecessor.
The brand-new gaming hub will incorporate all the elements of existing Roxy venues along with some new games that have never been seen in Leeds before.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The new ice curling lane is free of ice and full of surprises, so leave your snow boots at the door and be one of the first to take on the latest must-try activity in Leeds.
The idea is that you slide stones down the smooth surface, like normal curling and try to hit the bullseye. As one of the only rinks of its kind in the UK, you can bet that places at the curling lanes will be few and far between so make sure to book well in advance.
Roxy Lanes visitors will be delighted to know that there's not just curling on offer here. Whether you’re looking for a place to fill your first (or hundredth) date night, you want to relive childhood memories with some games, or you just simply fancy a fun night out, the brand-new Roxy Lanes has everything you could possibly need.
In the basement, the dedicated game station will be waiting for those who dare to win. Ten bowling lanes, two duck pin bowling lanes, shuffleboards, American pool tables, basketball machines, air hockey and ice curling are all available. You can also grab a drink or some food from the massive second bar area.
Speaking about the re-location and what customers can expect from this venue, General Manager Cameron Mosley, says: “This is an incredible location, right in the heart of Leeds city centre. Whilst the Bond Street venue was a great starting point for us as a brand, it’s now time to up the ante...
Image: The Hoot Leeds
"We’re delighted to be able to expand and offer our customers even more of that Roxy Lanes experience, the demand is already going through the roof for our new venue and we can’t wait to take gaming In Leeds to the next level!
"So many people want to catch up with friends or relatives or even have work socials and Roxy Lanes encapsulates that spirit of fun and brings people together. It’s a huge venue which has enabled us to add more games and a bigger bar area. What can people expect? A cool venue with welcoming staff and some great games to get involved in. 2022 is going to be a cracking year for Roxy Lanes.”
If you want to test out Leeds first ice curling rink, or just grab a drink and shoot some hoops at the latest bar in the city: you can book your place at Roxy Lanes at The Light, or walk-in for a spontaneous night of fun, games and killer cocktails.
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times
Clementine Hall
Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?
Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.
The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.
Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
Image: Unsplash
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
Skipton
Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Newcastle: Gosforth
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."
Sophie Smith -
10th February 2022 
