A grandad in Leeds has gone the extra mile for his grandsons, building them a bespoke Minecraft-inspired bedroom from scratch.
Mark McFarlane from Bramley has become a bit of a local legend after images of the Minecraft-inspired bedroom he built for his lads were shared hundreds of times on Facebook.
Created for Oscar, 7, and Finn, 4, Mark needed a project to help him stave off boredom during lockdown and the Minecraft bedroom proved the perfect thing.
Mark McFarlane
He even let the boys watch him on FaceTime as he assembled redstone torches and painted diamond swords, building up to a big final reveal to show them the end product.
Due to covid restrictions, the boys haven't been able to visit him for over a year, so he wanted to make the room extra special for them.
Mark designed his own shelves, cupboards and decorations based on the hit video game, combining different colours of paint with masking tape to create the unique block, wooden and stone-walled effects.
The Minecraft tools on display were cut from an old 1.5mm foam board he had laying around in the shed, whilst the boys' crafting box/table is made from wood lats.
The project, which Mark told the YEP took around three weeks and £60 to complete, has definitely made him a hit with his grandchildren who are beyond pleased with their new digs.
"It was a small project to starve off the boredom we've all had to endure during lockdown whilst everyone has had to sit their regular routines out, but now things are looking up we can all start getting back to filling those voids," he said.
As a founder and director of registered nonprofit organisation 'Sentinel Squad UK,' a Star Wars-themed group that raises thousands of pounds for Yorkshire and surrounding areas children's charities - Mark is a dab hand at building characters and bringing fantasy to life.
He can often be seen walking around West Yorkshire dressed as a 7.5 foot Wookie - so if you spot him, make sure to say hello. It's all for a good cause.
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Conan Gray AND Jacob Alon join Lewis Capaldi’s Roundhay Festival line-up
US pop star Conan Gray and BRIT award winner Jacob Alon join the line-up for Lewis Capaldi's headline date at Roundhay Festival.
Leeds' Roundhay Park is welcoming back live music to its grounds this summer for two outdoor gigs headlined by Lewis Capaldi and Pitbull titled Roundhay Festival, with special guests slowly being announced.
Gray is recognised for standout tracks like 'Heather' and 'Maniac' while Alon has built a cult following of fans around their indie tunes like 'Fairy in a Bottle' as well as 'Liquid Gold 25'.
Jacob Alon has been showing off their artistry within the indie music scene thanks to their 2025 LP In Limerence catching the attention of many in the process.
This album has gone onto attract widespread love from music listeners and even industry professionals bagging themselves their first-ever BRIT award nomination and win - The Critics' Choice award.
Conan Gray AND Jacob Alon join Lewis Capaldi's Roundhay Festival line-up / Credit: Supplied via Press Shots
Conan Gray started out covering other artists hits before creating some of his own and releasing debut studio album Kid Krow back in 2020.
The project has production credits shared between Gray and Dan Nigro, Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde and more.
It's always exciting hearing updates like these, but this one is even more impressive as it's not just one stellar act joining the Roundhay Festival line-up but two, with further acts to be announced.
The almost 70,000 crowd who are heading down to Roundhay Festival when Lewis Capaldi makes his way to Leeds next summer are going to be blessed with some phenomenal live music.
This year marks American Express Presents Roundhay Festival first year with two star-studded dates fronted by powerhouse performers with the second show fronted by Pitbull and special guest Kesha.
These events have been organised with Leeds City Council and are expected to bring benefits to the local area by employing local suppliers, staff and boost spending on accommodation, food and entertainment.
Conan Gray and Jacob Alon will play alongside Lewis Capaldi at Roundhay Festival in Leeds on Saturday 4 July 2026 with tickets available HERE.
Award-winning vintage retailer announces new store in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Popular vintage store brand Glass Onion is returning to Leeds with a brand-new permanent site.
Following the huge success of its temporary pop up shop in Leeds Trinity, Glass Onion is coming back with a bang and expanding into a larger, two-floor space in Leeds city centre.
They'll be taking over the old Levi's jeans unit on Lands Lane and will be opening on Wednesday 18 March, so we really don't have long to wait.
Customers can shop Leeds' best collection of sustainable vintage clothing with every piece hand selected for store at their Yorkshire HQ.
Images: The Sheff
Shop from an expertly curated mix of all your vintage favourites, including Y2K, techwear, workwear, sportswear, boho, and loads more.
The store will also feature big-name brands like The North Face, Nike, Levi’s, Adidas, and Harley Davidson, along with an exclusive Rare Archive section - home to some of Glass Onion’s rarest vintage finds.
Glass Onion’s journey began in 2005, when founder John started selling vintage clothing out of his grandma’s coal shed in Barnsley. They opened their first retail store in Sheffield in 2019, quickly becoming a local favourite and their commitment to quality and sustainability has earned them “Best Indie Retailer in Sheffield” and “Best Vintage Retailer in Sheffield” at the Exposed Magazine Awards for three consecutive years.
To celebrate the exciting launch, Glass Onion are offering free VIP tickets where shoppers will be treated to first entry as well as freebies and vouchers from Leeds indies and entry into a competition to win a £100 Glass Onion voucher to spend on the launch day.
Georgina Pellant -
24th May 2021 
