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The best things to do in and around Leeds this week | 19 – 25 December 2022

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Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 16th December 2022

Here's what you can get up to this week before the big bearded man makes his grand arrival at the weekend.

Here it is, the moment we have all been waiting for, Christmas is finally here and before you know it we will be exchanging presents by the tree and tucking into our turkey and stuffing.

We're sure you'll all have a myriad of plans this week, from catching up with family members to Christmas eve drinks with the gang, but if you're still looking to fill up your diary then we've pulled together a list of festivities for you to get involved in.

However you celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful time and we will be cheers'ing a bucks fizz to you all when Sunday comes around. Merry Christmas everyone!

Visit Santa Claus

Monday 19 - Saturday 24 December 2022 | Across Leeds

Image: Stockeld Park

As we all know Santa Claus will be very busy when it gets to Christmas Eve, so it's best to catch him during the week so that you can tell him exactly what you're hoping to see under your tree (if you've made it onto the nice list this year that is).

We've made a list of 5 places in and around Leeds for you to visit Santa before he takes off in his sleigh to make all our Christmas wishes come true.

Find out more here.

Free Christmas dinner at Mumtaz

25 December 2022 | Mumtaz, Leeds Dock

Image: Mumtaz Leeds

In the current cost of living crisis, it is completely understandable if you are feeling the pinch this Christmas. If you need a helping hand then Mumtaz restaurant on Leeds Dock will be feeding hundreds of families for free by handing out pre-made dinners between 12-2pm for people to take home.

Although anyone can collect a meal, they have urged people to be conscious of those who actually need a meal. A spokesperson for the restaurant has said “YOU ARE NOT ALONE in these testing times. We ask you to kindly prioritise and think about those who actually will need this bit of festive joy and kindness. We will prepare over 1000 meals so there should be plenty"

Read all about it here.

Manahatta Festive Bottomless Brunch

Monday 19 - Friday 23 December 2022 | Greek Street


If you love your brunch to be all sparkles, cocktails and Instagram moments then there is no clearer choice than Manahatta this year. With showstopping martini trees and delicious specials including Christmas burgers, meaty and vegan ‘pigs in blankets’ and turkey Bao buns, it's the perfect place to cheers to the festive season amongst friends.

To book your slot, take a look at their website.

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Tuesday 20 December 2022 – Saturday 7 January 2023 | Leeds Grand Theatre

Image: Northern Ballet Limited

Christmas is not complete without a trip to the theatre to watch the ballet and The Nutcracker is the most festive ballet around. Share in Clara’s adventures as she is swept away by her Nutcracker Prince into an enchanting winter wonderland.

Watch in awe as the dazzling dancing snowflakes, the famous Sugar Plum Fairy and the notorious Mouse King take to the stage this Christmas.

Get your tickets to The Nutcracker here.

Dick Whittington

25 November 2022 – 8 January 2023 | Leeds City Vanities Music Hall

Image: Leeds Heritage Theatres

One of everyone’s favourite pantomimes has been given a rock and roll makeover, combining traditional panto frivolities with classic rock anthems.

Prepare to be wowed by this breathtaking production and get ready to tap your foot along to the catchy chart-toppers, all performed live on stage by an extraordinarily talented cast.

Get your tickets here.

THOR’s Winter Gardens

Monday 19 - Saturday 24 December 2022 | Briggate and Victoria Gardens

If you're still looking for the perfect festive location to spend your Christmas Eve get together, then there really is no better place than THOR's Tipi.

If you’re after a winter warmer then there’s mulled wine, mulled cider and hot chocolate which can be pimped up with an added shot of your choice. Make it naughty with some whiskey, make it nice with a shot of caramel vodka or add a little spice with a sprinkling of cherry brandy or winter Pimms.

Find out more here.

Millenium Square Ice Cube

Monday 19 - Saturday 24 December 2022 | Millenium Square, Leeds city centre

Image: Leeds City Council

If you're still not firmly feeling the festive spirit yet, then we urge you to take to the ice rink on Millennium Square where it's almost impossible not to feel the Christmas cheer.

Whack on those skates and glide away under the twinkly lights before enjoying a mulled wine or bratwurst at the stalls which sit opposite, it's the ultimate festive activity to enjoy before the big day arrives.

Find out more here.

Midweek savings at Roxy Ball Room

Monday 19 - Wednesday 21 December 2022 | Roxy Ball Room and Roxy Lanes

Beer Pong is the ultimate crowdpleaser. / Image: The Hoot Leeds

Start your Christmas night out with a few games at Roxy Ball Room and bag yourself a good deal whilst you're at it. Every Sunday – Wednesday, get up to 20% off bookings for the likes of Roxy’s karaoke rooms, bowling and ice-free curling. Skip the busy bar and enjoy an intimate night that allows you to appreciate your company and chat between games- the only thing left to decide is which Roxy venue you’ll be spending your time.

Find out more here.

UB40

Tuesday 20 December 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way

row of men in a line.
Image: UB40

The English reggae-pop band has been bringing us bangers since 1978, and with over 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart since their humbled beginnings, there’s a reason why UB40 can comfortably pack out an arena almost 45 years on.

Tickets cost £43.55 for standing, or from £46 on Ticketmaster resale.

Get tickets for UB40 at First Direct Arena here.

Stick Man

Wednesday 7 December – Saturday 31 December 2022 | Leeds Playhouse

people holding sticks.
Image: Freckle Productions

This touching and funny adaptation of Julie Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is coming to Leeds for the festive season. The heartfelt children’s story follows the journey of a wooden stick who becomes separated from his family home and embarks on an Odyssey-like adventure to return there.

The production will showcase three fantastic actors whom will perform an array of puppetry, live music and funky dance moves. The play will run for 55 minutes and is aimed at children aged 2+, making it the perfect afternoon of fun for all the family.

Tickets cost between £14 and £21, plus a flat-rate booking fee of £2.50 each.

Get tickets for Stick Man at Leeds Playhouse here.

News

Bradford man, 20, jailed after admitting to 36 child sex offences

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A 20-year-old man from Bradford has been sentenced to time in prison this week after admitting to numerous child sex offences.

Following an investigation initially by West Mercia and Lancashire Police, Kasey Fitton, aged 20 of Amundsen Avenue in Bradford, was arrested in February 2025 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with four children residing outside of West Yorkshire Police force area.

An investigation was then launched by Bradford Safeguarding Unit, who went on to uncover large-scale sexual offending against children.   

In February 2026, Fitton was charged with 16 counts of sexual communication with a child and 20 counts of making/possession of indecent images of children - with police confirming that five child victims have been identified.   

At Bradford Crown Court, Fitton admitted to all 36 counts, and then earlier this week (7 September), he was jailed for seven and a half years, plus a five year extension on licence. He will also be required to sign the sex offenders register for life, and he has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Speaking following the sentencing this week, Detective Superintendent Alan Weekes of Bradford District Police, described Fitton as a 'very dangerous individual to children'.

"There are further investigations ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who may have been a victim to come forward to us," DSI Weekes said.  

"We are keen to speak to anyone who interacted with the Snapchat accounts Kaseyfitton23, Kaseyfitton24 and MyCroft110.  

"We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and they are treated with sensitivity. We have specially trained officers who will guide you through the process and do everything we can to get justice."

Featured Image - West Yorkshire Police

News

History has never been this fun – Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House | Review

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case, a musical by its posters.

Going in completely blind, I really didn’t know what to expect from Operation Mincemeat. In fact, after the first number, I found myself thinking, I’m not sure this is quite my cup of tea.

How wrong I was.

Watching Tuesday night’s performance at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, I was quickly proven wrong about what I thought a musical needed to be. There are no huge sets, endless costume changes, or hundreds of performers filling the stage. Instead, Operation Mincemeat delivers a genuinely funny, surprisingly heart-warming story with just five performers, while somehow teaching you a bit of history along the way.

If I had to sum this show up in two words? Belly laughter.

Based on the real-life British intelligence operation during the Second World War, the musical follows the unlikely group tasked with convincing Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Greece rather than Sicily.

And honestly, if you didn’t already know it actually happened, you’d probably think someone had made it up. That ridiculousness is exactly what makes the show work. The comedy comes thick and fast, with characters, accents, and personalities constantly changing as the five-strong cast jump between roles.

And this is where the production really impressed me.The multi-roling is incredibly slick. A pair of glasses, a change in voice or a small shift in posture can completely transform a character, and somehow it never feels like a gimmick. Instead, it becomes part of the magic of the production. It’s a brilliant example of how much can be achieved on stage without throwing money at elaborate sets or costumes.

Credit: Matt Crockett
Credit: Matt Crockett

But underneath all the comedy is where Operation Mincemeat really surprised me.

One of the standout performances for me came from Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt. During ‘Roses’, Andrews completely captivates the audience while portraying an older woman writing about the experience of wives waiting for their loved ones away at war.

What makes the moment so effective is its simplicity. With little more than a pair of glasses, Andrews transforms into Hester, but there is never any sense that the character is being played for laughs. Instead, there is real care and respect in the performance.

Andrews captures the loneliness, vulnerability, and uncertainty of a woman whose life has been put on hold while her partner is away fighting. After so much laughter, the sudden change in tone really lands. For me, it was one of the clearest examples of the craftsmanship behind the show. Both the writing and performance manage to find genuine emotion without losing the production’s personality.

The music follows the same balance, moving between big, energetic numbers and quieter moments that give the characters room to breathe. It never feels like songs have been added simply because this happens to be a musical; they actually help tell the story.

And despite being based on a historical event, it never feels like a history lesson.

Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House / Credit: Matt Crockett

In fact, I left the theatre wanting to find out more about the real Operation Mincemeat, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it and definitely will be watching the film very soon.

If you’re heading to the theatre expecting huge dance numbers, powerhouse ballads and elaborate sets, then this might not be the show for you. But if you want something different, something that will have you laughing at one of the strangest stories in British history while leaving you amazed at just how slick a production can be with only five cast members, then this is absolutely worth seeing.

What I initially thought wasn’t my cup of tea ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the evening.

Funny, clever, completely bonkers at times and unexpectedly moving, Operation Mincemeat proves you don’t need a massive production to make a big impression. I have seen a lot of theatre productions in my life, but I have never seen anything as slick as this production, and that is pure talent at its finest.

Sometimes, all you need is a ridiculous true story, five brilliant performers and a whole lot of belly laughs.

Featured Image - Matt Crockett (Supplied)

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