It's the last full week of February, and it's set to be a busy one.
Right Leeds, buckle up because the city is bursting at the seams with things to get up to (and eat) this week.
The tastiest week of the year is back in the form of Eat Leeds Restaurant Week, meaning you can eat out for less every single day of the week at some of the city's top restaurants.
And not only that, in honour of National Margarita Day there is a mile-long Margarita crawl taking place where you can enjoy a salty sweet tipple at 19 venues across the city.
Keep reading to find out more.
Knife Angel
From Thursday 1 February 2024 | Royal Armouries, Leeds City Centre
Image: Leeds City Council
The touring Knife Angel sculpture is coming to Leeds this February, to send a powerful message and spark conversations about knife crime in the city.
The Knife Angel, standing tall at 27ft and made from over 100,000 seized blades, was created by the British Ironwork Centre to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and the need for change.
The poignant sculpture will be placed outside the Royal Armouries Museum as part of an intensification month on knife crime which launches on Thursday 1 February 2024.
Eat Leeds Restaurant Week
Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February 2024 | Across the city
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Eat Leeds Restaurant Week is back for another round of exclusive menus from some of the best eateries in the city.
Whether you’re after a cheeky £5 lunch or a slap-up three course meal for just £20 – Eat Leeds Restaurant Week is here to help you eat out for less.
Taking place all week, this foodie-fuelled celebration of Leeds’ favourite spots allows you to taste-test plenty of good grub at a cost that won’t break the bank. There’s five different price points to look out for: starting at a fiver and working its way up to luxury meals for £25, the idea is that there’s something for everyone.
Monday 19 - Sunday 25 February 2024 | Across the city
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This week, a mile-long Margarita crawl aka the Margarita Mile is coming to the city.
Why? Well it’s all down to El Tequileño. Produced in the Mexican town of Tequila, the award-winning Tequila brand together with everyone’s favourite posh salt, Maldon Salt, are helping venues across Leeds to create the very best tasting Margarita cocktails.
Cheers’ing big to National Margarita Day on 22 February, nineteen of the coolest venues across Leeds will be showcasing their very best El Tequileño Margaritas and other El Tequileño tequila cocktails for just one week only.
Wednesday 21 February 2024 | 4-6 Town St, Horsforth
Image: Bavette
Bavette is the new restaurant has got some of Leeds, and indeed the nation’s most notable names in the hospitality scene talking.
The owners, we are told, come from ‘very well respected London restaurants’, and the bar has been set extremely high for ex-Culpeper Group MD and Head Chef Sandy Jarvis and husband, Restaurant Manager and sommelier Clément Cousin.
Expect a cosy, intimate and relaxing atmosphere and a menu inspired by traditional French bistros using seasonal and quality ingredients.
The legend that is Rick Astley will be gracing the stage at The First Direct Arena this Saturday. And not only that, he'll be rocking up with huge supports Belinda Carlisle and The Lottery Winners.
You don't want to miss out on this one. Grab your tickets here.
Featured images - The Hoot Leeds / Bavette
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The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community
It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.
We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.
And then there’s the pizza.
Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”
They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.
But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.
Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.
And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.
Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.
There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.
We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
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.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one 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.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
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.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
Clementine Hall -
19th February 2024 
