We're now into the final week of May, and we can't quite believe how fast this year is going.
Throughout the month of May so far, the Leeds social calendar has been jam-packed with exciting things to do.
And luckily, this isn't slowing down as we enter another Bank Holiday weekend.
Keep reading to find out what to get up to this week.
Leeds Jazz Festival
Thursday 23 May – Tuesday 28 May 2024 | Across Leeds
Images: Leeds Jazz Festival
Now in its third year, Leeds Jazz Festival is a ‘celebration of the musicians, venues, promoters, audiences and organisations who are part of the Leeds Jazz tapestry’ that truly finds the most imaginative ways to get us all involved in music.
This festival can be enjoyed in many of our amazing eclectic and independent venues across the city including Eat Your Greens, HiFi Club and the main outdoor stage on Cookridge Street where Sable Radio are curating live music and DJ sets.
Live At Leeds: In The Park is now in its third year and it’s showing no sign of slowing down any time soon. This year, we’ve got Wakefield’s own The Cribs to look forward to, plus The Kooks, Declan McKenna, The Mysterines and hot off the back of a stellar performance at Live At Leeds: In The City 2023, Antony Szmierek is swapping The Wardrobe for the fields to take to the summer portion of the festival by storm.
Sunday 26 May 2024 | Revolution Electric Press, Leeds City Centre
Image: Pup Up Cafe
Dachshund owners assemble, because pretty soon you’ll be able to take your pooch to a party like no other. That’s right, the Pup Up cafe at Revolution Electric Press is back… and this time it’s all about the sausage dogs.
Attracting attention across Leeds and beyond, the Pup Up Cafe is a true dog-lovers experience. Celebrating all things dogs, those heading over to Revs will walk through the doors into the fairground-themed bar and wander between stalls stocking everything your pup could ever want or need.
Find out more here.
Slam Dunk Festival
Sunday 26 May 2024 | Temple Newsam
Image: Slam Dunk Festival
The UK’s biggest independent rock festival is back for another year – and it’s going to be the last festival you’ll be able to seeYou Me At Six in the UK.
The 20-years-strong band said that they “couldn’t think of a better place to perform our last festival appearance than the festival that first ever booked us” and will be joined by the likes of The All American Rejects, Asking Alexandria, We The Kings, I Prevail and a great selection of pop-punk, emo, metal and alternative artists.
Following the success of its first Leeds event, award-winning Peddler Market is returning to Project House for the late May bank holiday.
The event, which is celebrating 10 years of operating in nearby Sheffield, will bring exciting street food, craft drinks, independent makers and quality family entertainment.
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Clementine Hall -
20th May 2024 
