It's the first full week of June so let's make it a belter.
The bank holiday weekend is behind us, we’ve welcomed a new month with open arms, and it’s really starting to feel like summer now.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our 'what's on' this week.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
Cocktail pop-up at Opposite Cafe
Saturday 8 June – Saturday 29 June 2024 | Opposite, Chapel Allerton
Image: Supplied
From Saturday 1 June, each Friday and Saturday night throughout June and July, visitors can enjoy hand-crafted cocktails at Opposite in the heart of Chapel Allerton.
Blank Canvas Drinks, which are handmade right here in Leeds, is teaming up with Opposite to offer a monthly menu of fourteen hand-mixed cocktails this summer including crowd-favourite Espresso Martinis, made with Opposite’s very own coffee.
Honi Poke Opening
Tuesday 4 June 2024 | Albion Street
Image: The Manc Eats
The popular Hawaii-inspired poke bowl eatery is opening inside Trinity Leeds and to celebrate their highly anticipated opening, they’ll be serving poke bowls for just £1 all day long.
But what is a poke bowl you may ask? Well, allow us to fill you in. Poke, meaning ‘to slice or cut’ in Hawaiian refers to chunks of fresh, raw fish which is tossed over sticky rice and vegetables and topped with umami-packed sauces. Delicious.
Thursday 6 June – Sunday 16 June 2024 | Victoria Leeds
Image: Supplied
Following the huge success and popularity of last year’s Fashion Weekender, Victoria Leeds Fashion Week will begin on Thursday 6 June, starting in style with a spectacular fashion show staged in the iconic Victoria Quarter.
Kicking off at 7:30pm, the catwalk will showcase the spectacular runway trends of SS24, from the ongoing domination of 90s-inspired minimalist oversized tailoring, through to sports luxe and ‘Western Rebel’.
Victoria Leeds Fashion Week will run from Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 June, with Fashion Show Standard tickets starting at £20 and VIP tickets available for £35. Grab your tickets here.
Free pizza with every drink at Fibre
Monday 3 - Friday 7 and Sunday 9 June 2024 | Call Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you’ve ever been out on Call Lane over the past twenty four years (yes, that’s almost a quarter of a century), then you most definitely will have popped into Fibre. And now, they’re hosting an offer which you simply cannot refuse. A free pizza, baked fresh to order, with every drink purchased.
Available Sunday – Friday all day before 8pm, you can munch on pizza and sip on cocktails to your heart’s content.
Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.
It's the best week of the year...it's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.
We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre - so take your pick, whatever the occasion.
Dave's Pies and Ales
Kirkstall Road, Burley | Open from 5pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.
Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.
Whitelocks Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu.
The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.
Pieminister
Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.
Finer Pleasures
Multiple locations
If you don't know about Josh at Finer Pleasures, then you're seriously missing out. Josh is somewhat of a pie-oneer (sorry), and is the master of creating weird and wonderful pie creations from lasagna pies to gammon, egg and pineapple pork pies.
You can find him over in Crossgates most Wednesdays, but you're best bet is to keep an eye on his socials for the best chance on bagging one of his pies. Trust us, they're like gold dust.
Wilsons Butchers
Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates | Open from 7.30am
Image: Wilsons Butchers
Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract - Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships.
At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.
Beloved late night Leeds cocktail bar The Maven announces permanent closure
Clementine Hall
"After years of late nights, strong cocktails, and incredible stories; The Maven will close its doors"
It's a sad day for the Leeds night life scene, as a beloved speakeasy bar has today announced that it will be closing its doors for good.
The Maven has been a firm favourite for many years with those looking to enjoy some experimental and expertly made cocktails.
Hidden behind an unassuming door at the top of Call Lane, it was a great spot to visit if you were looking for something that little bit special.
Announcing the news to their social media, The Maven said: "From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for being our guests over the years and promise that until then, we'll do our best to give you the best nights out on Call Lane."