The best things to do in Leeds this week | 2 – 8 May 2022
Kicking the week off with a bank holiday Monday has left plenty of room for things to do throughout the week.
Monday marks the beginning of Eid, Wednesday is Cinco de Mayo and the weekend brings exciting new openings and appearances from celebrities to our city- there really is a lot to be getting on with.
Here’s our top picks of things to do during the four-day-work-week and everything else besides…
Taco and Tequila Festival
Monday 2 May 2022 | Waterlane Boat House, Canal Wharf
This three day event will come to its crescendo this bank holiday, having been supplying our city with food, live music and the all important tequila shots throughout the weekend. With free entry all day long, guests can opt for tequila produced in the highlands of the Jalisco Mountains in Mexico from Cazcabel Tequila: it’s a Blue Weber Agave crafted spirit that’ll provide the perfect shot for the occasion.
This said, the pop-up bar services providers are pretty passionate about tall drinks and cocktails too, so we imagine the pop-up Cazabel bar will stock everything needed to make the perfect sunny afternoon tipple: whatever your preference. If you don’t fancy a Mexican-inspired meal, the usual Waterlane Boat House menu will be serving up salads, burgers and pizzas aplenty.
Find out more here.
Eid in the Park
Monday 2 May 2022 | Caribbean Cricket Club, Scotts Hall Road
The Al-Rahmah Faith Centre is hosting Eid al-Fitr in the Park as part of the Eid celebrations across the city. Inshallah starts at 9.00, but Eid will be dependent on the first moon sighting announcement.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own prayer may, but stalls serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and plenty of foodie options will be supplying everything else needed for the occasion. All money raised will go towards the Masjid Donations and all are welcome to attend at the Caribbean Cricket Club throughout. Eid mubarak, Leeds.
Find out more here.
Apply to be a paid taco and margarita ‘taste tester’
Monday 2 May – Wednesday 5 May 2022 | www.designmynight.com
There’s a dream job advertised on the DesignMyNight website at the moment, but if you want to apply, you’ll have to act fast. In spirit of Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday 5 May 2022, one lucky foodie will get to spend £500 on reviewing tacos and margaritas across the UK and then get paid a further £1000 for their service.
This really is a niche job most of us could only dream of. The only. catch is that the job is paid in vouchers and DesignMyNight points (but really, that just means you can grab more meals out for free) and each meal during your reviewing time must be uploaded to the website help others plan their nights out.
Find out more here.
Bongos Bingo
Wednesday 4 May 2022 | O2 Academy, Cookridge Street
Midweek madness is back at the O2 Academy- and absolutely nothing is off limits during their 2022 stint. Expect dance offs, celebrity cardboard cutout appearances and all the best tunes- and that’s before we’ve got into the game.
It’s the only place to expect the unexpected, guaranteed to fill your night with laughter, crazy mishaps and a lot of booze- all whilst enjoying a light game of bingo between shots from the bar, singing S Club and Gerry Cinnamon, before breaking into wails from Total Eclipse of the Heart with the rest of the crowd. It’s also the only place we know of where you can walk away with a mobility scooter from this show- that’s certain to upgrade any student flat and make the neighbours jealous.
Find out more here.
Olympian Rebecca Adlington’s sports company to open new Batley swimming pool
Saturday 7 May 2022 | Frontier Business Park, Batley
A new purpose-built facility on Frontier Business Park in Batley (just fifteen minutes from Leeds city centre) will open on Saturday 7 May and will cater for families with children aged 0 – 11. Double Olympic medalist Rebecca Adlington has been behind the development, as co-founder of Sporting House, a group of Olympian-led brands, which includes swim!, SwimStars and Beth Tweddle Gymnastics.
There’s no current waiting lists and upon opening, lessons will run every day of the week, some of which will initially come free of charge- so there’s plenty of reason to head down and make yourself the first to test out the waters.
Find out more here.
Bonobo at O2 Academy
Saturday 7 May 2022 | O2 Academy, Cookridge Street
Fans of the electro musician have been waiting a long time for this one. Showcasing explorative performances of Bonobo’s music new and old, this Leeds concert will give gig-goers a rare opportunity to listen to sounds spanning across the musician’s entire career.
Doors open at 6pm on Saturday 7 May 2022 with a curfew of 10pm and support from up-and-coming artist Jacques Greene. If you can’t make it to the Leeds performance, fans will have the chance to catch Bonobo in Nottingham on the Sunday or at his five-day stint at the Royal Albert Hall in London the following week before the electro-artist heads across the channel to embark on the European stint of his world tour.
Find out more here.
Monday 2 May – Sunday 8 May 2022 | Regent Street, Chapel Allerton
Celebrating an impressive20 year anniversary, Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton has re-launched its long-archived menu from their first opening in 2002- and there’s some seriously irresistible dishes on the menu.
Seafood and spice are the main ingredients on this menu- and the combinations allows any visitor to consume a rainbow of colour and wealth of flavours without venturing too far from their long-time favourites- an ideal combination for any Thai food enthusiast. The Sukhothai Seafood Platter for two (or more) offers a generous selection of crispy satay fish, satay prawns and crispy squid in batter between well-dressed mussels and satay and sweet chilli dipping sauce, all placed a bed of salad shoots and leaves- and comes as our must-try recommendation on the menu.
Find out more here.
Read More: The traditional Thai restaurant in Leeds serving its 2002 menu to celebrate its 20th birthday
Tranquillity Season, Thackray Museum of Medicine
141 Beckett Street, Harehills | Monday 2 May – Sunday 8 May 2022.
A brand-new programme from Thackray Museum of Medicine promoting wellness and rejuvenation has opened in Harehills, and its an ideal R&R spot for all the family to learn about the importance of relaxing and unwinding.
As this season’s headline installation, the museum has partnered with The Wellcome Collection to bring ‘Regarding Forests’ to The Thackray. The project, Regarding Forests, is thought to evoke an atmosphere of tranquillity and provides visitors with a space to rest and relax whilst giving visitors the chance to learn about celebrated photographer Chrystel Lebas and their travels. From Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State, USA to the Japanese island of Yakushima, the installation seeks to provide a restorative encounter that reminds us of our reliance on the natural world.
The new exhibition will run until Sunday 17 July 2022. Find out more here.
Feature Image- Bonobo