The best things to do in Leeds this week | 30 May – 5 June 2022
The four-day weekend awaits.
The Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend is finally here- so if you’re lucky enough to only work three days this week or be making the most of a half term break, you’re in for a real treat.
It feels like every bar, restaurant, activity centre, even walking spot has a designated Jubilee event, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to travel far for an exciting day trip.
Keep reading to find out what our top picks of things to do this week entail…
Kate Nash Live
Tuesday 31 May 2022 | The Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square
Still best known for her 2007 tunes, Kate Nash has long been an indie-pop icon known across Britain for her famous lines about bad relationships: “I’d rather be with your friends, mate, ‘Cause they are much fitter“.
According to Big Issue North, the Foundations singer-songwriter has been writing horror fiction, working on a musical and made a documentary, all in addition to her day job of performing over the past few years. Now on the cusp of releasing her fifth studio album, Nine Sad Symphonies, Nash is taking to the stage here in Leeds to perform all things new and old before the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
All tickets cost £24.75 each, including a £2.75 booking fee, and are available on The Wardrobe website.
Tuesday 31 May 2022. Find out more here.
Mans Market Afternoon Jubli-Chi
Thursday 2 June – Friday 3 June 2022, 2-5pm | West Point, Wellington Street
Having been highly recommended by the Sunday Times, we’re convinced that Mans Market has received nothing but glowing reviews since its opening, but it’s their Afternoon Chi concept that’s got us talking non-stop about dim sum in 2022. Now bringing their unique concept to the Jubilee weekend, the popular restaurant will host a special Jubilee weekend afternoon tea, aptly named ‘Jubi-Chi’.
Based on the traditional afternoon tea, Mans Market have replaced those boring finger sandwiches and petit fours with all your favourite dishes to create the ultimate afternoon experience- with plenty of booze included.
Think handfuls of Chicken Gyoza, Pork War Tip Dumplings, Mushroom Corn and vegan-friendly Bamboo Dumplings, each swirled and dunked into sweet chilli or soy sauce before making your way onto vegan spring rolls and snack on Lotus Crisps with chilli and spring onions. This really is the epitome of a unique afternoon tea, perfect for all Chinese food connoisseurs and those that love a bit of dim sum after a few drinks with respective interest.
Thursday 2 June – Friday 3 June 2022, 2-5pm. Find out more here.
Summertime Live
Wednesday 1 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
The Ibiza Classics gig, Summertime Live, is bringing the European sunshine to Leeds this June- and we’ve already got the day off for it. Conveniently falling on the Jubilee bank holiday, Thursday 1 June, there really is no excuse not to get tickets unless you’ve been invited to the Queen’s birthday bash.
There will be two Classic Ibiza sets throughout the evening, and in between live DJ sets will be filling in the interludes whilst you grab a drink from independent bars or get some glittery makeup from artists lining the sides.
Leeds isn’t the only city that you can see Summertime Live in action, if you’re visiting Windsor, Brighton or Newcastle, you can witness the same Classic Ibiza tunes live around the UK throughout the summer.
All tickets cost £35 plus a £3.98 booking fee. Upgrade to The Garden for £25 includes relaxed seating, premium toilets, street food and premium bars. All tickets can be booked on the Summertime Live website.
Wednesday 1 June 2022. Find out more here.
Drag Queen Bottomless Brunch
Thursday 2 June 2022 from 7pm | Manahatta, Merrion Street
There’s two drag brunches to get involved in this bank holiday. Each held at one of Manahatta’s New-York-inspired bars, the Manahatta Drag Jubilee brunch is a two hour bottomless experience with entertainment from queens aplenty.
Priced from just £35, Manahatta Headingley will be the first to host the Drag Queen affair on Thursday 2 June 2022 from 7pm whilst Manahatta Merrion Street will ensure that anyone unable to attend the weekday event don’t miss out at their 2pm bottomless on Sunday 5 May 2022.
Find out more here.
Greek Street Jubilee Street Party
Thursday 2 June 12pm – 10pm | Greek Street
Given the four-day weekend extravaganza ahead, Greek Street is bringing the celebrations from evening to afternoon so you can spend more time drinking and dancing than ever before.
Kicking the event off at midday on Thursday 2 June 2022, there will be no less than three DJs playing across the centre of Greek Street for a whopping ten hours in front of Yorkshire House.
Expect the very best of cheesy tunes, old school R&B, as well as dance tracks and modern beats as the sky fades into pastel nighttime hues and the party continues late into the night.
Thursday 2 June 2022. Find out more here.
Yard & Coop Royal Varieties Drag Afternoon Tea
Friday 3 June 2022, 12-2pm | Yard & Coop, Merrion Street
From the creators of the 12 inch ‘Massive C*ck’ burger comes afternoon tea in true dirty bird style at Merrion Street’s favourite fried chicken restaurant and bar. Expect three layers of crunchy, sweet, savoury and all round delicious servings, starting with a huge bowl of fries with buttermilk fried chicken and crispy smoked bacon.
If that wasn’t enough, sweet treats come in the shape of Kinder Bueno cookie pie and dulce de leche sea salted brownies with marshmallows, fresh strawberries and oozing with chocolate sauce laden over the desserts.
Each afternoon tea ticketcomes with a cocktail of your choice before watching in awe of a fabulous Royal Variety spin-off performance set to shake the whole house down.
Yard & Coop have said: “Dedecked and bejewelled in their finest Crown Jewels, they gonna sashay, shantay, fried chicken on the runway. Regal realness” is to be expected, and for a more than reasonable price of £25, this exciting event is set to sell out quickly.
Friday 3 June 2022. Find out more here.
Slam Dunk Festival North
Friday 3 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Slam Dunk Festival North is back for another year and there’s a huge line-up to look forward to. Set in the heart of Temple Newsam, one of Leeds’ best known festival venues is the hosting a one day set of metal, emo, punk and ska music from some of the industry’s biggest names.
The one-day festival kicks off on the bank holiday Friday, with live performances across five stages at Temple Newsam. Neck Deep, Sum41 and ALEXISONFIRE, amongst other exciting names will all take to the stage, plus plenty of up-and-coming alternative acts.
Tickets start at £69, but you’re likely to get a ticket priced over £85 as the date gets looms closer. Those looking for VIP entry tickets can pay £129 for entry to the VIP Guest area, VIP toilets and guest bar. All tickets can be purchased from the Slam Dunk Festival website.
Friday 3 June 2022. Find out more here.
Four hour bottomless afternoon tea with Le Chalet
Friday 3 June 2022 11.30am – 3.30pm | Royal Armouries
A whopping four-hour long bottomless experience is available over the four-day weekend in true royal style in collaboration with Le Chalet- with all the free-flowing fizz you could dream of. Whilst the full menu hasn’t been released, we’re expecting to see the best of Le Chat bites at the afternoon tea extravaganza: petit fours and finger sarnies included.
Taking place inside one of Leeds’ most historic centres on Friday 3 June 2022 11.30am – 3.30pm, Royal Armouries will play host to the afternoon where guests will be serenaded by live jazz music throughout the event. It really doesn’t get more like Buckingham Palace that this. Tickets cost from £55 per person in attendance, and covers the entire four hour experience.
Friday 3 June 2022 11.30am – 3.30pm. Find out more here.
Live at Leeds Festival
Saturday 4 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
The popular festival is usually held each year across the inner-city centre, with artists playing at a range of Leeds venues, but it was pushed back until October this year due to pandemic-related restrictions. As a result, the Live at Leeds team have decided that the multi-venue traditional Live at Leeds will be hosted in October 2022 and an outdoor one-day festival will take place in its usual May spot.
Joining the hefty line-up of rising Indie headliners: Alfie Templeman, The Pigeon Detectives, Cassia, Laruran Hibberd, Tribes and Dream Wife have all been confirmed to perform alongside The MYsterines, Kid Kapichi, Coach Party and Zuzu.
Headining the event are: The Vaccines, Holly Humberstone, Sports Team and The Snuts will be joining the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Arlo Parks, Easy Life and Sea Girls at Temple Newsam over the Queen’s Jubilee weekend. Nothing But Thieves were originally set to play but has since had to cancel and their headline slot will be replaced by The Vaccines on Saturday 4 June.
Live at Leeds Tickets are now available on the Live at Leeds website for the 2022 one-day festival, with general admission priced at £60.50.
Saturday 4 June 2022. Find out more here.
Free buses across West Yorkshire
Sunday 5 June 2022 | Across West Yorkshire
In honour of the Platinum Jubilee, bus journeys across West Yorkshire will be completely free of charge on Sunday 5 June 2022.
The West Yorkshire combined authority has released a statement this week to confirm the news, commenting that they hope that the free bus service will help people to see their family and friends over the special occasion and invite more people to use the buses in the future.
There’s no special ticket needed, nor to do need to sign up to anything in advance- all you need to do is hop on the bus most convenient for your journey, and make as many trips as they like for free on any journey within West Yorkshire.
Free travel locations include the Platinum Jubilee Extravaganza at Middleton Park, Jubilee activities at Leeds City Museum and events further afield like the Jubilee family fun day in Huddersfield and the Jubilee Weekend Celebrations at The Piece Hall in Halifax.
Banyan Jubilee Bottomless Brunch
Sunday 5 June 2022, 12-4pm | City Square, Leeds City Centre
Proudly going over the top with Great British decor with “all the British paraphernalia you could wish for and a cracking Best of British soundtrack”, Banyan is hosting a Jubilee bottomless that even royalty couldn’t pass up.
Loyal Banyan fans will be familiar with the drink options of Prosecco, Bloody Mary’s (only available on the brunch menu) Aperol Spritz, Poached Pear Spritz, Coors and Garibaldis but if that wasn’t enough choice already, both new menus now feature two new alcoholic additions. The Apricot and Grapefruit Fizz and the Strawberry Spritz are new, summery cocktails that will be absolutely perfect for the warmer weather.
The summer menu also boasts Korean Fried Chicken Burgers, or there’s the new Onion Bhaji wrap which is sure to fill you up (and it’s vegan). The upgrades still include old favourites like the Alpine Chicken Schnitzel and the Steak Frites, so no matter how hungry you are, or what you’re fancying, you’re sure to find a dish that tastes amazing and lines your stomach.
Sunday 5 June 2022. Find out more here.
Free Queen’s Tipple
Thursday 2 June – Sunday 5 June 2022 | Select Greene King pubs
Select Greene King pubs are taking part in a ‘Queen’s Tipple’ campaign that will see anyone with a four-legged companion similar to those of the queen with a drink on the house. The chain has teamed up with Beefeater and Dubonnet to offer a free Queen’s Tipple drink to anyone that brings either a Corgi or Corgi-related merch into select pubs over the bank holiday period.
The Queen’s Tipple Cocktail, made from 50ml Dubonnet and 25ml Beefeater London Dry Gin, is supposedly a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II (just like the Queen’s Mother) that is drank on special occasions. For those not enticed by the royal cocktail, a soft drink alternative is available as: a glass of draught Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Schweppes Lemonade.
Both Woodies Craft Ale House in Far Headingley and The Skyrack in Headingley are taking part in the event and will be offering out free Queen’s Tipple over the Platinum Jubilee weekend whilst The Regent in Chapel Allerton will also offer out free drinks on this special occasion too.
Thursday 2 June – Sunday 5 June 2022. Find out more here.
Feature Image- Live at Leeds / The Lost and Found Greek Street