The Key Club has decided to cancel showings of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, citing the 'ongoing human rights and LGBTQ+ issues' in the host city as the reason for the removal of the eventsfrom its schedule.
The popular event space and music venue was due to show England games for the World Cup but made the decision yesterday to remove this as an option.
Releasing a statement on Facebook, The Key Club have said that:
"We have decided to cancel the upcoming England matches which we had planned to show at The Key Club.
"We wanted to create a safe space where people felt comfortable to watch the football, however, after careful deliberation and upon further research, we now understand it is best to cancel the upcoming events in response to the ongoing human rights and LGBTQ+ issues surrounding the host nation.
"The Key Club is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space and so we hope you all stand by our decision.
"As an additional mark of our support, we will be collecting donations for LGBTQ+ charities at upcoming events at The Key Club.
Adding that "Whilst we won't be showing the matches, we wish England the very best of luck!", the Facebook post has received overwhelmingly positive comments on the venue's decision to support the LGBTQ+ community and continue to offer a safe space for all.
"So much respect for this, it means so much to our community, that you take that stand and let us know we matter. I hope more business follow. We appreciate you." was just one of the positive comments left, whilst others shared rainbow heart emojis and likes on the update.
The Key Club isn't the only Leeds-based business to reverse the decision to show the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The Mustard Pot in Chapel Allerton also issued a statement yesterday, stating that "I made the wrong decision to show the World Cup and I am sorry" with all tickets refunded and an apology "to anyone we offended by announcing we would be showing it".
Norfolk-based jewellery brand Lisa Angel is opening their first Yorkshire site right here in Leeds.
Jewellery and trinket lovers, this one's for you.
Lisa Angel, a female-founded jewellery and gifting brand will open the doors to its new store in Victoria Gate next month.
Shoppers can expect a wonderful range of jewellery, gifts, and accessories that have established a loyal following during more than twenty years of business.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has only gone from strength to strength since.
Image: Supplied
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
After opening two stores last year and three stores in 2024, Lisa Angel’s founder and Creative Director, Lisa, said: “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.”
Managing Director James Moody explained the significance to the business of opening a new store in a city as influential as Leeds: “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."
We'll keep you up to date when we know an opening date, but for now you can check out what to expect here.
Yorkshire residents are being invited to name two new bin lorries
Clementine Hall
Well...this is a new one.
Ever fancied naming a bin lorry? Well today is your lucky day, because now you can.
Yorkshire-based waste management experts Divert are celebrating the arrival of two swanky new tbin rucks by inviting the local community to help name them.
The iconic purple bins, vans and trucks can be seen across the Yorkshire area helping to clean up waste from Bradford to Harrogate.
Two new lorries are set to be joining the fleet in April and May, and of course they need a name.
And who better to ask than the general public? The winning names will be added to the cabs of each of the trucks for all to see, and announced via the Divert website and social media channels.
Absolutely anyone from across the UK is welcome to take part, but the company are especially keen for people from Yorkshire to enter.
You can be as creative as you like, but there are a couple of rules...
No swearing or offensive names. Aside from that, you can let your freak flag fly.
The Divert team are keen to hear the 'best celebrity puns, local namesakes, and downright silly names' the public have to offer.
John Verity, Managing Director of Divert, comments: “Naming our bin trucks is a great way to bring some joy to the local community. We hope to bring a smile to the faces of passing drivers and pedestrians as our fleet passes by.
“Not only that, naming our lorries can help our drivers to take pride and ownership in the vehicles they drive and be a key reminder of our engagement within the community. We’re always keen to employ any initiatives that help the public to engage with us and ensure we’re seen as a friendly face in the area.”
Winners will be voted for by the team internally, and the competition closes at 5 pm on 31 March 2026.
The Hoot -
15th November 2022 
