Leeds will be lit up in neon lights next week, and that can only mean one thing.
The return of Light Night.
As one of the official markers of the autumn season,Light Nightis one of the key calendar events to bring people together across the city and celebrate an array of beautiful installations and pieces of artwork, all of which can only be seen once the skies go dark.
Tying in nicely with the LEEDS2023 theme ofDreaming, this year's Light Night is all about‘Future Dreaming’.Over atThe Junction, the celebrations will be taken to a whole new level, with an on-site bar serving signature cocktails, live music and even a hog roast to tuck into.
This has got to be one of the cosiest spots to take in the wonders of Light Night.
The brand new neighbourhood has not only taken a spot on the Leeds skyline this year, but it's quickly becoming a go-to for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre, but still with close access to all the amenities and less than a ten minute walk from Leeds Train Station.
For the area's debut Light Night, The secret garden (yes, there's even a secret garden here) will be transformed by the work of UK-based artist Ulf Pedersen, with an installation entitled ‘Droplets’.
But there's far more here to explore than just the installation.
Wander over to Canal Quarters of The Junction to find a huge projection from northern wellness organisation,Feel Good Club.
Founded by wives Aimie and Kiera Lawlor-Skillen, the organisation has been projecting feel-good messages across cities, as well as owning their own cafe in Manchester. Feel Good Club does exactly what it says and shares important topics into the mainstream, like accepting that it's okay to talk about your mental health or putting yourself first, so we're excited to see what the organisation projects into Leeds on Light Night.
In addition to this, there will be a UV artwork collective taking place where visitors can add handprints or fingermarks to a giant canvas to create a unique piece of art.
UV interactive artwork and face painting will be available. / Image: Unsplash
For those looking for a bite to eat, Leeds indie favourites Homeboy Pizza Co. will be firing up the pizza oven on both nights, serving up those cheese-laden, tomato-covered slices of goodness that have been earning the pop-up pizzeria a glowing reputation around town.
And if that's not enough to get you drooling, local gastropub Three's A Crowd will be going mobile for the evening to bring a full hog roast down to The Junction and brownies from The Savvy Baker.
Drinkswise there will be a selection of proper winter warmers available. On the first evening, Thursday 12 October, visitors can grab a hot cider, beers and Prosecco whilst wandering through The Junction neighbourhood, and on Friday 13 October, the second day of Light Night, the winter warmer will be served alongside signature cocktails and all your usual bar favourites.
Every cocktail purchased on the Friday will give a donation toLATCH: Leeds Action to Create Homes, a local Leeds-based charity that helps to transform derelict and run-down houses in suburbs like Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley. There will also be the option to donate to LATCH at Thursday's events too.
All money raised will go towards sending the children supported by LATCH to a watch Show White at the Carriageworks Theatre this Christmas.
Homeboy Pizza Co. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Three's A Crowd. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
And of course it wouldn't be an evening out at The Junction without some live music. Local songwriterBRANDER will be keeping the feel-good atmosphere alive on both nights with a curated list of tunes, whilst The Face Paint Parlourwill keep the kids (and grown ups) entertained with UV face painting.
Whilst the rest of Light Night is going to be a truly exciting night with plenty to explore around the city centre, we're certainly going to be spending plenty of our time down at The Junction.
The new green neighbourhood, featuring 665 apartments to rent, has emerged just moments from Leeds city centre – and it has some seriously swoon-worthy features.
Outdoor event spaces, private dining rooms, green spaces, 24 hour security, and the coolest walk to work in the city – that’s just the beginning.
Check out some of these amenities that everyone living at The Junction will be able to take advantage of right here.
"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."
The Government wants the public to help decide if children should be banned from social media
Emily Sergeant
Should there be a minimum age to access social media? Should children be banned all together? The Government is asking the public to help decide.
In case you missed it earlier last month, the Government announced a social media crackdown in a bid to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes – with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he was looking to take ‘immediate action’ to make the online world safer for young people.
The new measures announced included a crackdown on ‘vile’ illegal content created by AI, as well as ‘fast action’ to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law.
It was also hinted at that setting a minimum age limit for social media – which Australia famously became the first country to do so last year – could be on the cards, and also the restricting of other harmful features like infinite scrolling.
The Prime Minister insisted that ‘no platform gets a free pass’.
And now, it’s your turn – parents, guardians, and young people across the UK are being urged to shape the country’s next steps on children’s digital wellbeing, as the Government has today (2 March 2026) opened what is said to be the the world’s most ambitious consultation on social media.
The consultation will aim to gather insights from the public on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots, and gaming platforms.
The Government has launched a consultation on banning social media for children / Credit: Julian Christ (via Unsplash)
“Millions of parents across the country worry about what social media is doing to their children’s sleep, concentration, and mental health,” the Government said in a announcing the launch of the consultation.
Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s, however, others – including leading children’s charities like UNICEF – have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards ‘less regulated’ corners of the internet, or leave teenagers unprepared for when they do come online.
This is why the Government says its consultation ‘looks beyond a ban’ and instead covers a full range of options – from curfews, to the impact of chatbots and gaming.
It also asks the questions about how any new rules would work in practice, in a bid to make sure they are effective.
On the social media side of things, three main questions are being posed in the consultaion:
Should there be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right?
Should platforms be required to switch off addictive features that keep children hooked late into the night – like infinite scrolling and autoplay?
And whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better, and what age they should apply to?
Speaking on the launch of the consultation today, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Technology is fundamentally changing childhood. Used well, it can open up new opportunities for learning, creativity and connection, but only if we get the balance right.
“That is why we want to hear directly from parents, teachers and young people about how we strike that balance and give children the very best childhood in a digital age.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added: “We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.
“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.”
The consultation is now live, and you can have your say here.
Sophie Smith -
9th October 2023 
