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The Leeds Valentine’s Fair is returning to the city – here’s everything you need to know

Love is in the fair...

Clementine Hall - 4th February 2025

The iconic Leeds attraction is back for its 32nd year, and it’s set to get everyone feeling all loved-up.

That’s right, the most romantic day of the year is just around the corner and if you’re not feeling the love just yet then we have the perfect event for you.

The UK's best known Valentine's event is returning for the half term holidays, taking place from Friday 14 February to Sunday 23 February 2025.

Get ready for a weekend of rides, games and attractions that are perfect for the whole family to partake in.

Image: Leeds Valentine's Fair

We’re talking a whopping 360° spinning ride The Superstar, the 40m-high Booster Ride, huge swinging pendulum The Devil Rock, dodgems, and, of course, Leeds’ Wheel of Light.

There will also be a brand new Waltzer making its debut at the fair plus a huge selection of children’s rides and games.

The fair will be taking place in Victoria Gardens, on Cookridge Street and at Millennium Square.

Image: Leeds Valentine's Fair

The best part? Admission to the Valentine's Fair is completely free, with individual charges for each ride and attraction.

The Leeds Valentine’s Funfair will be open from 12-9:30pm every day apart Saturday where it will close at 10pm.

There will also be a selection of food stalls on site serving traditional favourites including hot dogs, churros, donuts, candy floss as well as coffees and hot chocolate.

To find out more, take a look at the Leeds Valentine's Fair website.

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Featured image – Leeds Valentine’s Fair

Leeds

Leeds zoo named one of the best in the country as it receives national mark of excellence by experts

Clementine Hall

Lotherton Hall’s Wildlife World has received an official mark of excellence from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium.

After a visit from experts earlier this year, the Wildlife World at Lotherton Hall is now officially credited by the organisation.

The achievement recognises the high quality of the zoo in animal welfare, education, conservation and research.

The accreditation also ranks the zoo as one of the best in the country.

The centre is home to a range of wildlife species including wallabies, capybaras, penguins, emus and critically endangered Visayan warty pigs.

Image: Supplied, Leeds City Council

The zoo also takes part in international breeding and conservation programmes.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the staff at Lotherton Wildlife World on the great work they undertake in making sure that the zoo holds a world class standard. This accreditation shows our high standard of animal care and the passion we have for helping support international conservation efforts.

“At both Wildlife World and Tropical World there’ll be lots going on for Love Your Zoo week, and they both make a great day out for the whole family.”

Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA congratulated Wildlife World on their achievement. She said: “Receiving accredited status is not an easy thing to do. It is testament to the passion and hard work of every member of staff.”

“Our accreditation program means visitors can be sure that BIAZA zoos and aquariums are dedicated to looking after their animals to the highest standard and to inspirational work in conservation and education. We need good zoos more than ever. We face a nature crisis and we have the power to make a big difference.”

You can find out more about Lotherton Hall's Wildlife World here.

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Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

The Shawshank Redemption comes to Leeds Grand Theatre: a story of hope, survival and humanity

More than a prison story: it’s a discovery into toxic masculinity within prisons.

Adapting a film as iconic and widely loved as The Shawshank Redemption for the stage comes with enormous expectations, yet this touring production at Leeds Grand Theatre delivers a gripping and emotionally charged theatrical experience.

Rather than relying solely on the legacy of the film, the production successfully uses the intimacy of live theatre to create a darker, more psychologically intense interpretation of Stephen King’s story.

From the opening moments, the audience is immersed in the harsh world of Shawshank prison. The cold lighting, industrial staging and haunting sound design establish an atmosphere dominated by confinement, fear and institutional control.

Image: Supplied

The stripped-back set works effectively in creating a bleak and claustrophobic environment, allowing the emotional tension between characters to take centre stage. Unlike the cinematic scale of the film, the stage adaptation feels far more immediate and uncomfortable, forcing the audience to confront the realities of prison life at close range.

Joe McFadden delivers a restrained yet powerful performance as Andy Dufresne, capturing the character’s quiet resilience, intelligence and emotional vulnerability without attempting to imitate the film portrayal.

Image: Supplied

Ben Onwukwe is equally compelling as Red, bringing warmth, humour and emotional depth to the role. The chemistry between the two actors becomes the emotional core of the production, perfectly reflecting the play’s themes of friendship, survival and hope.

One of the production’s strongest aspects is its exploration of toxic masculinity within the prison system. Shawshank is presented as an environment where power is maintained through aggression, intimidation and emotional suppression.

Image: Supplied

Vulnerability becomes dangerous, while violence and dominance are treated as necessary forms of survival. Bill Ward’s portrayal of Warden Stammas embodies this culture perfectly, delivering a performance filled with controlled menace, hypocrisy and quiet authority.

However, there were moments where the production lost some emotional realism. Several stage combat sequences, intended to highlight the brutality and hierarchy of prison life, felt under-rehearsed and lacked the intensity needed to fully convey the violence of the narrative. At times, the choreography appeared slightly unstructured, unintentionally reducing the tension of scenes that should have felt genuinely threatening.

Image: Supplied

Similarly, while the minimal set design effectively reinforced the oppressive atmosphere of Shawshank, the visual staging occasionally became repetitive throughout the production. Aside from the movement of Dufresne’s cell and the recurring use of the mobile bookcase, there was limited visual variation across scenes. Although this may have been a deliberate directorial choice to reflect the monotony of prison life, it did affect the pacing at points, with some audience engagement appearing to dip during slower sections.

Despite these criticisms, the production remains a powerful and emotionally resonant piece of theatre. Through strong performances, effective direction and its exploration of institutional power and masculinity, The Shawshank Redemption captures the endurance of hope and humanity in even the darkest environments. Thought-provoking, intense and deeply moving, it is a production that earns every moment of its standing ovation.

Running from 18 - 23 May at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House, you can get your tickets here.

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Featured image - Supplied