News

The Starship Technologies ‘Co-op robots’ delivering food to Leeds suburbs could be here to stay

Starship’s robots are battery-powered, lightweight, and travel at the speed of a pedestrian.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 17th March 2023

If you've found yourself wandering around Adel and Tinshill over the past few months, you might have spotted these robots pacing their way around the suburbs.

Starship Technologies has been working with Leeds City Council to offer an alternative delivery option to the city - and the tiny robots taking groceries from Co-op to homes has caught the attention of Leeds and beyond.

And after three months of trialling the service, ITV News reports that the robots "may be extended after a survey showed 72% positive feedback from residents".

@thehootleeds They are cute though 😂 #leeds #leedsuni #visitleeds #robots #cooprobots #doctorwho #foryou #fyp #placestovisit #robotwars ♬ Doctor Who Theme (TV Version) - Murray Gold

In an interview with the national broadcaster, Ben Jackson, a team leader at the Co-op in Adel said the people loved the robots so much that they received Christmas cards for them, and "[they]'re getting a lot of families taking pictures with their children".

It doesn't seem as if the novelty of watching a white robot pace down the road has worn off at all - and there still seems to be plenty of the Starship robots spotted around the suburbs even after the official trial date came to a close on Saturday 4 March 2023.

What on earth are these robots?

But how exactly does the delivery service work? Well, it’s actually pretty simple – first, you’ll get to choose from a wide range of Co-op grocery items, then pick a delivery time from the schedule, before “dropping a pin” to show where you want the delivery to be sent and watching the robot travel in real-time on an interactive map.

You’ll receive an alert when it arrives, and you can then meet and unlock the robot’s lid through the app to retrieve your shopping.

It’s already being dubbed a “quick and convenient” way to serve the community.

Starship’s robots are battery-powered, lightweight, and travel at the speed of a pedestrian.

They use a combination of sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to travel on pavements and navigate around any obstacles, while their computer vision-based navigation helps them map their environment to the nearest inch.

Co-op’s partnership with Starship Technologies and Trafford Council will soon see the robots come to Greater Manchester too. / Credit: Starship Technologies

Following on from trials in Leeds, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bedford, Cambridge, it was also announced this week that Greater Manchester would be introduced to the delivery service too.

Read More:

It is expected more information will be released shortly about the future of the Starship Technology in Leeds.

Feature Image - Starship Technologies

News

Wakefield set to be the first city outside of London to display the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The UK Aids Memorial Quilt is set to go on display across Wakefield this summer.

The quilt - consisting of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels, representing over 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS - will go on display at WX Wakefield from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 June 2026.

All 42 quilts will be on display, with WX working in partnership with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservation Partnership.

Across the same weekend, selected individual panels will be displayed at different venues across the city including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House Wakefield, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Pontefract Castle and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Part of the world’s largest community art project, this is a huge opportunity for the city of Wakefield. The project started in the USA back in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones, commemorating friends, family and loved ones lost to AIDS.

Individual panels were then stitched together to create larger quilts, which were shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

Today, the quilt stands as a crucial reminder of those who were lost and of the continuing affect that HIV and AIDS has on the people of today.

At WX Wakefield, viewing the quilt is completely free and on Friday 5 June there will be a special late night opening up until 10:30pm to view the exhibition.

And on Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm, there will be a very special and poignant reading of the names of those commemorated on the quilt.

You can find out more about this very special exhibition here at WX Wakefield's website.

Read more: Team behind Mint Warehouse to open new 2,000 capacity venue in Leeds with strict no-phone policy

Featured image - UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, installation view at Tate Modern, June 2025. Photo: AM Hanson



News

Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.

It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.

The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.

Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.

The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Kefiyo Leeds (@kefi.yo)

Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.

Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.

We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.

But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.

 Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

More News

Audio

Team behind Mint Warehouse to open new 2,000 capacity venue in Leeds with strict no-phone policy

Eats

Cult favourite burger chain Burgerism is officially coming to Leeds this summer

Audio

Bring Me The Horizon announce huge Manchester gig for Count Your Blessings anniversary