In a heartfelt statement, much-loved gallery and creative space The Tetley announced that its lease has come to an end, and as a result will be closing its doors later this month.
The exhibition space, Tiny Tetley play area and T Bar and Cafe will both close from Sunday 22 October 2023, but the building will remain open throughout November and December to host private events and honour existing bookings for building takeovers by community initiatives and festivals.
In 2024, The Tetley plans to continue its artistic programme, but will move off the site. Confirmed projects like Inside Out, 'a new participatory art project designed to facilitate children’s play in collaboration with communities and partner organisations in Beeston and Beeston Hill', will still take place.
This isn't the end for everything that The Tetley offers, but sadly it is the end of the creative space inside the former brewery building as we know it.
The company behind the brand, Project Space Leeds, hopes to announce plans for a new home in the future. The Tetley has said it will be "continuing its mission to create a platform for amazing emerging artists, present breathtaking free exhibitions and help communities and young people in Leeds find their creative voices".
The Tetley has told those interested in enquiring about the original Tetley building itself should contact Aire Park, the new neighbourhood that's opened adjacent to The Tetley.
The Tetley announced the news via Instagram explaining:
"We have some important news. After ten years here at The Tetley, we’ll be leaving our iconic building at the end of the year, as our lease comes to an end.
"Since opening as an art gallery in 2013, we’ve welcomed nearly a million visitors through our doors – and we’re immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved here.
"In the last ten years, we’ve presented 56 exhibitions, (including Yorkshire’s only Turner-prize winner!) and worked with more than 1200 artists – based locally, nationally and internationally.
"As well as our breathtaking programme of free exhibitions, and a busy events schedule of weddings, conferences and events, we also pride ourselves on engaging with our local communities.
"In the last year alone, the gallery’s under 5s play space, Tiny Tetley Studio, has welcomed more than 10,000 young children, parents and carers, and the gallery’s participation programme has engaged with 14,000 people, hosting community groups and organisations at the building and working offsite in south Leeds to bring creative projects to parks and community centres."
For all the information about The Tetley's announcement, you can read the full statement here.
About The Tetley
Located on Leeds’ South Bank on Hunslet Road, The Tetley has been housing a beautiful contemporary art gallery, but it was once the home of Leeds’ oldest brewing dynasties, synonymous with the city for over two centuries.
The brewery was founded by Joshua Tetley in 1822, when he bought the site for a mere £400. A few years later in 1839 he made his son, Francis William a partner, creating Joshua Tetley and Son.
At its peak, Tetley was Britain’s biggest cask ale brewery, employing thousands of people and owning around 1,000 pubs across England. In the 1980s, Tetley’s became the world’s largest producers of cask ale and was taken over by Carlsberg in 1988.
Unfortunately the brewery closed in 2011 and was demolished a year later, but the Leeds connection is maintained through the No.3 Pale Ale. The famous tipple is still being brewed in Leeds and uses the original recipe from 1868, using the same unique double strain of yeast that creates the distinctive, delicious taste we all know and love.
The building was transformed in 2013 and now hosts unique gallery spaces and studios for creatives to showcase their work.
West Yorkshire's very own Jane McDonald is coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds for a hometown show that's set to be spellbinding.
Making her British TV screen debut nearly 30 years ago on The Cruise, before joining the Loose Women panel and going on to present a whole host of travel shows including Cruising with Jane McDonald, now this Wakefield legend returns to First Direct Arena.
This latest tour titled after her 2026 LP Living The Dream, will see Jane singing hits from both past and present including a couple covers too.
Earlier this year, Jane's Mighty Hoopla performance went viral online after she commanded the stage in a red leather jacket, donning a singular rainbow hair extension while belting out RAYE's 'Where Is My Husband!'
Audio North even got the opportunity to interview this legendary lady when she visited her hometown HMV store in Wakefield for an exclusive album signing - Oh look, it's me!
The Wakefield wonder-woman's latest album Living The Dream was released in March and considering the tour is named after this impressive LP, we're sure fans can expect to hear quite a few tracks from this album.
Living The Dream
I'll Not Be Beaten
You Don't Know What You Got
Don't Mind If I Do
The Hand That Leads Me
Ain't Gonna Beg
I Will Always Love You
Islands in the Stream
Jolene
9 to 5
You're My World
Where Is My Husband!
Let the Light In
Cake by the Ocean
Jai Ho!
APT.
Right Where I Belong
How Do I Move On
Beautiful Soul
All By Myself
You Still Lead Me
Of course, Jane also loves to cover a tune or two, and we'll never forget her renditions of 'Cake By The Ocean', 'Jai Ho' or 'APT.'.
What are the stage times for Jane McDonald in Leeds?
The doors for Jane McDonald's Living The Dream Tour in Leeds are set for 6pm with the event set to start at 7.30pm.
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you have enough time to dash home and eat 'Cake by the (Sofa)' before ringing in the new day.
How to get to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
The independent Leeds cafe speaking up after massive coffee chain opens opposite
Daisy Jackson
An independent bakery and coffee shop in Leeds has spoken out after a huge chain opened its doors opposite her cafe.
Savannah Roqaa, owner of The Savvy Baker, has said that she's on a mission to overtake the sales of Blank Street, the massive matcha chain that opened just metres away within weeks of her new site.
She said that while her brand is best-known for its baked goods, they also specialise in high-quality matcha - something Sav says wasn't in good supply in Leeds at the time she opened.
And now she's publicly spoken out about her mission to tempt people away from the big chain and into her independent business.
In a video shared online, Sav has been inviting customers leaving Blank Street to swap their matcha for one of hers, free of charge.
She then remakes the white chocolate matcha herself, but using quality Callebaut white chocolate, melting real chocolate into the drink.
The customer in the video says: "You can tell, it's way sweeter and like actually white chocolate tasting. And the matcha is greener, which is better."
Sav from The Savvy Baker has spoken of her mission to overtake Blank StreetMatcha from The Savvy Baker in Leeds
Sav said: "So when we signed the lease on literally the biggest risk ever, which is this huge shop in Leeds city centre, we had absolutely no idea that Blank Street were opening their biggest store in the entire world across the road.
"They are a global brand that is obviously very very popular, and we just wanted to try and at least match their sales."
She said that she's heard Blank Street sells 5,000 drinks every single week and is hoping to increase sales at The Savvy Baker enough to match.
Sav said: "Last week we sold 890 drinks. We've converted one, so that is 4,109 more people to convert...
"But we have a lot more tricks up our sleeve, so follow along to see if we can do it. And we would massively appreciate any support that you can give us."
Sophie Smith -
29th September 2023 
