A Christmas party is coming to Leeds for small businesses and self employed workers and best of all, there's no networking involved.
Small businesses, self employed workers and freelancers don't exactly get the best deal when it comes to socialising at party events.
Unless you're a keen networker or already have plenty of allies within your sector, Christmas usually goes by without a party in sight.
Not anymore.
The Sleigh Bell Social is a Christmas Party designed to bring people from all sectors together for a night of festive cheer. For freelancers, small businesses and self employed workers, this one is going to be a night to remember.
On Sunday 12 December grab some comfy dancing shoes and a santa hat and head down to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for a Christmas party like no other.
Whether you made the leap to go self employed in lockdown or have owned a small business for years gone by, this night is all about celebrating Christmas with people that are just like you.
The no networking Christmas party is a night of festive celebrations where making new friends is optional. / Image: Sleigh Bell Social
Organised by Leeds' Ink events, the idea is there will be zero networking. That's right. No need to put on a smile and pretend to enjoy creating business opportunitites.
It's time to let your hair down and have some much needed time off.
Tickets give party-goers access to a free drink on arrival, followed by a delicious three course meal with all the festive trimmings.
A night of live music from a 1920s swing-style band, Christmas games and yuletide activities will follow to celebrate the tough year 2021 has been for small businesses.
Plus, everyone gets a secret santa gift, so nobody will walk away empty handed.
Secret santa, free drinks and a three course meal are all part of the tax deductible ticket price. / Image: Sleigh Bell Social
Organisers Leeds' Ink Events explained that they wanted to offer a stress-free evening for those most affected by the pandemic and other pressures that 2021 has brought..
“After another touch-and-go year for small business owners and freelancers, we wanted to put something together which is purely a celebration, no networking or sales pitches, just a good, straight up party with drinks and dancing!
If you come away from the night with a few new awesome business connections then that’s just an amazing bonus.”
Tickets are available online from £50 but as HMRC is providing tax relief against the cost of holding a Christmas party for business employees, the Sleigh Bell Social is completely tax-deductible.
Bring on the mulled wine and mince pies and enjoy a night of celebrating the festive season with like-minded individuals across Leeds.
The Sleigh Bell Social will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday 12 December from 7pm.
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Sophie Smith -
4th November 2021 
