One of Yorkshire’s top hotels has been named the ‘Best Hotel Spa’ in the UK at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2025.
Simply nothing screams luxury more than escaping to a hotel spa for the night, and this one in Yorkshire has been tipped as the best in the country.
Grantley Hall, a beautiful 18th-century stately home located in Ripon, was the only Yorkshire spot to receive a coveted Michelin 'key' earlier this year.
This new accolade from Michelin recognises spectacular hotels from across the world that go above and beyond.
Image: Grantley Hall
The beautiful 47-bedroom hotel is home to a whopping five restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, and of course is home to the impeccable Three Graces Spa.
Facilities include a huge 18-metre indoor swimming pool, indoor to outdoor hydrotherapy and a new Nordic Spa Garden which features two ice baths and an outdoor sauna.
The spa offers a wellness programme that's philosophy is all about balance, staff aim to help you achieve a state of equilibrium unique to you, your state of mind and your body’s needs.
Image: Grantley Hall
The Harrogate Advertiser reported that Grantley Hall’s General Manager Nuno César de Sá said: “The Three Graces Spa really is an exceptional spa and we are honoured to accept this award by the those at Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence – further solidifying us as a beacon for excellence in both the luxury hospitality and wellness areas.
“Our team at the Three Graces Spa and across the rest of the hotel work diligently to create extraordinary experiences for our guests. Our world-class facilities are a major draw, inviting guests to come and discover the magic of Grantley Hall for themselves and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience our award-winning spa first-hand.”
If you'd like to visit Grantley Hall then you can find more about the incredible hotel here, and you can read the full list of winners at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2025 here.
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Clementine Hall -
8th November 2024 
