One of Yorkshire's biggest foodie festivals is returning for another year- and there's plenty to look forward to.
Taking place from Friday 21 July - Sunday 23 July 2023, expect three jam-packed days of cookery classes, tastings, workshops and bars, live music- and that's just the beginning.
There's a star studded lineup of celebrity chefs taking to the kitchens too, with visits from Gino D'Acampo, Si King from The Hairy Bikers and Yorkshire's own James Martin inside the big top theatre kitchen.
Image: Yorkshire Dales Festival via Instagram
Image: Yorkshire Dales Festival via Instagram
There's everything you need for a full family day out. Kids can build sandcastles in the giant sandpit or head over to the children's cookery school for a masterclass in all things food before meeting furry friends at the petting farm and dressing up for the princess party.
This might be a foodie festival, but that's not stopping the organisers from bringing the festival to life with music. Tribute acts bringing the best tunes from Wannabe Spice Girls, Katy Perry, We Are Champion Queen, Take That Live alongside renowned artists DJ Gok Wan, Pat Sharp, Brutus Gold’s Love Train and The Zoots sounds of the 80s - so there's plenty of opportunity to dance day and night to feel good tunes through the ages.
Image: Yorkshire Dales Festival via Instagram
Camping
Camping is once again the perfect option for those wanting to experience the full weekend without the faff of driving to and from - and with ample space for caravans and motorhomes, you can make this a truly comfy camping experience.
Tickets
There's a whole host of ticket options, depending on whether you want to check out the celebrity kitchens, and start at £23 for adults and £15 for children over the age of 8.
All tickets can be purchased on the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival website here.
Getting There
The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival is based in Skipton on Funkirk Farm. This is just over an hour's drive from Leeds city centre.
The festival organisers have said that there will be lots of signage to help guide visitors from the A59 and warn that "anyone coming from the Bradford direction, please do not come through Carleton Village as their will be a one way system through the town, you will need to enter the festival from the A59".
Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.
Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.
Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Images: The Manc Group
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."
They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.
It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.
Leeds’ first sauna and ice bath cafe is coming to the city centre this spring
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Sophie Smith -
22nd February 2023 
