That means plenty of people have already turned their backs on New Year's resolutions, got through Dry January or Veganuary and slipped back into everyday life.
Okay, maybe we're just speaking for ourselves, but these first few months of the year are typically that time where we look at our plans for the year as a whole: making plans to try new hobbies, actually switch our laptops off at 5pm to find a proper work-life balance, and probably spending far too much time looking at new apartments.
If one of your plans for 2024 is to move in or around Leeds, we've got you covered with some handy consideration points for the new year that make moving easier than ever with some pretty cool incentives to look forward to, (but more on that later).
We've teamed up with The Junction Leedsto explore how living in the brand new neighbourhood might just have all the answers we've been looking for to kick off the new year, and to put ourselves first in 2024.
Build To Rent communities combines social and living spaces for the best of both worlds - and the concept is growing in popularity
The rental market has boomed over the last few years. BTR News predicted back in 2020 that by the end of 2023, the UK would have seen a 22% increase in renters moving into private rental spaces, with a focus on communities and combating loneliness at the heart of many complexes.
The predictions were made nine months after the beginning of those months indoors at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic - and whilst the world has moved on in one sense, it changed priorities for a lot of us: and given the choice of being surrounded by like minded people in a community has got many of us still continuing to search for spaces that continue to bring people together, even some years on.
The appeal with Build To Rent properties is easy to see: it's not just a rental you're paying for, but often an entire lifestyle, with an entire community to go with it.
Take The Junction Leeds for example: there's 665 apartments, with options to live in a one, two or three bedroom unit - and although the living quarters are beautiful, they only form a small part of The Junction's neighbourhood.
In the cold winter months, residents can cosy up in the resident's lounge with a big cup of coffee from the free-to-use machine in the kitchen and spend the summer playing on the giant sports courts.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Finding flexible ways to work that don't always involve being at the office
HAYS UK found that 39% of workers are still operating on a hybrid working model - and you only have to look around any given coffee shop in Leeds to spot the laptops belonging to the thousands of workers that are still spending time away from the traditional office setting.
Over at The Junction, there's a dedicated co-working space within the neighbourhood itself. Conveniently located next to the Resident's Lounge with a kitchen and soundproof meeting rooms, there's cosy seats and sofas in abundance to check your emails or get those last tasks of the day complete.
This isn't the same as your usual work-from-home setup, and by leaving your apartment and physically working in another space, you're still able to have that 'switch off' moment at the end of the day that you'd get from the office or working in the city, but all the creature comforts of being just moments from your own home.
2024 is the year of the Euros, Olympics and Paralympics - and we all know that after watching a few hours on the TV we convince ourselves, it can't be that hard, right?
Combined with the fact that 15% - 19% of people want to start a new hobby in 2024, and a whopping 56% of us want to get out and exercise more, according to Ramsey Health and The Drum, this year is setting itself up to be a big'un for getting out and about more and learning a new sport.
2024 is the year that The Junction gets its very own gym space, but there's also ample opportunity to try out a new sport on the multi-use sports pitch like tennis or football, or get moving at one of the resident-exclusive events: think guided mindfulness, yoga and more.
Images: The Junction Leeds
If this is the year of staying in - make it somewhere cosy
This said, the weather outside doesn't exactly make all this running about on the pitch quite so appealing just yet and apparently, one-in-five of us are already spending more time finding new hobbies indoors rather than heading out to cinemas and restaurants.
So, with more time spent in your own four walls, it feels even more important to make sure you're comfortable in your own abode.
At The Junction, you have the option of taking your property furnished or unfurnished - but regardless of what you choose, all new tenants are given a £200 John Lewis voucher to help towards the cost when signing a 12 month tenancy.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Room for me, and my dog
Pet ownership has hit an all time high. From 2019-2022, the number of households that owned a cat, dog, or another furry companion shot up from 40% to 62%, according to Statista.
And naturally as members of the family, our pets need as much love and attention in our homes as they do anywhere else.
At The Junction, four-legged friends are not only welcomed inside your own home, but in all communal areas - inside and out, from top to bottom. There's plenty of greenery to take your dog for a short morning walk or head down the canal for an afternoon stroll in the sunshine.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
Six of our favourite cosy pubs in Leeds City Centre to hide away from the rain
Clementine Hall
When the weather is rubbish, there’s nothing better than tucking away in the corner of a cosy pub with a good pint and a bowl of chips.
Thankfully, Leeds is blessed with many.
Roaring fires add extra comfort, as do old-fashioned characteristics like low-slung wooden beams and wood panelling, whilst big windows serve to let in a bit of light on the darker days.
To help you pick where to go, we’ve put together a list of our favourites below.
The Victoria & Commercial
Great George Street, LS1 3DL
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Newest and maybe the most festive is The Victoria, originally opened in 1865 this historic pub has recently been reborn courtesy of Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock's Ale House.
The interior here is absolutely beautiful, even without the decorations it feels festive. So if you're looking for that Christmas feeling all year round, this is the place to be.
Whitelock’s Ale House
Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds LS1 6HB
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Of course it wouldn't be a cosy pub guide without the iconic Whitelock's Ale House. The oldest pubs in Leeds, Whitelock’s is easy to miss – tucked away down a side alley off the main high street, but once you find it it's well worth the hunt.
A former marketman’s pub, inside you’ll find historic features like an old wooden bar and stained glass windows as well as good selection of beers, ales and traditional British dishes.
Crowd of Favours
4-12 Harper Street, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7EA
This laid back spot in Leeds is the perfect spot to get nestled in, enjoy a few pints and escape the dreary weather.
Food-wise, think lemon and thyme chicken wings, braised beef cheek and hearty stews. As for the drinks, there’s a solid wine and cocktail menu as well as a good selection of beers on draught.
The Highland Laddie
38 Cavendish Street, LS3 1LY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Empire Cafe, The Highland Laddie is one of Leeds' newest pubs but it's as cosy as it gets.
Fabulous traditional interiors with a proper homely feel to it, and of course the food is absolutely banging. Think oysters, ham and chips and belting sausage rolls.
The Lamb and Flag
1 Church Row, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7HD
Housed in a renovated 19th-century building, The Lamb and Flag boast a locally-sourced menu and a strong selection of local ales. A stone’s throw from Leeds Minster, there are two bars – one upstairs and one down. Between them, you’ll find ten different hand pulls pouring some of the best beer in Leeds..
The Brunswick
82 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem at the top of town has everything you could ever want in a pub. Great drinks, a warming atmosphere, a pool table and brilliant food.
The staff are always lovely and there's usually an adorable dog knocking about too.
Sophie Smith -
12th February 2024 
