Lots of iconic spooky films are returning to Leeds cinemas this Halloween, alongside some new releases.
Now that October is here, there’s no denying that the spooky season is right around the corner, and Vue has announced that a whole host of creepy classics and the latest frightening flicks set to hit the big screen over the next couple of weeks – ranging from undeniable horrors, to family-friendly gems perfect for viewers of all ages.
Several cinemas across Leeds ill be taking part, including inside the Light and at Kirkstall.
Disney’s much-loved Hocus Pocus kicks off the lineup this month, before supernatural classics The Others and The Craft are back to terrify moviegoers from 16 October.
Iconic slasher film Scream – which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – also returns to cinemas from 23 October.
Image: Unsplash
Cult-classic Donnie Darko and Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth round out the re-releases on 30 October, to celebrate their 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively.
Then, when it comes to new releases, you can settle in to watch new psychological thriller, Verity, adapted from the acclaimed Colleen Hoover novel of the same name and starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.
Meanwhile, Ghosts: The Possession of Button House, based on the beloved and award-winning BBC comedy, arrives on 23 October.
Other new releases include The Other Mommy, DC’s Clayface, and Crawlers.
And if the lineup wasn’t good enough as it is on its own, film lovers at Vue Quayside, Printworks, and Bolton can also enjoy Vue’s biggest and comfiest seat, the ‘Ultra Lux’ – which are strategically positioned to give the best possible view of the big screen with extra-wide armrests, a personal table for snacks and drinks, and a state-of-the-art beverage cooler.
“This October, we’re thrilled to be able to put on a raft of new and classic films for fans of scary and spooky films,” commented Mike Anton, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Printworks.
“From family-friendly comedy horrors to cult favourites, we know how gripping scary films can be and want to provide the very best big screen experience for people to enjoy every laugh and every scare this Halloween, leaving them with an experience they’ll feel forever.”
Find out the full lineup of films near you and book tickets online here.
Featured Image – Disney
Things To Do
Close Enough to Touch – Secrets lie within ourselves and toilet cubicles
Public toilets are not where most people go looking for a life-changing theatrical experience. Usually, the aim is to get in, get out and avoid eye contact. Yet in Close Enough to Touch, playwright Henry Roberts transforms this unglamorous setting into the backdrop for a story about sex, secrecy and the search for self-understanding.
At Leeds Playhouse, this one-person production follows M, played by Stefan Race, a young man whose life is far from straightforward. Unemployed and struggling in his relationship with his girlfriend, Isla, he begins exploring anonymous sexual encounters in public toilets. What follows is an exploration of desire, shame and the difficult distinction between the person we present to the world and the person we keep hidden.
A play about anonymous sex might easily rely on its subject matter to provoke controversy. Fortunately, Roberts is interested in more than shock value. He explores how intimacy can exist without commitment, how desire becomes entangled with shame, and whether we can truly understand ourselves while concealing parts of our identity.
Race carries the production alone. Without an ensemble to share the burden, the performance depends on physicality, expression and vocal variation to bring M’s experiences to life. This stripped-back approach draws the audience into his private thoughts, offering a glimpse into a world many might otherwise never encounter. From physicality to emotional drive, Race is a powerhouse when it comes to taking the audience on an emotional and yet thought-provoking journey. Grabbing the audience with laughter and vulnerability throughout this 70 min story.
Staged in Leeds Playhouse’s Bramall Rock Void, the production uses a bus shelter and a red bench to establish its setting. A screen above the shelter displays the script, providing audiences with an additional way to follow the dialogue. This thoughtful accessibility feature allows audience members to read alongside the live performance, helping to make the production more inclusive without disrupting its flow.
The minimal set keeps the focus on M rather than overwhelming the story with spectacle. However, building a drama around a single perspective presents its own challenges. Although the subject offers plenty to consider, there are moments when the ideas feel more compelling than the dramatic momentum carrying them. Challenging themes alone cannot guarantee compelling theatre, and greater variation might have allowed the narrative more room to breathe.
Close Enough to Touch is at its strongest when it looks beyond the provocative nature of its subject to the vulnerability beneath it. Race’s performance and Roberts’ willingness to explore an often-overlooked experience give the production something meaningful to say.
Perhaps the real discomfort lies neither in the setting nor in the sex, but in the possibility that the parts of ourselves we conceal most carefully are often the parts we most need to understand.
Running throughout the rest of October through to November you can catch this production in and around Yorkshire. Tickets available HERE.
A new bar dedicated to Guinness and games is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Expect live music, a load of craic and plenty of Guinness at Leeds' brand-new bar.
Opening on Leeds' bustling Merrion Street, 'Love, Jackie' is the latest concept from the team behind Roxy Ball Room and King Pins.
Love, Jackie will be taking over a 7,000 sq ft space,and will be promising proper prints, late nights and plenty of Irish charm.
Pouring will be the holy trinity of Irish stouts - Guinness, Beamish and Murphy's.
Image: Supplied
These will be served alongside Leeds' own Kirkstall Virtuous IPA and a vast whiskey selection that celebrates the best of Ireland.
Games wise, try your hand at crazy pool, interactive darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The opening comes as Merrion Street enjoys a new wave of investment and hospitality openings, helping bring new life to one of Leeds' best known night life attractions.
Image: Supplied
Matt Jones, CEO of Professionals at Play, said: “Everyone knows a Jackie. She’s the one who gets everyone together, convinces you to stay for another and makes sure there’s never a dull moment.
“We wanted to create a pub with that same personality. Somewhere with brilliant drinks, live music, plenty of games and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you were only popping in for one.
“Merrion Street is coming back to life, and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. We think Jackie will fit right in. And because Jackie’s never been one to turn up empty-handed, the first drink’s on her."
We'll keep you updated on opening times as and when we find out, but for now you can sign up here for a pint of free Guinness. Cheers to that!
Emily Sergeant -
5th October 2026 
