Things To Do

One of the ‘best things to do in the world in 2023’ is only an hour from Leeds – it’s just doesn’t exist yet

The enormous 13,350 sq metre space inside utilises supersized moveable walls, which can reconfigure the space for different performances.

The Hoot The Hoot - 6th February 2023

Located one hour from Leeds over the Pennines in Manchester, you'll soon find one of the best things to do in the entire world.

The only problem is, you can't visit it just yet...

But once the building work is finished and this place opens to the public in June, it'll be well worth a day trip.

Time Out has pulled together a list of 'the 23 best things to do in the world in 2023', which includes everything from soaking in hot springs in Iceland to walking with bears in Canada, reports The Manc.

And as Manchester attraction has been named as one of the best things to do in the world in 2023 - despite the fact that it hasn't actually opened yet.

And our neighbouring city - naturally - has got a good look-in too.

Manchester's shiny new Factory International is ninth on the list, even though it won't actually open until June.

Time Out said that the 'new blockbuster art venue' is helping the city to remain as one of the world's best places to visit.

Last year, Lonely Planet said that Manchester was a 'must-visit global destination', the only place in the UK to make the list.

And now with Time Out's vote of confidence too, we're officially making a name as a global city.

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Time Out said: "Manchester is making a storm right now, with the UK city being crowned one of the world’s very best places to visit by Lonely Planet in 2022.

"It’s not showing any signs of slowing down this year, with the long-awaiting opening of Factory International, a £186 million arts venue which will be the new, permanent home of the biennial Manchester International Festival.

"The 2023 festival (June 29-July 16) will be filled with all sorts of big shows and experiences to get stuck into – including the largest-ever immersive Yayoi Kusama exhibition and a stage adaptation of The Matrix directed by Danny Boyle."

Factory International. Image by OMA 24

The £186m new cultural space Factory International is already taking shape in the city, a looming grey structure that will be home to a massive programme of arts and culture.

The acclaimed Danny Boyle will direct the venue’s opening production, a performance inspired by The Matrix films.

5000 tickets for Free Your Mind, which will be presented across the flexible spaces in the building, will be sold for £10 or less, to give everyone in the community a chance to experience the huge site.

Factory International is set to open its doors in June 2023, programmed and operated by the team behind Manchester International Festival.

The enormous 13,350 sq metre space inside utilises supersized moveable walls, which can reconfigure the space for different performances.

Its artistic programming has already begun too, in the form of its first installation First Breath, which has been lighting up the skies with something that locals say looks like an 'alien invasion'. You can read all about that here.

Featured image: OMA 10

Things To Do

M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Leeds with hundreds of jobs available

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.

With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.

M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.

As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.

Image: Supplied

New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.

Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.

M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.

The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.

“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.

“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.

“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”

Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.

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Featured Image – Supplied

Things To Do

A brand-new frozen yoghurt bar is coming to Leeds

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Everyone's in love with frozen yoghurt, and Leeds is about to get more of it.

Over the past year, the UK has become a little bit obsessed with frozen yoghurt - and Leeds is no exception.

We've had Kefiyo open in Headingley which met to queues round the block for weeks, as well as the UK's leading froyo brand Frurt open up in Kirkstall.

And now, there's a newbie on the block.

Images: Supplied

Introducing 'Yo-Go', your newest frozen yoghurt bar that will be opening up in Leeds' Hyde Park.

We don't know much about Yo-Go yet, but we do know it's female owned and is sporting some pretty cute branding.

The space is currently undergoing renovation, with the owner posting that she received the keys just a couple of days ago.

The window vinyls are up, and people are already getting very excited about the opening as they flock to the comments of Yo-Go's first Instagram post.

Announcing the news of their opening, Yo-Go wrote: "GUYS!! WE’VE GOT THE KEYS. And apparently they don’t come with a finished shop… rude.

"While we get to work, we need your input. Toppings, flavours, very specific requests, we’re taking notes. Drop them below and I’ll try my best to make it happen x"

Comments included requests for 'unlimited toppings' as well as warm sauces, cookie dough, marshmallow and honeycomb.

Sounds pretty delicious if you ask us, but for now, it looks like there's still some work to be done before the shop is ready to welcome its first customers.

We don't know of an opening date just yet, but we'll keep you updated as and when we do.

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Featured image - Supplied

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