If you haven't already made plans for the four-day weekend, now is your chance.
There's already so much going on in Leeds in honour of the four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend, we're struggling to keep up. From bottomless drag brunches to summertime barbecues, pub crawls, afternoon tea and seemingly unlimited street parties, it really does feel as if Leeds has everything a royal could wish for on this once-in-a-lifetime ocassion.
Now, for those with a pet Corgi at home (or even just some fancy Corgi socks) are able to make the most of the Queen's love for dogs with a free drink at three different pubs across Leeds.
Image: Greene King
Select Greene King pubs are taking part in a 'Queen's Tipple' campaign that will see anyone with a four-legged companion similar to those of the queen with a drink on the house.
The chain has teamed up with Beefeater and Dubonnet to offer a free Queen's Tipple drink to anyone that brings either a Corgi or Corgi-related merch into select pubs over the bank holiday period.
Thee Queen’s Tipple Cocktail, made from 50ml Dubonnet and 25ml Beefeater London Dry Gin, is supposedly a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II (just like the Queen's Mother) that is drank on special occasions.
For those not enticed by the royal cocktail, a soft drink alternative is available as: a glass of draught Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Schweppes Lemonade.
Here in Leeds, we have quite a few pubs to choose from, including two stops on the infamous Otley Run.
Image: Wikicommons
Both Woodies Craft Ale House in Far Headingley and The Skyrack in Headingley are taking part in the event and will be offering out free Queen's Tipple over the Platinum Jubilee weekend whilst The Regent in Chapel Allerton will also offer out free drinks on this special occasion too.
Participating pubs in and around Leeds include:
Woodies Craft Ale House (Far Headingley, LS16 5JG)
Skyrack (Headingley, LS6 3AW)
Regent (Chapel Allerton, LS7 4PE)
The following pubs across Yorkshire are also taking part:
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Sophie Smith -
27th May 2022 
