Nights out in Leeds are set to get a lot more exciting thanks to the impending arrival of a new axe-throwing bar in the city.
Whilst axe-throwing sounds like the folksy past time of gruff, checked lumberjack-wearing Canadians ensconced somewhere up in the woods with a cabin nearby and the not-too-distant threat of a bear or two in the distance (admittedly, this is exactly how it has been for some time), in recent years it's also become somewhat of an urban 'experience'.
Something new to do on a night out, and all that, thrill-seeking company Whistle Punks have cornered the urban axe-throwing market in recent years - with three successful sites already established in Manchester, London and Bristol. Now, they're moving north to Leeds with plans to take over a site in the city this autumn.
The company will be moving into a new space on Millenium Square this autumn, bringing their wild axe games with them.
Kind of like darts but with a lot more heft behind it, their gamified version of axe throwing is pretty simple really: with one point awarded when you hit the outer ring, three for getting it in the inner, and five for a bullseye.
At just £25 for a game, it's not just fun but a good bargain too - getting you 70 minutes of axe throwing fun as well as a fully instructed session on how to properly use the equipment before getting stuck in (those axes are sharp, after all).
You can have up to ten players on a lane at once, and whilst social distancing will remain in place at venues it is possible you may end up sharing with other players at this time.
What about the bar element, you ask?
Well, we're not entirely sure what's going to be on offer here in Leeds yet - but we can tell you that over in Manchester, the venue there has a pretty solid selection of beers and ciders on its bar to get stuck into after playing a game or two. (Note that you can only drink afterwards, axe-throwing is not recommended, nor permitted, with alcohol in your system - that's a recipe for disaster if we ever heard one).
Bookings are being taken now for the venue's November open date. To get yourself an early slot, head over to their website here.
Norfolk-based jewellery brand Lisa Angel is opening their first Yorkshire site right here in Leeds.
Jewellery and trinket lovers, this one's for you.
Lisa Angel, a female-founded jewellery and gifting brand will open the doors to its new store in Victoria Gate next month.
Shoppers can expect a wonderful range of jewellery, gifts, and accessories that have established a loyal following during more than twenty years of business.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has only gone from strength to strength since.
Image: Supplied
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
After opening two stores last year and three stores in 2024, Lisa Angel’s founder and Creative Director, Lisa, said: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Managing Director James Moody explained the significance to the business of opening a new store in a city as influential as Leeds: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
We'll keep you up to date when we know an opening date, but for now you can check out what to expect here.
Yorkshire residents are being invited to name two new bin lorries
Clementine Hall
Well...this is a new one.
Ever fancied naming a bin lorry? Well today is your lucky day, because now you can.
Yorkshire-based waste management experts Divert are celebrating the arrival of two swanky new tbin rucks by inviting the local community to help name them.
The iconic purple bins, vans and trucks can be seen across the Yorkshire area helping to clean up waste from Bradford to Harrogate.
Two new lorries are set to be joining the fleet in April and May, and of course they need a name.
And who better to ask than the general public? The winning names will be added to the cabs of each of the trucks for all to see, and announced via the Divert website and social media channels.
Absolutely anyone from across the UK is welcome to take part, but the company are especially keen for people from Yorkshire to enter.
You can be as creative as you like, but there are a couple of rules...
No swearing or offensive names. Aside from that, you can let your freak flag fly.
The Divert team are keen to hear the 'best celebrity puns, local namesakes, and downright silly names' the public have to offer.
John Verity, Managing Director of Divert, comments: “Naming our bin trucks is a great way to bring some joy to the local community. We hope to bring a smile to the faces of passing drivers and pedestrians as our fleet passes by.
“Not only that, naming our lorries can help our drivers to take pride and ownership in the vehicles they drive and be a key reminder of our engagement within the community. We’re always keen to employ any initiatives that help the public to engage with us and ensure we’re seen as a friendly face in the area.”
Winners will be voted for by the team internally, and the competition closes at 5 pm on 31 March 2026.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2021 
