Sport

All the bars in Leeds to catch all the sports fixtures over Christmas 2023

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 21st December 2023

Go on, pull a chair up.

Leeds United are playing away at Preston, the Rhinos play at home for the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge and Leeds Knights are on the ice with Solway Sharks on Boxing Day.

The day has become a pretty big one for Leeds' sports scene.

But if can't you can get a seat at the heart of the action, there's no need to be disheartened: there's plenty of sports bars across the city where you'll be able to catch every single game.

And for those that don't support the home teams, grab a seat - there's room for you too: whether it’s a welcomed excuse to get out the house and escape and meet your mates or a way of bonding with the in-laws over the universal language of sports.

After all, those days where Christmas melts into New Year’s Day pass in no time at all- and quite honestly, it’s easy to loose track of the days in between with all that turkey trimmings and mulled wine to get stuck into.

Keep reading to find out where you can catch a game over the festive period.

The Box

Infirmary Street, Leeds city centre and Otley Road, Headingley | Open from 12pm

two bottles of Sol in front of TV showing sports.
Image: The Box Bar

The Box have locations in the city centre and Headingley, so you’re never far from a cold pint of Budweiser or a bottle of wine. You can grab 2-for-1 cocktails, a 20% student discount and a pornstar martinis, served by the stein here too but if that's not enough, there's bottomless brunch and seemingly unlimited burger and pizza options to soak it all up.

Find out more here.

Roxy Lanes

The Light, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm

Roxy Lanes is the perfect spot for groups large and small to gather for the footie games. Whether you're a football fan or just going along for the atmosphere, expect screens everywhere covering every inch of the action, before heading downstairs and playing a game of your own, including bowling, ice-free curling, ice hockey, pool and shuffleboard.

Find out more here.

Beck & Call

Stainbeck Road, Meanwood | Open from 12pm

The Tap Room is the Beck & Call’s dedicated sports room. Complete with pool table, darts and huge TV screens for all the live games, the popular watering hole have stated they will be showing all the world cup games. Plus every Friday and Saturday at Happy Hour, you can get £3 Fosters, £4 Virtuous and a £15 Bottle of Fizz.

Find out more here.

Read More: Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow has launched his own gin to raise money for MND research

Brooklyn

Call Lane, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm on weekends or 5pm during the week

Image: Brooklyn

Book yourself a seat at the table at Brooklyn and make the most of the private hire options for your chosen team. Grab a bagel from Bad Boy Bagel and a pint of just about anything and enjoy the footy how it was intended: surrounded by like-minded fans on a huge HD screen.

Find out more here.

Skyrack Headingley

St Michael's Road, Headingley | Open from 12pm

Image: Skyrack Headingley

You might recognise Skyrack from your Otley Run days, but the pub does far more than just fancy dress. Pull up a chair at the bar or find a seat around the pub in between the Leeds United memorabilia and watch the beautiful game in all its glory. Same goes for the rest of the Greene King pubs in Leeds, all games will be shown.

Find out more here.

Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge Live

Headingley Stadium, Headingley | Kick off at 11:30am

Image: Leeds Rhinos

The Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge is back for another year and you can watch Leeds Rhinos take on Wetherby Trinity live from Headingley stadium on Boxing Day. The annual fixture is highly anticipated each year, and you can bet that the best place to watch the match unfold is live from the suburbs.

Find out more here.

The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes

New Briggate, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm

Image: PGHL

You can bet that the popular New Briggate bar will be back with packed out tables for the matches over the holidays as one of the best known sports bars in the city.. The policy was be walk-in only throughout the World Cup for England games, but you can book for any other games in advance, so make sure you book your seat in advance.

Find out more here.

Read More: The Brotherhood dedicates summer to women’s sports in ‘The Sisterhood’ campaign

The Original Oak

Otley Road, Headingley | Open from 10am

The Original Oak in Headingley
Image: Original Oak

The Original Oak in Headingley is a favourite for all ages, but if you’re a student looking for some sports action, you’ll feel quite at home at this Otley Run stop. The pub always has a game on and you can bet that there will be plenty of space for you to join the crowd.

Find out more here.

Rebound Social

Wellington Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 11am

Image: Rebound Social

Rebound Social is the home of all things football, and there's even a bottomless brunch option too. Pull up a seat and tuck into pizzas and pints aplenty with your chosen company, we imagine that the place will be packed with like-minded fans over the holidays.

Read More: This Leeds bar offers bottomless brunch during Leeds United matches

Hyde Park Pub

Headingley Lane, Hyde Park | Open from 12pm

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 27894419_1904723663172170_4446185286241615872_n.jpg
Image: Hyde Park

Another Otley Run favourite that's taking on the additional crowds for the rugby. Expect loud speakers, the occasional fancy dress customer and loads to do besides watching the matches. There's pool tables, giant food challenges and a great beer garden- not to mention a full menu that includes student discounted pints. If you're still at University, we bet we'll find you here for the matches.

Find out more here.

The Griffin

Boar Lane, Leeds city centre | Open from 11am

The Greene King pub boast that they will be showing every world cup game live over the next six weeks, as well as their usual footy slots on Sky Sports and BT Sport. Located on 31 Boar Lane, The Griffin has all the pints you need to get yourself through the intense games, as well as some proper pub grub on offer too.

Find out more here.

Walkabout

Woodhouse Lane, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm

You can bet your bottom dollar that Walkabout will be saying G’day to the world cup and serving up a feast whilst the matches play out. The Australian-themed sports bar boast space indoors and outdoors, as well as in their dedicated live sports areas, but booking is recommended to make sure you get a spot at the table before kickoff. Expect massive HD screens, a roaring atmosphere as well as the option to buy Brewdog by the keg.

Find out more here.

Read More: This Leeds bar offers bottomless brunch during Leeds United matches

Feature Image- Original Oak / BOX

Opening times may vary over the Christmas period, make sure to check each bar's websites before visiting - we'd hate for you to be disappointed!

Sport

The Yorkshire artist who’s put together the official FIFA World Cup scarf collection

Danny Jones Danny Jones Official FIFA World Cup scarf collection 2026

A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.

Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.

The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.

Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.

Credit: Hand Drawn Pixels (supplied)

In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.

With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."

In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.

The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.

Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.

You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.

It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.

Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.

Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."

He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."

More than 4.5 million fans have already entered the ballot for match tickets, and there have already been warnings issued over potential scam seats for World Cup '26.

We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.

world cup scarves 2026
Credit: Supplied

Read more:

Featured Images — Hand Drawn Pixels (supplied)

Sport

Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon 2026 guide – everything you need to know

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (RBLM) is nearly upon us.

And with thousands set to flood the region, we thought we'd round up all the important information you need to know, from waves and start times to the route and more.

Getting underway this weekend, this year marks just the third-ever edition of the modern Leeds Marathon, which was set up in honour of Rhinos legend and MND champion Rob Burrow in 2023.

In addition to over 12,000 locals, marathon enthusiasts, fantastic fundraisers and casual runners alike taking part in the 2025 RBLM , there are set to be even more spectators expected to line the streets, so it's best you're all kept in the loop.

So, without further ado, here's our comprehensive guide for the 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.

Hosted by Run For All yet again, this year's Leeds Marathon is set to be just as special.

What is the route?

Where else to start other than, well, with where the run will be starting?

Getting underway once again from the Headingley Stadium, the 26.2-mile slog will see Yorkshire's finest pass through the busy student district, as well as around Golden Acre Park, towards Bramhope, around Otley, into the city centre and back.

You can see the full route map down below.

Leeds Marathon Map 2026

If you're running it, you'll also be glad to see that there are a total of eight different toilet stops and water stations, meaning you'll have the opportunity to take any necessary breaks every few miles.

How to get there?

For those travelling to the start/finish line (yes, it finishes back at the iconic cricket ground too), it is advised that people avoid driving and use public transport where possible to avoid further congestion.

There will be regular trains and First Bus Leeds services, but for those driving into the area, there is the Stourton Park & Ride service with a bus direct to the stadium.

Upon arriving, the only way to access the start line on race day is via Gate G behind the western terrace of the cricket stadium off Kirkstall Road.

Spectator shuttles will also be running between Queenswood Drive and the two main spectator hubs: Adel and Otley. You can find out more details on where to watch HERE.

Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon waves and start times

Now, as for start times, participants will be set off in waves depending on their estimated finish time, which corresponds to the colour of their bib.Wave start times

Blue – 09:00

Red – 09:04

Green & Yellow – 09:10

MND Wave – 09:19

Purple - 09:21

Meanwhile, those doing the half-marathon distance and fun runners will be starting at 10am.

Leeds Marathon road closures and travel advice

Now, it goes without saying that setting up a major marathon that spans all the way from Headingley to Leeds, passing through some of the busiest parts of West Yorkshire, involves quite a lot of logistical planning.

Luckily, Leeds City Council have worked closely with the event team to make the marathon route run as smoothly as possible whilst also trying to minimise the impact on traffic and general travel.

You can find a full breakdown of all the road closures for this year's Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon here.

So, for everyone taking on the Leeds Marathon to honour not just Rob Burrow but whoever they might be running it for, we wish you the best of luck and just know that you've already done him, us, yourselves and everyone else SO very proud.

Now go and smash it!

Featured Images — Run For All (supplied)

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