Things To Do

Bill Bailey adds Leeds arena gig to huge upcoming UK tour

One of the funniest men on the planet

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 24th November 2025

Bill Bailey will be performing at the First Direct Arena in Leeds as part of a huge UK tour next year.

The legendary comic has announced a run of dates across the UK for 2026 for his Vaudevillian tour.

His new tour is inspired by Vaudeville, a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which was popular in the early 20th century.

Bill Bailey plans to strip his material back to the days before streaming, TV, cinema and radio, with a night of comedy, songs, and multifarious skills in Leeds.

The star is a famed jack-of-all-trades, a multi-lingual, multi-instrumental talent and comedian - 'a modern Vaudevillean'.

The show promises to bring: "Tales of the strange, the unusual… All with the aim to amuse and amaze a broad audience.

"Enthralling family fun, to divert and transport from the tribulations of daily life!

"Bill Bailey returns with a show that celebrates this great tradition, as the versatile multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, purveyor of humour and musical prowess, who could lay claim to being perhaps the foremost practitioner of this great tradition…"

Bill Bailey will perform at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Saturday 28 November 2026.

Tickets are on sale from 10am on Thursday 27 November HERE.

Bill Bailey 2026 tour dates

  • Friday, 6 November | Plymouth | Pavilions
  • Saturday, 7 November | Swansea | Building Society Arena
  • Sunday, 8 November | Southampton | Mayflower
  • Wednesday, 11 November | Birmingham | Utilita Arena
  • Thursday, 12 November | Nottingham | Motorpoint Arena
  • Friday, 13 November | Coventry | Building Society Arena
  • Saturday, 14 November | Liverpool | M&S Bank Arena
  • Sunday, 15 November | Cardiff | Utilita Arena
  • Friday, 20 November | Derby | Vaillent Live
  • Saturday, 21 November | Bournemouth | BIC
  • Sunday, 22 November | London | The O2
  • Tuesday, 24 November | Glasgow | SEC Armadillo
  • Wednesday, 25 November | Edinburgh | Playhouse
  • Thursday, 26 November | Glasgow | SEC Armadillo
  • Friday, 27 November | Blackpool | Opera House
  • Saturday, 28 November | Leeds | First Direct Bank Arena
  • Tuesday, 1 December | Brighton | Brighton Centre
  • Wednesday, 2 December | Sheffield | Utilita Arena
  • Thursday, 3 December | Manchester | AO Arena
  • Friday, 4 December | Hull | Connexin Live
  • Saturday, 5 December | Newcastle | Utilita Arena
  • Sunday, 6 December | Aberdeen | P&J Live
  • Wednesday, 9 December | Brighton | Brighton Centre
  • Thursday, 10 December | Brighton | Brighton Centre
  • Saturday, 12 December | Belfast | SSE Arena
  • Sunday, 13 December | Dublin | 3Arena

Featured image: Supplied

Things To Do

10 brilliant new bars, restaurants and cafes that have opened in Leeds recently

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds has welcomed a whole host of new places to eat and drink recently, and there’s a lot to get excited about.

We all love our food and drink, and it's safe to say we love writing about it.

So please, allow us to indulge by telling you all about our top 10 favourite new openings that have popped up in and around Leeds over the past few months.

But fair warning, continuing to read on may cause extreme hunger...

Rotisserie Club

22 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA

Images: The Hoot Leeds

A new rotisserie chicken spot has landed in the city centre, serving everything from full and half roasted birds all served with their crispy house dripping roasties, as well as viral chicken Caesar wraps and rice bowls.

Dip or drench your chicken in their range of sauces and you’ve got yourself something worth licking your fingers over.

Read more: Leeds has welcomed a brand-new spot dedicated to rotisserie chicken

Paper Plane

Unit 6, Grand Arcade

Images: The Hoot Leeds

From the team behind Domino Club and Roland's comes Paper Plane, your newest cocktail bar that is a love letter to an analogue time where everything was made by hand.

The interior is inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars complete with music played exclusively on vinyl to match, and the menu is perfectly curated, coming alongside its own martini menu served straight from the freezer.

Read more: Inside Leeds’ newest cocktail bar inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars

Açai Social Club

32 The Calls, Leeds, LS2 7EW

Images: The Hoot Leeds

After multiple pop-ups around the city, Acai Social Club has finally found a permanent home in Leeds, meaning getting your acai bowl fix is about to get a whole lot easier.

And the best bit? Unlimited toppings. There's also matcha, coffee and smoothies on the menu, plus new toppings dropping every week to keep things interesting.

Tahin

10 Kirkgate, LS1 6BY

Images: The Hoot Leeds

One of the city’s favourite Turkish takeaways is back in the city and we couldn’t be happier for their return.

Formerly located in The Core, Tahiis a family-run takeaway that is whipping up the freshest dishes for you to eat on-the-go. Even at 4pm they’ve got queues out the door for authentic Turkish flatbreads Pide, Za’atar, Shawarma and more.

With fresh chicken and lamb ready to be shaved, warm, welcoming faces to greet you and prices you just can’t turn down because most dishes are under a tenner.

Alfonso's Deli

New Road Side, Horsforth, LS18 4QD

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Famed for its toasted Cuban sandwiches, coffee and stacked deli subs, Alfonso's Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches in the city.

And now they’ve opened a second site in the suburbs with Horsforth providing all the good stuff we know and love it for, plus fresh bakes which they’re making downstairs - oh, and you can also get yourself a cigar.

Read more: A Miami-inspired deli serving Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and cigars has opened in a Leeds suburb

Burgerism

605 Meanwood Rd, LS6 4HQ

If you don’t know about Burgerism then get to know. The cult burger brand is famed over in the North West for their juicy, crunchy-around-the-edges smash burgers and now they’ve brought them to Meanwood.

Rizia's Bottega

114 Bolling Rd, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley LS29 8PN

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road on the outskirts of Ilkley, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.

The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.

Read more: Inside the new Italian bottega bringing a taste of Italy to Ilkley

Bruncho

159 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 5RG

Images: Supplied

One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots, which always has queues down the street, has made its way across to Leeds at last. 

Bruncho has opened on The Headrow, bringing its hit products like French toasts, Middle Eastern brunches, and iced matchas, to Leeds city centre. 

Bruncho has also made a name for itself with its viral creations, including Labubu Dubai pistachio French toast (how many 2025 buzzwords can you get in one menu item?) and its collection of drinks served at -86°C. We're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.

Read more: First look inside Bruncho Leeds, the viral brunch spot serving Yorkshire puddings for breakfast

Pho

51 Boar Ln, Leeds LS1 5EL

Vietnamese powerhouse Pho opened a permanent spot on Boar Lane and it's serving up the likes of beef brisket pho, crispy spring rolls, three meat combo rice bowls, and chicken curries - yum.

Mandy's Barbecue

3 Sheaf St, Leeds LS10 1HD

Images: The Hoot Leeds

A new Yorkshire barbecue spot has taken over the kitchen at The Attic near Aire Park serving up sourdough sarnies by day, with fillings cooked over fire.⁠
⁠
Expect your lunchtime to be levelled up with BBQ rump steak, Korean chicken and plenty of other local produce on the menu. Then, come evening, things switch up with small plates - including jerk mackerel, BBQ sirloin with kimchi, and lamb neck.⁠

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds


Things To Do

Inside Leeds’ newest cocktail bar inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

If you're a fan of a swanky cocktail, then this spot is the place for you.

When we heard earlier this year that a new bar was on the horizon from the team behind some of the city's best hospitality venues, we couldn't quite believe our luck.

Paper Plane is the newest venture from hospitality group Palagander, who run The Domino Club, Roland's and The Woods over in Chapel Allerton.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

But Paper Plane might just be their best spot yet, based in the beautiful Grand Arcade this cocktail bar is offering something different to anything else we've seen in the city.

Stepping through the doors here and you'll feel like you've been whisked to time gone by.

The bar is dubbed as a a love letter to an analogue time where everything was made by hand.

The interior is inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars, complete with music played exclusively on vinyl to match.

The menu is of course perfectly curated, made up of signature serves and classics alongside its own martini menu served straight from the freezer.

Every single detail has been thoroughly thought through, from the bar equipment coming straight from Japan to the bespoke wooden seating.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

As you take a seat, you'll be greeted with a paper menu that you're asked to order with. Everything is table service, the staff you can tell are truly passionate about their job, and everything just feels that little bit special.

The space is perfectly sized, seating around 40-50 guests and bookings will be taken over the phone rather than online.

In an age where everything feels so digital and fleeting, Paper Plane is a welcome reminder of proper connection and long lasting moments.

We think this new spot is going to go down an absolute treat, and it's a welcome addition to the city's nightlife scene.

Read more: Leeds has welcomed a brand-new spot dedicated to rotisserie chicken

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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