Feature

Everything you need to know about Leeds International Festival of Ideas – tickets, line-ups and how to get there

Four days of food for thought...

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 6th September 2023

The countdown is on until one the Yorkshire's biggest festivals of culture kicks off - and there's a seriously exciting line-up for this year.

That's right, we've got the likes of Davina McCall, Dame Prue Leith and Will Young taking to the stage alongside huge names from the world of entertainment, politics and business. This includes Matt Baker MBE, Gemma Whelan, Amber Rudd, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Rob Rinder, Sir Jon Cuncliffe, and many more.

These exciting names will be joining TV personality Bimini, who will be talking about ‘a world beyond the binary’; author and comedian Ruby Wax OBE will be bringing ‘my journey to mindfulness’ to life with a key note speaker show whilst ‘a new generation of entrepreneurism’ will be covered by Diary of a CEO’s Steven Bartlett.

And for those wondering how to grab tickets or where the festival is located this year (yes, new year, new venue) keep reading for everything you need to know about Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2023...

What is Leeds International Festival of Ideas?

Leeds International Festival of Ideas has announced its full festival lineup, and it’s combining some of the UK’s most influential speakers with some of the most important questions of our time.

Working in partnership with LeedsBID, The Hoot Leeds (that's us!) and Weightmans, the idea of the festival is to bring conversations to the surface, using a combination of panels, fireside chats and speeches to inspire, provoke and encourage discussions.

Questions vary from ‘what’s our obsession with true crime?’ to ‘who does our political system benefit?’ and ‘how do we talk about grief?’ – and this year’s lineup is perfectly certainly won’t be shying away from the hard questions.

When is LlFI?

The four day festival will take place from Wednesday 27 September - Saturday 30 September 2023 with most events running at 7pm and 7.30pm - and an additional 2.30pm slot on the Saturday.

Where is the festival?

This year Leeds International Festival of Ideas is held at Leeds Playhouse.

The award-winning cultural hub was recently recognised at the UK Theatre Awards as the Most Welcoming Theatre in 2022. With a mission to seek out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire, Leeds Internationals Festival of Ideas, will be joining the long list of exciting productions, festivals and events that Leeds Playhouse have hosted over the past 50 years.

The full address for Leeds Playhouse is: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP

Leeds International Festival of Idas Full Lineup

The full programme schedule is as followed:

Wednesday 27 September 2023

Davina McCall will be on the panel for ‘when will women’s health be taken seriously’. / Image: Chapter 81

7pm Panel: When will women’s health be taken seriously? with Davina McCall, Dr Christine Ekechi Lauren Mahon, Cherry Healey, Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin and Kenny Ethan Jones

7.30pm Fireside chat: A New Generation Of Entrepreneurism with Steven Bartlett

Tickets are available here.

Thursday 28 September 2023

Bimini will be talking about ‘a world beyond the binary’. / Image: Chapter 81

7pm Panel: Could living The Good Life save the planet? with Matt Baker, Doug McMaster, Banjo Beale, Flavia Cacace and Clare Lewis

12pm Fireside chat: Invisible rule of law with Rob Rinder

7.30pm Fireside chat: A world beyond the binary with Bimini

Tickets are available here.

Friday 28 September 2023

My Journey to Mindfulness with Ruby Wax OBE is Friday’s fireside chat. / Image: Chapter 81

7pm Panel: What is our obsession with true crime? with Louise Shorter, Richard McCann, Coltan Scrivner, Gemma Whelan and Mark Williams-Thomas

7.30pm Fireside chat: My Journey to Mindfulness with Ruby Wax OBE

Tickets are available here.

Saturday 29 September 2023

Dame Prue Leith will be on the panel for ‘how do we talk about grief’. / Image: Chapter 81

2.30pm Panel: Who does our political system benefit? with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Tom Brake, Magid Magid, Amber Rudd and Scarlett Westbrook

7pm Panel: How do we talk about grief? with Dame Prue Leith, Jamilla Hussain, Silvan Luley, Lucy Turner and Will Young

3pm Fireside chat: Other Side Of The Coin with Sir Jon Cunliffe and Tom Duff Gordon 

7.30pm Fireside chat: Arts and Culture - for the many; or the few? with Christopher Eccleston

Tickets are available here.

Tickets

Tickets cost £8 - £12 depending on whether you're heading off to a gireside chat or panel discussion, with additional discounts available to those with a Leeds Card, registered unemployed or Under 18.

Plus there's a multi-buy discount for those buying tickets to more than three events. Book 3-4 events and get a 15% discount or book five or more for 20% off.

Where can I read more about the events and the thoughts behind the speakers?

Leeds International Festival of Ideas has its very own journal on the LIFI website here.

Plus, there's a dedicated podcast series named LIFIcast discussing everything from wellness, adult entertainment, Brexit and music hosted by journalist Lotty Leaming. All episodes are available the LIFI website here.

How to get to Leeds Playhouse

Outside of Leeds Playhouse building with rainbow coloured pillars and sign spelling 'playhouse' out.
Image: Anthony Robling via Wikicommons

Leeds Playhouse is about a 15-minute walk from Leeds Train Station and less than five from Leeds Bus Station.

Parking is recommended at Victoria Leeds multi-storey car park, as it's listed as a secure parking area and is £5 after 5pm.

There are some disabled parking bays for blue badge holders at Playhouse Square as well.

Need to stay over?

We have a list of hand-picked hotels here.

LIFI Beer

Leeds International Festival of Ideas has collaborated with partners North Brew to make a very special LIFI beer.

The vegan session pale ale for all you beer enthusiasts has 'aromas of lemon zest and freshly cut grass, bringing a note of vibrancy that balances against the juicy flavours of white peach and sweet mango'.

The following locations will be serving North Brew X LIFI until the festival's end:

  • North Bar
  • North Taproom: Sovereign Street
  • Alfred
  • Further North
  • Preston
  • Springwell
  • Threes a Crowd
  • Empire Cafe
  • Crowd of Favours
  • Bottle Chop
  • Hyde Park Book Club
  • Lamb & Flag
  • Whitelocks
  • Wapentake
  • Belgrave Music Hall
  • Old Red Bus Station
  • Headrow House
  • Leeds Postal Service
  • Midnight Bell 
  • Outlaw’s Yacht Club
  • Brew Society
  • Left Bank
  • The Wardrobe
  • North Bar Harrogate
  • North Bar Social
  • North Taproom: Snow Hill, Birmingham
  • North Taproom: Circle Square, Manchester

Feature Image - Supplied, C81

https://thehootleeds.com/news/eight-handpicked-hotels-to-stay-at-in-leeds-city-centre/

Feature

British Pie Week 2026 – all the best places to find a pie in and around Leeds

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.

It's the best week of the year...it's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.

We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre - so take your pick, whatever the occasion.

Dave's Pies and Ales

Kirkstall Road, Burley | Open from 5pm

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.

Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.

Whitelocks Ale House

Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu.

The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.

Pieminister

Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.

Finer Pleasures

Multiple locations

If you don't know about Josh at Finer Pleasures, then you're seriously missing out. Josh is somewhat of a pie-oneer (sorry), and is the master of creating weird and wonderful pie creations from lasagna pies to gammon, egg and pineapple pork pies.

You can find him over in Crossgates most Wednesdays, but you're best bet is to keep an eye on his socials for the best chance on bagging one of his pies. Trust us, they're like gold dust.

Wilsons Butchers

Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates | Open from 7.30am

Image: Wilsons Butchers

Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract - Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships.

At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.

Read more: Inside Leeds’ newest Italian cafe and gelateria that’s inspired by the streets of Puglia

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

Feature

Five of the best new openings to come out of Leeds so far this year

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

It's been a very busy start to 2026 so far this year in Leeds, and we're definitely not complaining.

It's safe to say our city is thriving, we've welcomed everything from shops and Italian cafes to tequila bars in just two months.

In case you've missed any of them, allow us to give you the lowdown of what's new in the city.

So, without further ado...

Salon Madre

Wellington Street, Leeds city centre

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Leeds welcomed its newest late-night destination last Friday, and it’s going down as smoothly as its tequila.⁠
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Salon Madre is a Mexican-inspired bar with a dedicated margarita menu, fabulous food, and an atmosphere that’ll make you want to get up dancing almost immediately.⁠
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And if you fancy unleashing your competitive side, then there’s plenty of pool tables ready and waiting to be played.⁠

Read more: Salon Madre – the new tequila bar and pool hall that’s just opened in Leeds city centre

Pino

Robin Lane, Pudsey

Images: The Hoot Leeds

A slice of Puglia has landed over in Pudsey with this fabulous Italian cafe. Nodding to his hometown of Puglia, Fabio has created the Italian experience right here in Leeds, inviting people to swing by for Italian coffee, homemade pizza slices, as well as gelato by the cone (or tub) full.

Topshop

John Lewis in Victoria Gate, Leeds city centre

Images: The Hoot Leeds

One for the girlies… because Topshop is officially BACK in Leeds. The iconic high-street favourite has returned, taking over a dedicated space inside John Lewis inside Victoria Gate and yes, we’re already planning the outfit rotations.⁠
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After Topshop and Topman disappeared from the high street back in 2021, it’s safe to say we’ve all felt the gap in our wardrobes. And of course… Joni jeans, we’ve missed you dearly.⁠

Pollini's Pizza

Lands Lane, Leeds city centre

Images: The Hoot Leeds

These guys are known for dishing out huge New York-style pizza slices for less than £4 in Leeds Kirkgate Market since 2022. And now with a second site in Leeds, the big boy slices are making their way across the city, from classic margaritas to meat feasts.

And you best believe we were the first people down to grab it, because we can’t resist a slice from Pollini's.

Pop Mart

Briggate, Leeds city centre

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Pop Mart officially opened on Briggate in January, and Leeds turned out in full force with queues stretching all the way down Thornton’s Arcade.⁠
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With endless blind boxes to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a Labubu girlie or obsessed with the Crybaby series, you can now get your favourites right here in Leeds.⁠

Read more: 10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

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