How to join, what to expect and how to get in touch...
Incase you missed the memo on our socials over the past few weeks, we've been texting the people of Leeds and beyond twice a week.
Every Monday and Friday, around 4-6pm, we send out a WhatsApp broadcast message with all the best things you can up to in Leeds that week or weekend.
The idea is that a member of our team (usually our Social Exec, Fran) will drop you a message with all the best things to do in Leeds - expect a bit of news, foodie recommendations, new openings and everything in between.
Take a look below to see what the Whatsapp message you'll receive will look like...
How to sign up
To sign up, you must save The Hoot's phone number +447507689583 and send us a WhatsApp saying “hi ”.
From there, you must add us as a contact to receive our weekly message - and that's it! We'll do the rest to make sure you receive a message from us twice a week.
You can add yourself any time of the day or night, and from this point you'll be added to the next broadcast list. For instance, if you add us on a Wednesday, your first message will be on the Friday.
to receive our broadcasts for next week and take a look at all the cool stuff we’ve been talking about over on WhatsApp over the last few months
I've changed my mind
If you've decided you no longer want to be messaged from The Hoot, all you need to do is send a message to The Hoot phone - +447507689583, and we'll remove you from our broadcast list.
It's no fuss, and means you can easily test out our Whatsapp broadcasts without worrying about getting bombarded with messages if you decide it's not for you.
Have any more questions?
You can actually message us on Whatsapp if you have any further questions about the broadcast message. Alternatively, drop us a DM on Instagram and a member of our team will get back to you.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds / Unsplash
Leeds
Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
The Hoot -
27th December 2023 
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