YO! Sushi School is back and giving you the opportunity to become a maki master with the guidance of an expert.
Ever wanted to become a sushi master and learn how to roll like a pro? Then now is your chance.
Join YO! for their weekly sushi making schools where you will learn all about the history of sushi, the delicious ingredients used, expert knife cutting skills and of course how to roll your very own sushi delights.
Image: YO!
The classes will be taking place in 21 YO! restaurants across the UK and luckily for us, one of those is on the top floor of Trinity Leeds.
So, what will be involved? During the two hour fun-filled masterclass led by a sushi school ambassador, guests will have the opportunity to roll a selection of YO!'s most iconic sushi dishes which they of course will be able to sample at the end.
Image: YO!
From a classic Crunchy Cali Roll to a scrumptious Salmon Nigiri, there’s a dish for everyone to enjoy and devour. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian then do not fear as there will be plenty of delicious plant-based treats for you to get your hands on as well.
The classes will be taking place every Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and will cost just £29.95 for an adult, and £19.95 for under 16's. We can't think of a better way to brighten up your weekday evenings.
Image: YO!
So grab your sushi-loving friend, put on your sushi-rolling hats and get ready for an exciting introduction into all things Japanese Cuisine.
For more information including a full list of participating restaurants and information on how to book, take a look at their website.
Today marks 29 years of World Book Day- so why not celebrate with a brand new book from one of Leeds' independent book shops?
A day dedicated to all things literature that's remained at the heart of the UK's Primary School agenda for over a quarter of a century now.
The number of indie book shops is finally increasing across the UK once more, meaning there are more spots than ever to pick up a book or spend your World Book Day token.
It's not just the crease of corners and the smell of mass produced paper that your online book can't quite replicate, it's the recommendations, the exciting new covers and the warm coffee that matches the mood in most book stores. They're welcoming places, full of like-minded people, and they're certainly worth a visit, even if you haven't turned a page in years.
In Leeds, we're fortunate to have our pick of independent bookshops, granted they're hidden between the odd Waterstones and W H Smiths, but we still have plenty to offer.
Here are our favourite places to grab a new book from an independent seller...
Hold Fast Bookshop
Leeds Dock | Open Thursday - Sunday
Images: The Hoot Leeds
HoldFast is a book and plant store that champions independent artists, local authors all onboard an old coal boat called Marjorie R. Owners Chris and Victoria Bonner actually lived on the boat for a good few years before deciding to protect the future of the 76 year old boat by turning it into a business.
This is the perfect place to grab a new read. There’s a real community feel about the place, with talks from local authors and Chris and Victoria welcome anyone in to spend hours pouring over their hand picked selection of new and preloved books.
Colours May Vary
Leeds Corn Exchange
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located inside the Corn Exchange in a sun-drenched top floor store, Colours May Vary is a celebration of independently published zines, unusual books and wholesome gifts that suit birthdays, parties, get well soons and congrats for all ages.
If you're on the hunt for a magazine that's more art than 'trash' content, this is the place to browse. There's a beautiful selection of limited edition prints, as well as some more popular independent magazines and books to choose from.
Dedicated to children's books, including some rather incredible novels on young activism and social justice, The Little Bookshop is a one-of-a-kind bookshop that's worth the trek over to suburb Chapel Allerton. The quaint little store is full of enough books to allow a child's imagination to run wild and the selection is varied enough to be challenging and bring up different topics of discussion. There's an adults section too, just through the back of the store- so there's something for all ages to find.
On International Women's Day, Wednesday 9 March, the bookshop will be joined by special guest, Kate Pankhurst, a British author and illustrator and the woman behind the phenomenon 'Fantastically Great Women That Changed The World'.
The Bookish Type
Great George Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The Bookish Type is an indie queer bookshop with a lot to offer. Run by Nicola Hargrave and Ray Larman, this place champions the voices and stories of the LGBT+ community with its range of memoirs, novels, plays and children's books.
There's also a fantastic selection of zines available covering everything from mental health to the history of the trans communities.
Village
Thorton's Arcade, Lands Lane
Self-published books and zines can be found inside Village, one of Leeds few independent booksellers in the city centre. The bookshop can be found within Thornton's Arcade and is locally known for its extensive copies of art-themed books and curated fashion and design selection.
Special edition hardbacks and paperbacks can be found amongst the gallery space used to showcase up-and-coming talent, and there's a decent selection of good old fashioned novels too.
Home of pre-loved books that are still in good condition, Oxfam Books is where books find a new home and all the proceeds go to charity. It's the recycling eco-friendly bookstore that actually has a decent selection of new and old favourites- so yeah, it's not an independent, but it's all for a good cause.
The selection here is far from your average charity shop shelf, there's aisle upon aisle of fiction, including vintage Penguin classics, as well as shelves of University-level textbooks, cookery books and niche topics like politics, history and languages piled high.
Since 2017, Leeds Little Free Libraries have been popping up all over the city, with a mission to encourage random acts of kindness by leaving books for others to read.
The little libraries can be found using an interactive online map to help guide users to their nearest library, where they can pick up and drop off literature of any kind. The Little Free Library continues to surprise locals with its locations ranging from Bradford and Pudsey to Wakefield, Ossett, as well as covering the majority of villages close to the city centre like Headingley, Chapel Allerton, Armley and there’s even a little lending library down by Leeds Docks too.
Huge new £15m sports hub in Holbeck to be given green light by Leeds City Council
Clementine Hall
The final go-ahead is expected to be given for work to start on a major new £15million sports hub in Holbeck.
Senior councillors are expected to give the approval next Wednesday 11 March at an executive board meeting.
An agreement will be made on a contractor to complete the work which will bring state-of-the-art sports pitches and a community space to the city.
Holbeck Sports Hub will provide three full-size artificial grass football pitches, two multi-use games areas and a building with changing rooms and a café.
Image: Supplied
Work is expected to begin in August 2026 and is set to be built at the site of the former Matthew Murray High School.
The plan is to also provide a home to a new GP surgery as well as a children’s play area and walking and running routes through the green space which sits off Brown Lane East and Ingram Road.
Image: Supplied
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “We look forward to the work starting on the Holbeck Sports Hub, which will be a significant asset to the local community and residents in south Leeds.
“It will provide affordable and accessible quality sports pitches, providing more opportunities for physical activity and play and spaces to meet up and connect.
“We are also working towards an agreement with a GP practice so that the area can benefit from new high-quality healthcare provision to meet the needs of the community.”
The programme is joint funded by the Football Foundation and Leeds City Council capital funding.
Clementine Hall -
20th July 2022 
