The first ever Popworld Festival is coming to Leeds next year, and the new date has finally been announced.
Despite having to rearrange the highly-anticipated musical celebration full of 90s and early noughties pop bangers twice due to COVID, the team behind Popworld Festival is determined to "bring it all back" to Millennium Square next August.
Whether you lived through those eras and want to step back into a time warp of nostalgia, or you just love a cheesy tune, Popworld Festival is bringing the best of pop's golden era.
Cheeky Girls, Fatman Scoop, S Club, 5ive, and festival headliner Peter Andre are all confirmed to take to the stage.
Yorkshire native, turned killer DJ, Paul chuckle of Chuckle Brothers fame will be spinning some classic pop anthems in his non-stop set, and an extra special mystery guest will also be making an appearance later in the night.
Although festival organisers are staying tight-lipped on who it'll be, they've said to "get ready to be driven crazy by this classic 90s icon".
Festival organisers are determined to "bring it all back" to Millennium Square next August / Credit: Popworld Festival
"It’s great that the Popworld Festival is guaranteed to go ahead now," said Jonathon Guest, from festival organisers Stonegate Group.
"With COVID cases dropping and the vaccination programme making headway, we are really looking forward to giving people one of the biggest pop party experiences around next year."
As well as the festival itself, there will also be official Popworld Festival after parties hosted at Popworld Briggate Street, Popworld Cookridge Street, and Walkabout, Woodhouse Lane to make sure the the party is kept going until the early hours.
Popworld Festival is bringing the best of pop's golden era to Leeds city centre / Credit: Popworld Festival / YouTube
Popworld Festival is coming to Millennium Square on Saturday 6 August 2022.
While 'Tier One' tickets have all sold out, 'Tier Two' tickets are now available to buy priced at £27.50, and the team behind the festival has also introduced a VIP ticket priced at £49.95 - which includes priority seating, a chance to meet the artists, and a goody bag from sponsor, Ciroc Vodka.
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Emily Sergeant -
18th August 2021 
