The best things to do in and around Leeds this week | 8 – 14 May 2023
A handpicked list of events, pub quizzes, gigs, concerts and new openings to check out.
Off the back of the long bank holiday weekend, we’re in for another four day week Leeds – and there’s plenty to get involved in.
From 50% off sale at Neighbourhood for the bank holiday weekend to saying hello to the animals at Temple Newsam farm and seeing Bradford’s own Bad Boy Chiller Crew live at the O2 Academy as part of their homecoming shows – keep reading to find out everything going on around the city this week…
Neighbourhood Bank Holiday Sale
Monday 9 May 2023 | Greek Street, Leeds city centre
All those dining on Monday 8 May 2023 will receive 50% off the A La Carte menu, meaning that you can dine and find all your usual NBHD favourites for less.
The 50% offer includes tempting small plates options like tempura prawns and popcorn chicken, as well as the large plate options like southern fried chicken and the truffled mac and cheese- and if all this isn’t enough, there’s sushi rolls, steaks, and plenty more to choose from too.
In order to receive the 50% offer, you must book a table in advance using the link here.
Find out more here.
Green Room Pub Quiz
Tuesday 9 May 2023 | Wellington Street, Leeds city centre
Green Room is offering a £50 bar tab for food and drink to those that can top the tables at the weekly pub quiz. Grab your chosen team and head over to one of the Top 50 Rooftop Bars in Europe’ according to Big 7 Travel, and prepare to get yourself stuck in.
Kicking off at 6.30pm every Monday night, Green Room is a walk-in free-to-attend event- perfect for last minute plans.
Visit the animals at Temple Newsam Farm
Tuesday 9 May – Sunday 14 May 2023 | Home Farm, Temple Newsam
It’s the perfect time of the year to head over to Temple Newsam and watch the newborn calves, lambs and piglets take their first steps and learn how to be independent animals. Add in a trip to visit the historic Temple Newsam house and a stroll around the estate and you’ve got yourself a full day trip.
Find out more here.
If… Rooftop
Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 May 2023 | Park Cross Street
A brand new rooftop terrace that offers tasty cocktails, a fun atmosphere, panoramic views of Leeds’ skyline and a reyt good space to boogie.
The space boasts breathtaking, panoramic views of the city and is a perfect spot to sip a tipple whilst basking in the sun. The new bar promises IF’s tasty cocktails, live DJ’s and a fun party atmosphere against the atmospheric city skyline.
The menu spans from your usual lagers and cocktail menu to frozen alcoholic slushies, including the super cooling frozen margaritas, all served to the beat of soft house music and well known anthems as the sun goes down.
Find out more here.
Bad Boy Chiller Crew Live
Thursday 11 May / Friday 12 May 2023 | O2 Academy, Leeds
The Yorkshire lads began as a group that uploaded comedy and prank videos online before shooting to fame in 2020, becoming a huge lockdown success. Since then, they have been nominated for both the NME Award for Best New British Act and NME Award for Best New Act in the World, releasing album Disrespectful alongside EP Charva Anthems and a number of hit singles.
Now the Bradford-born group is returning to Leeds for two nights for a homecoming gig as part of the thirteen-date Influential tour.
Tickets are £35.25 each and still available via Ticketmaster here.
The Sherlocks Live
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
The Sherlocks are a British alternative rock band formed in 2010 in Bolton upon Dearne, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The band rose to fame with their fifth single ‘Will You Be There?’ which was followed by their debut album “Live for the Moment” in August 2017.
To celebrate their new album ‘People Like Me & You’ which comes out 11 August 2023, the band have planned a super intimate gig at Hyde Park Book Club and it’s set to be a sell out.
Tickets are only available directly through The Sherlock’s mailing list here.
Stuzzi X Boot and Rally Bar
Friday 12 May 2023 | Stonegate Road, Meanwood
Every Friday 5-9pm you can head over to Meanwood for a craft beer inside the cosy little bar and for a new pop-up foodie venture at Boot and Rally bar.
They’re giving the people what they want: the opportunity to eat authentic Italian treats like pasta and arancini from an award-winning restaurant, but without the faff of dressing up and lots more beer options, all in the comfort of the local.
Pick and choose from arancini, fries double loaded with crushed Stuzzi beef and mortadella meatballs topped with mozzarella or opt for Stuzzi’s signature pasta with combinations like cotechino Italian sausage and ‘nduja ragu flavoured with rosemary and white wine, cooked slowly in chicken stock and san marzano tomatoes – it’s so moreish you’ll be ordering seconds (and thirds).
Find out more here.
Kirkgate Market Heritage Tours
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Inside Leeds Kirkgate Market
There’s a special behind-the-scenes heritage tour of Leeds Kirkgate Market that’s a real tell-all. As Europe’s largest covered market, there’s so much more to explore than just the stalls themselves, find yourself wandering down corridors of traders from years gone by or peer into the future and catch a glimpse of the building work that’s preserving the market for generations to come.
And of course, who could forget a stop at the birthplace of Marks and Spencers – which is actually where the heritage tours begin. Meet by the M&S Centenary clock at midday sharp on the second Saturday of the month and join a small group of like-minded visitors to wander through for an hour and uncover the horrible histories and fascinating facts.
Find out more here.
North Leeds Food Festival
Saturday 13 May – Sunday 14 May 2023 | Roundhay Park, Roundhay
Now in it’s 7th year, the family-friendly North Leeds Food Festival is bringing artisan produce aplenty to Roundhay Park. The festival is a highly anticipated event which foodies from across Yorkshire look forward to each year.
Named Market Street, stalls from independent craft and produce vendors will line the park with small batch goods, including Mallow Gourmet Marshmallows, Screaming Chimp Chilli Sauce and flavours from around the world.
Find out more here.
Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Sunday 14 May 2023 | Around Leeds
Sunday 14 May will see more than 12,000 runners are set to take part in the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.
The event, organised Leeds City Council and the not-for-profit sporting events company Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All, will see money raised for charitable causes near and far, including the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and a Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build a Rob Burrow Centre for MND.
Leeds City Council has advised everyone to ‘plan ahead’ as there will be plenty of road closures and diversions throughout the day.
You can find the full list of road closures here.
‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ Cinemas Tour
Available every day using the interactive map | Various locations
Supported by Leeds Inspired and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this ever evolving archive will allow you to navigate the city and learn all about Leeds’ amazing cinema heritage. At present there’s 83 cinemas on the interactive map, each with beautiful hand drawn illustrations from local artist, Adam Allsuch Boardman, and a brief explanation of the building’s history.
The huge map spans from Oakwell to Farsley, with Moortown, Headingley, Halton and Meanwood all making it on to the list. Most notably, there’s over 30 within the city centre to explore and an impressive number of cinemas found in Beeston and Armley too. Paired with archived photographs from Leodis, a visual collection of Leeds’ history managed by Leeds Libraries, each stop on the interactive map shows where the building was located so that viewers can imagine visiting these historic landmarks in their heyday, many of which opened during the early 20th century.
For those looking for a truly immersive experience, a walking tour from Leeds train station to Cookridge Street takes walkers through the city centre, explaining the fascinating story behind the thirteen cinemas.
Find out more here.
Samra Mayanja: The Living and the Stale exhibition
Running throughout May | The Tetley, Hunslet Road
Arts space The Tetley is showcasing ‘Samra Mayanja presents The Living and the Stale’, throughout May to showcase the artist’s first solo institutional exhibition, which brings together poetry and images made whilst travelling around Uganda. The artist explored ‘the idea of lostness’, through different art forms and showcases her work through a novella, installations, drawings, a score and moving image work.
Samra will be visiting The Tetley on Thursday 11 May to talk about her work in depth in ‘The Tetley presents artist Samra Mayanja in conversation with Sepake Angiama, Artistic Director, iniva’. Tickets are free but do need to be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
Find out more here.
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