The best things to do in Leeds this week | 9 – 15 May 2022
It’s going to be another busy week in Leeds.
We do say this a lot, but it really does feel as if there’s almost too many things to do this week in Leeds- we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to food-related things to do this week and there’s plenty of family-friendly activities to check out too.
From rum tasting to a Taylor Swift themed night, keep reading to found out the best things to do in Leeds this week…
Camel Kebabs on Hump Day
Wednesday 11 May 2022 | Otley Road, Headingley (and other I Am Döner locations)
I am Döner, a Leeds-based doner kebab takeaway service, is giving ‘hump day’ a brand-new meaning throughout May and will be serving up kebabs with camel meat inside. The camel kebab has been brought onto the menu for the month of May to celebrate the company’s expansion to the United Arab Emirates- but the Leeds takeaway will only serve up the speciality dish on Wednesdays to help get the city through hump day each week.
If you need any convincing to try this unique combo, it’s considered a delicacy in Dubai and it tastes like any other tender meat. Slightly curried with rice, onions and wrapped into a kebab, it’ll be the talking point of the office all afternoon long- promise.
Wednesday 11 May 2022. Find out more here.
Kae Tempest Live
Wednesday 11 May 2022 | Stylus, Leeds University Union
Playwright, poet and spoken word artist: Kae Tempest has spent their entire career since leaving school at 16 to the power of words. Spoken in hushed, but powerful tones at venues across the UK, Kae is quickly emerging as one of the UK’s most recognised performing artists. Drawing crowds in at Leeds’ own Leeds Festival and Glastonbury, Kae is now touring across the UK and making the Stylus at Leeds University one of their stops. Breaking down big political concepts like identity, consumerism and poverty into poetry, this will be one that leaves you with some food for thought.
Wednesday 11 May 2022. Find out more here.
Rum and Chocolate Tasting at The Watermark
Thursday 12 May 2022 | The Watermark Bar, Cross Belgrave Street
The Watermark is transforming itself into a rum and chocolate heaven, hosted by Diplomatico Rum & Chocolate- the creators of a sipping rum that is made almost entirely from sugar cane honey.
Diplomatico’s Rum Ambassador, Dean MacGregor will guide guests through each neat expression and which chocolate it is paired with. Costing £35 per person, each ticket entitles guests to four expressions perfectly paired with four chocolates, served on a board with other nibbles. If that’s not enough, Diplomatico cocktails will be served all night long as a palette refresher between courses (or sips) of the rum and choccy offerings.
Thursday 12 May 2022. Find out more here.
Swiftogeddon
Saturday 14 May | Belgrave Music Hall, Cross Belgrave Street
Belgrave Music Hall is hosting a club night dedicated to worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift. We’re talking non-stop Swifty all night: deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits. If you managed to make it to any of Belgrave’s previous Swifty nights out in Leeds, you’ll know that there’s nothing quite like this.
If you have a Blank Space in your diary then head down to Belgrave and embrace all things Taylor Swift: the good, the bad and the Red. This around-the-world club night is only in Leeds for one night only.
Saturday 14 May 2022. Find out more here.
Chris Rock Live
Saturday 14 May 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Okay so this might not be your typical concert, but as far as live performances go, this is going to be one of the hottest of the year. Straight of the back of that Oscars joke, Chris Rock is touring around the world to perform his set, Ego Death to the masses. As a phone-free show, all mobile devices have to be secured in Yondr pouches and will be unlocked after the show has ended- so we’re assuming nothing will be off limits during this performance.
Saturday 14 May 2022. Find out more here.
North Leeds Food Festival
Saturday 14 May – Sunday 15 May 2022 | Roundhay Park, Roundhay
The North Leeds Food Festival is back for another year- and it’s bringing a whole host of foodie favourites and up-and-coming independent to Roundhay Park for an entire weekend. Returning this year with highly-anticipated the Live Cookery Theatre, Leeds Cookery School will be rustling up some easy-to-make foodie specials for all ages to try whilst live chef demonstrations will allow you and your company to learn how to make speciality dishes from your own home.
If that’s not enough, there will be deckchairs aplenty to lounge on, independent bar service from North Brew Co Ale House, with speciality cider, gin and wine bars- including some fresh coconut cocktail offerings. Live music will keep the audience entertained from beginning to sunset and a host of family-friendly performers will ensure that all ages are left in awe or hysterics at their unique talents.
Saturday 14 May – Sunday 15 May 2022. Find out more here.
Monday 9 May – Sunday 15 May 2022 | Regent Street, Chapel Allerton
Celebrating an impressive 20 year anniversary, Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton has re-launched its long-archived menu from their first opening in 2002- and there’s some seriously irresistible dishes on the menu.
Seafood and spice are the main ingredients on this menu- and the combinations allows any visitor to consume a rainbow of colour and wealth of flavours without venturing too far from their long-time favourites- an ideal combination for any Thai food enthusiast. The Sukhothai Seafood Platter for two (or more) offers a generous selection of crispy satay fish, satay prawns and crispy squid in batter between well-dressed mussels and satay and sweet chilli dipping sauce, all placed a bed of salad shoots and leaves- and comes as our must-try recommendation on the menu.
Find out more here.
Mamma Mia Bottomless Brunch
The brunch is themed around the hit-musical, Mamma Mia. / Image: London Theatre
The Dancing Queen bottomless brunch is the latest themed brunch from Explore Hidden and it’s full of Mamma Mia themed activities- so much so that booze will be the last thing on your mind, it’s all about the singing, the dancing and the fancy dress here. If you don’t know the words to Mamma Mia yet- we’d recommend re-watching the movies before you head over to this bottomless, it’s for hardcore ABBA fans only.
All this singing and dancing is bound to work up an appetite and this Mamma Mia brunch has plenty of delicious options available that aren’t far from what we’d expect Donna and Sophie to snack on in Greece. There’s drinking options aplenty, both soft and boozy, which will vary at different bottomless brunch experiences. At the alcoholic bottomless brunch, you’ll find a spread of Aperol Spritz, Ketel V&T, Blank Canvas, Amstel, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Heineken 0.0% and selected soft drinks available.
Let’s talk Money, Money, Money. Tickets start at £35 for bottomless soft drinks and £45 for the boozy ones.
Sunday 15 May 2022 at 11am, 1.30pm, 4pm and 6.30pm. Find out more here.
The Charlatans Live
Sunday 15 May 2022 | O2 Academy, Cookridge Street
The Charlatans is celebrating 30 years of alt rock music in the best way possible: by throwing a huge birthday tour. Expect Tim Burgess to reminisce on the hundreds of concerts that band have played, as well as paying tribute to every member of the band, former and present that’s led to their discovery and allowing them to leave their mark on the UK music scene. Taking on the 2,300 small venue, A Head Full of Ideas is expected to form the base of the setlist, but this will be a monumental occasion for any fan of the band with performances of classic tunes past to present.
Sunday 15 May 2022. Find out more here.
Feature Image- Jonny Gios