The Great British Sewing Bee returns to BBC this week (Wednesday 27 April 2022) with a new home here in Leeds.
Viewers watching the new season of the BBC One show might notice a few changes to this year's season- including the swap of their usual London home to one right here in Leeds.
Located at Sunny Bank Mills, the new Leeds filming spot will share one of the city's biggest creative hubs with TV screens across the UK and beyond.
Now in its sixth-generation of owners, Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley has been serving the local community since 1829. Having been regenerated to form an open, airy space that effortlessly fuses work, leisure and culture, the Mills operate with a tea room, gallery and beautiful creative and business spaces all year round.
It is hoped that the new filming location will pique interest in the historic Mills, as well as offering Sunny Bank Mills ample opportunity to show off its amenities.
Celebrated judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young will be making a comeback but this year Joe Lycett has given role of presenter to Sara Pascoe.
So who can we expect to see on our screens this evening?
Whilst we know very little about the contestants at present, we're convinced there's good reason they have beaten the applicants and landed a spot in the final twelve of this year's show.
Sadly, there's no contestants from Leeds to rally behind, but there's plenty of talent to gasp in awe of over the coming weeks.
Image: The Great British Sewing Bee
The show is also looking for new contestants for the ninth series of the show. All you need to is be over the age of 16 and be able to commit to 6-8 weeks of filming between August and November 2022.
As the show is looking for up-and-coming talent, they also ask that entrants have not completed any sewing NVQ or other equivalent sewing-related qualification and you cannot have worked full-time as a dressmaker, sample machinist, pattern cutter, tailor or seamstress at any time during the last 15 years to apply for the show.
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Sophie Smith -
26th April 2022 
