We are so proud of Leeds’ amazing independent businesses that put art and culture in the heart of the city. It is so important to support your local independent businesses who are striving to make Leeds an exciting and unique city. We took a little walking tour of some of our favourite hangouts who are supporting our crowdfunding campaign to help put the art in the Art Hostel. Whether you are just visiting or a Leeds local, these places are a must visit on any trip around the city!

Wapentake

92 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ

Our old neighbour and stop for a brew! They are all about supporting local businesses, which we love! Sourcing all their ingredients daily from Kirkgate market and coffee from Coffeecare, Skipton and tea from Taylors of Harrogate. Their beer is also made not too far from home, with pints from the Brethren at Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery & North Brewing Co. on offer, three of our most local breweries!

Cafe and Gallery 164

Munro House, Duke St, Leeds LS9 8AG

Independent art gallery, café, exhibition and event space with the best sandwiches in Leeds, if not the entire north (probably)! Grab some lunch from their extensive selection of delicious sandwiches, soups and indulgent cakes and enjoy their relaxed and cosy cafe filled with local artwork. There’s also a fab range of vegan options too for the plant-based eaters amongst you. 164 will definitely be a popular brunch spot for our new Art Hostel guests!

Colours May Vary

Munro House, Duke St, Leeds LS9 8AG

After a yummy lunch at 164, head over to their neighbour Colours May Vary for a browse of their beautiful homewares and funky prints! If you are a fan of illustrations, graphic design and colour, this will be right up your street! Alongside the shop, they have a beautiful gallery space, where they regularly hold exhibitions which range from group shows to solo shows as well as book signings, magazine launches and workshops! If you are in need of an instalment of vibrant art, give Colours May Vary a visit!

Outlaws Yacht Club

38 New York St, Leeds LS2 7DY

A European style café/bar, exhibition space, record shop & creative hangout tucked away on New York Street in Leeds. We loved hanging out here when we were in the Kirkgate hostel and playing a board game or three. Check out their event listings for regular record and quiz nights!  

The Old Red Bus Station

104 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS2 7NL

The Old Red Bus Station is home to a bar, gallery and Leeds’ first all vegan eatery, Cantina! What more could you ask for? Taking a fresh look at plant-based grub, they have created a delicious menu of vegan junk food. Old Red is your go-to for innovative eats and chilled vibes!

Leeds Print Workshop

130 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS2 7NL

Our friends over at 130 Vicar lane run a co-operative printmaking studio. From beginners to well-established printmakers they cater to all skill levels and run a range of courses. Want to try your hand at printmaking? Check out what courses they currently have on offer and book your place!

Eat Your Greens

42 New York St, Leeds LS2 7DY

What do you get if you combine Grub & Grog and Outlaws yacht club? Answer… Eat Your Greens! Combining a bar, restaurant, relaxed cafe and organic grocery store, this chilled hang-out is a great spot for the environmentally conscious amongst us. The responsible sourcing of their food is a top priority on their list, using locally sourced organic veg and produce to create their unique and delicious menu!

Kirkgate Market

34 George St, Leeds LS2 7HY

From fruit to fabric to furniture to flowers, you’ll find anything you need at the market and more! Find the extra ingredient you need for that recipe, a rare vinyl or simply explore all the market has to offer. Don’t forget to refuel after that busy day shopping with a trip to the food court. We recommend trying the masala dosa from Manjit’s Kitchen! Yum!

Doghouse

93 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ

Next door to Wapentake, another of our old neighbours was Doghouse. They haven’t been there for more than a few years, yet have created a proper cosy local pub feel. Spanning across three floors, Doghouse hosts an eclectic mix of furniture and local art hanging from the walls. Not only is Doghouse a bar, but also a record store! What more could you ask for! Browse some vintage vinyl, enjoy a seafood bar snack and relax in their comfy local boozer.

Live Art Bistro

1, 2 Regent St, Leeds LS2 7QA

Just a short walk from the new hostel site, Live Art Bistro is the place to go for anything live art and performance! Run by artists, for artists. They champion unique talent and have created a safe and welcoming space for all to show their work. Whatever you go to see here, you are in for a treat!

Crowd of Favours

Harper St, Leeds LS2 7EA

Crowd of Favours was our local watering hole at the Kirkgate hostel and will definitely still be one of our regular pub visits in our new home! If you like a proper cosy local pub feel, the Crowd will be right up your street! They have an eclectic selection of beers, brilliant spirits, an excellent wine list and a super, locally sourced, freshly prepared menu. They also have a free to hire exhibition space in the basement, so you can catch some local art whilst you enjoy a pint!

The Corn Exchange

Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7BR

One of Leeds’ architectural masterpieces holds host to an array of beautiful independent boutiques, including Little Leeds Beerhouse, Released Records, The Plant Point and so many more…! If you are looking for a quirky gift, the Corn Exchange is the place to look. It’s worth a visit just to marvel at the beauty of the place!

Village

3 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ.

We love multi-functional spaces and here is another! Village is a bookshop and gallery space based in the historic Thornton’s Arcade. Stocking books on contemporary art, design, fashion to small press artist zines, it’s the place to go to pick up a read to get your creative juices flowing!

Kapow Coffee

15 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6LQ
46 The Calls, Leeds, LS2 9EY

After all that reading, you definitely deserve a coffee. Head just a few feet out the door and you’ll find the neon sign of Kapow Coffee, head inside for quality coffee and a slice of delicious cake!  Kapow also shares our love of all things art and so you can enjoy the local artists work on their walls while you brunch.

North Bar

24 New Briggate, Northern Quarter, Leeds

Tucked away on New Briggate and just a short walk from the Grand Theatre, North Bar hosts an eclectic mix of beers and spirits. None of your ordinary brand beers will be found here so If you are into trying something a little bit different, North Bar is definitely worth a visit. North is also another art-loving watering hole on our list and regularly hosts exhibitions and local art on its walls for you to enjoy over a cold pint.

The Brunswick

82 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN

A bright airy bar/restaurant/events space, that’ll be a local to the new Art Hostel guests! The Brunswick hosts a wide range of beers from around the globe but still keeps a strong focus on good ol’ Yorkshire breweries. The Brunswick is up there with the best place for a Sunday lunch in Leeds (It’s our favourite!) With a choice of Beef, chicken, lamb or nut roast, they have a delicious option to please everybody. Be sure to book though as it’s no secret amongst Leeds folk that they do an amazing roast!

The Reliance

76-78 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN

Last but certainly not least…The Reliance! Our friendly local which will be another watering hole just a short walk from the new hostel. Pop in for a coffee or a pint in their very informal cosy pub and don’t forget Sunday is quiz night!

That’s our whistle-stop tour over for now! There are so many great independents in Leeds, we couldn’t possibly squeeze them all in but there’s a round up of a few of our favourites! Please remember to support your local independents and help keep Leeds a creative and unique city.

Look out for our donation boxes in some of our favourite hangouts and check out our crowdfunding campaign to help make the Art Hostel a permanent creative space for all in this amazing city.

We are so excited to have found a permanent home for the Art Hostel. We want to transform the building into a truly unique, affordable space for Leeds visitors and residents to enjoy, that’s even bigger and better than the Kirkgate hostel! To achieve this ambitious goal, we have launched a crowdfunding campaign and we need your support.

It is the art that makes the Art Hostel so very special. Its vibrant and varied rooms provide the exciting and unconventional experience that our guests have come to know and love. All the money raised by the crowdfunding campaign will go straight to paying artists fees and materials to realise their extraordinary ideas for each room. For those of you who haven’t seen what we created last time and to give an idea of what your money will go toward making, here’s a little look at the rooms of our fab Kirkgate hostel!

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Those of you who stayed or visited the Kirkgate hostel will know just how special the Art Hostel really is and the scale of what we are trying to accomplish. It isn’t just a place to stay. It’s a home for volunteers from around the world, a place to make and show work, call in for a Tuesday tea or take part in Pay-As-You-Feel yoga. It’s a place for you. Which is why we need your support.

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By donating, you’ll be helping to create a unique, creative space in the city for all and obviously, you’ll get the warm glow of being a generous human being. As well as this, we also have a selection of awesome perks available (just if you need another incentive!), from funky badges to snazzy t-shirts to designing your very own Art Hostel room! Find out all the fantastic perks available on our crowdfunding page.

If you can’t spare any cash, do not worry, you can still be a huge help to us by spreading the word! Tell a friend, shout in the street, give us a tweet, share our post on Facebook or mention us on Instagram. All support is very much appreciated.

Over the last few years there’s been an explosion of experience-led activities popping up in Leeds. From escape rooms to bowling, there’s so many ways to have fun and let that competitive streak run wild in our fair city. Here’s a round up of just a few, as featured in our fantastic new map (set to be available in the new hostel)!

Hole in one

Did you ever play crazy golf as a child (or a grown up)? Well, this new craze will take you back to simpler times and let you showcase your pitch and putt prowess. Choose from Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf (Great George Street) or Junkyard Golf Club (The Light) for some grown-up mini-golf action. You can get a drink and snacks while you play too.

Adult prices start from £8

www.junglerumble.co.uk
www.junkyardgolfclub.co.uk

All the balls

There’s a couple of choices here. You can find Roxy Ball Room on Merrion Street (top of town) or Boar Lane (near the station). There’s also a sister spot called Roxy Lanes (but more on that later). Here’s what you can expect – ping pong (think Forrest Gump), beer pong and shuffleboard…plus some pool and golf for good measures. With American style food to keep your strengths up while you play, Roxy Ball Room boasts a nice cocktail menu too.

Ping pong starts from £6 per half hour and beer pong just costs you the price of the beer it takes to play!

www.roxyballroom.co.uk

Bowling for fun

There’s two options for bowling fun in the city centre – the first is the aforementioned Roxy Lanes and the second is an absolute retro treat, Tenpin. You can find Roxy Lanes just above Tesco on Bond Street. With similar food and drink on offer here as at Roxy Ball Room, you’ll be well fed and watered. Prices start at £8 per person per game. www.roxylanes.co.uk

Tenpin is a very different experience. You’ll be transported right back to the bowling alleys of your youth (if you grew up in the 1990s/early 2000s anyway). Think vetro shoes, fluorescent designs and cheesy strike graphics! See the Tenpin sites for all offers and pricing: www.tenpin.co.uk/our-locations/leeds

Time to escape

There is a variety of escape rooms to choose from in Leeds. Each offers something similar but different and if you’re a big fan of them, we’d encourage you to explore them all. If it’s your first escape room adventure, try Tick Tock Unlock in Trinity (one of the shopping centres in the city). Beat the clock to escape the room – it does what it says on the tin really. With rooms including The Asylum, Alice in Wonderland and The Hatch, games start from £14 per person.

www.ticktockunlock.com/location/leeds

What’s your favourite Leeds activity?

2019 in Leeds: the year of sport

This year has been dubbed the year of sport for Leeds. Not only is the city hosting the Cricket World Cup, but it’s also going to be home to the Union Cycliste Internationale World Championships and the Women’s American Football European Championship too…plus a few other events to get your pulse raised. Here’s all you need to know!

It’s just not cricket…oh wait, it is!

This one is going to keep you busy from May until August and there’s going to be a carnival as well! From 30 May to 14 July, Headingley Stadium will be alive with ICC Cricket World Cup action. Whether you’ve never been a cricket spectator before or you’re a seasoned pro, expect to consider yourself an expert by the summer. There’ll be four big matches for you to get your teeth into. Howzat?

And when you’re feeling sad that it’s all over, you’ll be able to dry those tears and console yourself with the Third Specsavers Ashes Test Match (yes, that mouthful!). Where? Headingley Stadium; When? 22 to 26 August; What? England versus Australia. Great stuff!

Swim, cycle, run…the triple-threat triathlon

Leeds’ most famous sporting exports? Well, the Brownlee brothers are up there. On 8 and 9 June this year, the World Triathlon Series returns to the city for the fourth year. Cheer on the athletes in the weekend sunshine (fingers crossed) and you might even be able to spot a few Team GB Olympic hopefuls (yes, Tokyo 2020 is just around the corner). This really is a great way to see the city come to life.

On your bike

This one’s a tandem. The first date to flag is Tour de Yorkshire. Yes, it’s back again and it’s going to be a good one! From 2 to 5 May, the best in cycling talent will take to the roads of our fair county. You’ll be able to spot some of the route in Leeds as stage four finishes in the city. Remember to secure a good spot on the Headrow!

We promised you two cycling events, so here’s the second. The UCI Road World Championships. Nine days of biking action from 21 September and Leeds is one of the locations on the route. Get out and about by train or hire yourself a run-around. It’s definitely worth seeing the dramatic scenery of our lovely county!

Women’s American Football

Right, this one’s a curveball but bear with us. Leeds is set to host the IFAF Women’s American Football European Championship on 18 August at John Charles Centre for Sport. If the closest you’ve ever got to the sport is staying up late to see the Super Bowl, this event will be right up your street (you can stay on GMT for one!). If you’re not sure, here’s a run-down of the rules, thanks to good, old reliable Wikipedia.

And another thing…

Not only will the city be host to some big tournaments and events this year, we’ve got even more good sporting news! Leeds Rhinos have a brand new south stand as part of the Headingley Stadium redevelopment. It’s pretty impressive and is set to make match days even more special. As well as that, Leeds United seem to be going pretty strong this season and at the time of writing (we know things can change) may well be on their way up. Fingers crossed!

Which sporting event are you most looking forward to?

Feel the love in Leeds this February

Whether you’re going solo or you’re all loved up, there are a few dates that really should be put in your diary this Feb 14th. You may think it’s commercial, it may be your favourite day of the year; whatever camp you fall into, this one’s for you! Move over cupid…

I love Leeds walking tour, 14 February, 2.30 to 4.30pm

Join Rachael Unsworth for a walking tour with a difference this V Day! Taking you to all of her favourite places in Leeds with a view to ramping up your appreciation of the city. This tour includes a trip our much-loved Corn Exchange and is set to be a good’un. You might well meet some interesting folks on the tour too (nudge nudge). Find out more, here.

Leeds Valentine’s Fair, 8 to 18 February

This one has been going as long as we can remember! If you come to Leeds via the motorway during these dates (M621) you’re sure to spot the Valentine’s Fun Fair next to Elland Road Football Stadium. Get your thrills on with a ride or two, eat some candy floss and imagine you’re in your very own romcom montage.

Valentine’s Roller Disco, 15 February, 7.30 to 10.30pm

Another little Corn Exchange mention! Roller Girl Gang is celebrating its first birthday with an extra special roller disco at the Corn Exchange this Feb. Roll it alone or hold hands with your beau as you skate along to tunes from DJ Rae of Key Club fame! How very 80s?!

Macbeth, The Carriageworks, 13 to 16 February

“Is this a dagger which I see before me?” We promised you this round-up wouldn’t all be romantic…and we’ve delivered. See ambition as its very worst in one of the Bard’s greatest plays. Leeds Youth Opera will be bringing all the drama in Giuseppe Verdi’s rendition of Macbeth. You won’t want to miss it!

How will you be spending Valentine’s Day?