The summer of football is upon us. From June 14th, you can expect office sweepstakes, soccer chat and lots of complaining about England’s performance. Here’s our list of the best spots to watch the beautiful game in Leeds this summer.

The Palace, Kirkgate

From Russia with love this summer, our almost neighbour, The Palace will be showing every single game of the tournament. You can book a table to make sure you secure a top notch seat to cheer from. No stranger to screening sport, The Palace will provide you with a traditional atmosphere and strong pint too. Find out more, here.

Wapentake, Kirkgate

Our neighbour on the other side, Wapentake, is also a great choice when it comes to football viewing. If you’re looking for a hattrick of great food, nice beer and cosy surroundings, this one is for you. They also do a fantastic selection of cakes and coffee, if you’re watching the game while nursing a hangover. Check it out, here.

Lucky Number 7, Grand Arcade

The former home of Ham & Friends in the Grand Arcade, this New York Ale House has more than 20 beer taps, shuffleboard and some US-style bar snacks to boot. It’s the new kid on the block but not one to be overlooked when it comes to the football. Take a look, here.

Belgrave Music Hall, Belgrave Street

If Lucky Number 7 is a little crowded and you “think it’s all over” (we’re sorry, we couldn’t help it!) for your chances of watching the game, fear not! Belgrave will also be screening the tournament and you can grab some pizza at half time too! All you need to know is here.

The Faversham, Springfield Mount

The final spot on our list has to be The Faversham. A little more further afield, but a good choice all the same. Nip out to the terrace if you can’t stand the tension of the penalty shoot-outs and enjoy some awesome food, craft beer or a cocktail or two while you watch. Avoid a footy viewing “own goal” and visit here.

Where will you be watching the football this summer?

It’s June! One of our favourite months here at the hostel. The days stay lighter that little bit longer and if we’re lucky, there’ll be a bit of sunshine too. As always, our calendar is jam-packed! Here’s just some of the things you can get involved with this month.

Yoga with Calm Collective Leeds (Monday and Wednesday, all month)
Any hostel regulars will know that Calm Collective hosts weekly yoga sessions with us on a pay as you feel basis. Get your zen on with Kate in our basement project space. We promise you’ll feel the benefit! Book your place.

It’s also International Yoga Day on 21st June and we’re celebrating with some extra special sessions. We’ll see you there!

Tuesday tea
We’re always banging on about Tuesday tea…but that’s because it’s just so awesome! Join us and you’ll see. It starts at 6ish and our food is always vegan friendly too. Check out some of the previous recipes.

Retro Bar at the End of the Universe, #GE18 from John Ledger (Thursday 21 June, 6.30-9pm)
Artist, John Ledger will be taking up residency at 130 Vicar Lane throughout June and for one night only, he will be coming to the Art Hostel for the culmination of General Election of Governing Emotions (#GE18).

Head to Vicar Lane to see a brand new body of work based on a reality where counselling and care blend with politics and then pop across to see us at the hostel for “Election Night”, complete with interactive voting booths.

John is currently studying an MA in Fine Art at the University of Leeds and his practice explores a collective longing for a holiday from capitalist realism and the impact of political ideologies on collective consciousness.

What will you be getting up to in Leeds this month?

It’s almost the bank holiday! Yippee! An extra day off work and time to explore whatever city (or non-city) you happen to be in. As you’ll know, we’re based in Leeds and as always, there’s lots to do this weekend. Here’s some top notch inspiration to get you started.

Friday
Looking for somewhere to kick off the long weekend and take advantage of the Friday buzz? We’d recommend heading to Northern Monk. You can wander along the canal and enjoy a beer outside (sun permitting) and a good feed in the The Refectory, which is currently hosting our neighbour, Wapentake as its resident foodie.  

Once you’re fed and watered, head down to music festival, World Island, which is happening in Leeds all weekend (remember, you do need a ticket). Tonight it’s Sampha and Badbadnotgood! Or if you’re looking for something a little different, you’ll find Afrobeat, funk and reggae at Howard Assembly Rooms as all-female supergroup, Les Amazones d’Afrique take to the stage.

(Image credit: World Island)

Saturday
After you’ve had the mandatory Saturday lie-in, head to Northern Print Fair at Duke Studios, and grab an awesome brunch at Sheaf Street Cafeteria while you’re there. Hop on the best mode of transport in Leeds, the Water Taxi (if you can miss the queue) and dock at one of the best places (if not the best) to be on a sunny day, Water Lane Boathouse.

Another awesome lunch option is Eat North at North Brew where you’ll find Meat Stack, What a Donut, Rabbit Hole Coffee and I Knead Pizza (to name a few). You can also enjoy the tail end of Leeds Indie Food where The Reliance will be “cooking the books” from 6.30pm to 10pm.

If you’ve had enough of the sunshine we’ve been promised, head to Hyde Park Picture House to cool down with a good film. Tomorrow they’re showing Nothing Like a Dame and The Breadwinners. Alternatively, West Yorkshire Playhouse has two cracking shows on this bank holiday weekend, The Girl on the Train and Hard Times – two novel adaptations which are not to be missed.

Live Art Bistro has a treat in store for you too with Pink Suits: Political Child & Sam Kennedy as part of Yorkshire Dance’s Performing Gender Week. Alternatively, you can opt to “get your Spain on” at Arts@Trinity’s Flamenco Festival. Castanets and fans at the ready!

(Image credit: North Brewing Co)

Sunday
Make the most of Sunday sans blues with a trip to Kirkstall Abbey Market. Explore the beautiful ruins with food and treats from some of Leeds’ best businesses.

No Sunday would be complete with a roast, and we certainly have a few favourites. Dock 29 is fantastic for veggies and meat eaters alike but if you fancy something a little more traditional, head to The Cross Keys for your Yorkshire puds.

When it comes to arty adventures, you can look no further than Sunny Bank Mills which has its Clocking Off exhibition on this weekend.

Fill your Sunday evening with merriment and giggles by returning the West Yorkshire Playhouse for Bridget Christie’s stand up show. The living legend, Bryan Adams, is also on at Leeds Arena on Sunday evening, if you fancy rocking out to Summer of ‘69!

Finally, Whitelock’s is hosting a Candlelit Victorian Banquet from 6-11pm, if you’re yet to have your fill of bank holiday grub.

(Image credit: Brisbane Tailoring  and Sunny Bank Mills)

Monday
Now’s the time to enjoy that extra day off (**sound of trumpet fanfare**)! Head to Otley for the Traditional Maypole event where a team of female morris dancers called The Buttercross Belles will be celebrating May Day the traditional way.

The Real Junk Food Emporium is still open for business, so nip down and grab what you need for a picnic, including some bread for the ducks before heading across to Roundhay Park to tuck into your treats. Our weather app is promising a sunshine filled treat.

Fancy feeling very Yorkshire? Then pop to The Carriageworks for We Are Bronte at 7.30pm.

And finally, finish off the long weekend with time on the Belgrave rooftop, with delicious pizza from Dough Boys kitchen, followed by the sounds of Femi Kuti and The Positive Force.

We hope that’s given you a little inspiration. What else do you have planned for the long weekend? Tell us in the comments below.

Tuesday tea is a tradition started by our lovely volunteer, Niels. It’s a weekly communal meal where we invite guests, volunteers, artists and visitors alike, to sit down together and enjoy some delicious dishes on a pay as you feel basis.

Niels, who is originally from the Netherlands, is often our Tuesday tea head chef but it definitely isn’t a one-man show. Over the past eight months, our volunteers and a fair few enthusiastic guests have helped to serve up some fantastic vegan dishes. All of the money raised goes back into supporting Art Hostel and East Street Arts too!

So, in no particular order, here’s our top five Tuesday teas!

5. Squash curry with the trimmings – 17th April 2018

We welcome everyone to our Tuesday tea. One 17th April, two of the East Street Arts directors, Karen and Jon, made an appearance at our table. On the menu this particular evening was a squash, black eyed bean and coconut curry with toasted naan bread, basmati rice, poppadoms and mango chutney. Jess was wearing the chef’s hat. A massive fan of cooking curries, this is one of her signature recipes. Luckily she wasn’t phased by having to serve 22 people!

Ingredients:
2 squash – cubed
2 cans black eyed beans
2 cans coconut milk
6 cloves garlic
300g diced tomatoes
2 onions
4 small green chillies
Salt
Pepper
Turmeric
Garam masala
Mustard seeds
Vegetable stock cube
Inch of ginger
Oil
Fresh coriander
Rice
Turmeric
Vegetable stock

Method:
• Heat oil in a large pan, add the mustard seeds and cook until they pop. Dice the onion, garlic, ginger and cook until soft and translucent.
• Peel and dice the squash and add to the pan along with the chillies, salt, pepper, turmeric, garam masala and a vegetable stock cube.
• Dice the tomatoes and add the pan, cook until soft and easily mushed with a spoon.
• Add the coconut milk and the black eyed beans.
• Simmer for forty minutes or until the squash is cooked and the sauce has reduced. Season to taste.
• For the rice, rinse thoroughly, boil the rice and add the veg stock and tumeric to the water.

4. Carrot and mushroom risotto – 31st October 2017

Our Halloween celebrations were superseded by our lovely volunteer Ann-Marie’s birthday. And what an autumnal feast we shared! It was the kind of chilly evening where you just needed a good plate of wholesome stodge to warm your bones. Niels definitely delivered with a medley of carrot and mushroom risotto, carbonara and autumnal veg couscous.

Ingredients:
White wine (no silly, not a sweet one) but you can use a red one too!
Vegetable stock 1,5 L
Garlic (lots of course)
Diverse range of mushrooms – exploring is a must
Carrots (wash them)
Shallots 3 or 4
Thyme
Pepper and a bit of soya sauce – I prefer soya over sault, more flavour!
Risotto rice (100 grams per person)
Olive oil

Method:
• Prepare the stock.
• Grab the oldest looking pan you have, like one of those grandma pans with a nice thick bottom and big enough for the whole family.
• Heat up some oil (two tea spoons) and before it is hot put in the garlic and shallots.
• Let it fry, don’t burn the garlic!
• Now put the risotto in and some extra olive oil to make the rice become shiny. Wait three minutes and add about a reasonable amount of wine (a glass).
• Let the risotto absorb all the wine and add then half of the stock with the mushrooms, carrots and thyme.
• Keep stirring and add some soya sauce and pepper while continuously tasting.
• When all the stock is absorbed add some more and keep doing this till the risotto rice has a nice bite!

3. Chinese rice noodles and plum puff tart – 2nd January 2018

What better way to see in the new year than with great food, great company, a session in a sauna and maybe a couple of drinks? We battled the two day hangover and thoughts of diets with some Chinese rice noodles, cooked by Niels (again) and a delicious dessert – plum puff tart – generously brought by Helen Russell Brown, to whom the Art Hostel had become a second home while she was running Arctic Bazaar. After dinner we fired up the sauna for one last cleansing session of body and soul, making us truly ready to face the new year!

Ingredients:
Garlic
Chili flakes
Red onion
Onion powder
Spring onion
Black pepper
Soy sauce
Lime
Green cabbage
Ginger
Mushrooms
Coconut milk
Broccoli

Method:
• Heat a pan with water, after it boils add the cabbage and cook 10 min. After 5-6 min add the Broccoli.
• Meanwhile, cut enough garlic and the onion. Fry them in a wok with olive oil and add some chopped ginger.
• After it starts frying add chili flakes, soy sauce, onion powder and black pepper with the mushrooms. Put the fire low and slow cook it.
• When the cabbage and broccoli are ready add it with the rest in the wok.
• Give it a good stir, add the spring onion, some more garlic and the coconut milk. Add the noodles into the wok and leave it on the fire for five minutes.
• Check if the noodles are ready and taste the delicious meal.

For the plum puff pastry
Just get some puff pastry – Jus Rol is vegan and maybe some other brands are too.

Then just melt a load of dark brown sugar with a bit of water and caramelise it for a bit then add some vegan butter, vanilla and mixed spice. Add some cooked plums and reduce for a bit then put this in the oven in a tin with puff pastry over the top and bake for like 25 mins. It can be reheated between two trays on a hob.

The custard was just soy milk with vanilla, sugar, cornflour, and star anise – pop in a pan, heat and stir.

2. Yam curry with rice – 14th November 2017

This recipe has been chosen by our lovely duty supervisor Jess, who says that this is the best meal Niels has ever made for her – an African yam, spinach and pepper curry! (Are you noticing a trend?!) For this recipe, we used two varieties of yams, sourced from the Kirkgate Markets. A small pale yam, imported from Ghana, called Eddoes was used to give the curry a great texture and a firm bite. While the second yam, a large purple variety from Uganda, gave the curry a special sweetness and added flavour. Thank you ‘Spice Corner’ for providing the goods!

Ingredients:
2 large purple yams
2 small pale yams
3 mixed peppers
2 bunches of spinach
1 400g coconut milk
2 400g canned tomatoes
5 gloves of garlic
2 medium sized onions
1 inch of ginger
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tablespoons of yellow curry paste
2 vegetable stock cubes
Salt and pepper to taste
700g basmati rice

Method:
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Dice onion, garlic and ginger, add to the pan and heat until translucent.
• Dice the yams and add them to the pan. Add curry pasta and seasonings and cover the vegetables in the paste.
• Pour in the coconut milk and cans of tomatoes.
• Add the stock cubes and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer for 40 minutes, or until yams are soft and have achieved desired texture.
• Thoroughly rinse the rice and put it in a large pot of water, bring it to the boil and cook until soft.

1. Jambalaya – 3rd April 2018

This day was very special to us at the hostel. Niels, our head chef, had brought his mother, Mariette, all the way from The Hauge, Netherlands! We were able to meet the woman who gave us our resident Dutch man and have a real family meal. We borrowed an amazing recipe from aramblingcook.com, for an aubergine jambalaya. We hold this day very close to us here at the hostel.

Ingredients:
1 large onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 large carrot
4 cloves of garlic
1 green chilli
2 bay leaves, 1 tbsp oregano, 1/2 tbsp marjoram, 1 sprig of thyme (leaves picked)
1 tbsp ancho chilli flakes (or whatever you have), 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika
220g rice
1 aubergine cut into small cubes
2 handfuls of frozen peas
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
400ml veg stock
chopped spring onion & parsley or coriander to finish

Method:
• Heat a glug of oil in a massive casserole style pan then add the onion, carrot and pepper and cook for five minutes or until everything’s started to soften.
• Add the garlic, chilli, herbs and spices and cook for another few minutes, vigorously stirring everything to coat the veg with all the lovely spiciness.
• Add the rice, aubergine, tomato puree and the tinned tomatoes. Stir everything really well again, season generously and cook for a few minutes until the rice changes colour a bit. Like when you’re cooking a risotto.
• Add the stock, bring to a boil, simmer then stick a lid on and cook for 20 minutes or so stirring every five minutes or so to make sure nothing sticks to heavily to the bottom of the pan. Add your peas or anything you want to add after 10 minutes. Once it’s all ready leave off the heat for a beat to steam. Fluff up with a fork and then serve with the spring onion, parsley/coriander and a good glug of oil on top.

We’ve got a blog!


It’s been two years since we transformed this converted seed warehouse on the oldest street in Leeds and opened our doors to tourists and travellers from around the world! This place is the brainchild of the directors of East Street Arts, who as avid travellers and lovers of European-style hostel life, saw a gap in the accommodation offered in Leeds. We have added to the lower-budget offering in the city centre whilst doing what we do best: supporting local and international artists.


We’ve been thinking for a while that there should be a way to stay in touch with the growing number of people that are now connected to us, from live-in volunteers to guests and ever increasing artists that have been involved in the hostel.

This is your glimpse into the life and times of the hostel and the constantly evolving community we host. 
We will be using this blog to keep you informed of all the activity of the hostel, past and present, as well as any large developments as we begin to think about possible futures for the hostel and the transformation of Kirkgate. The Art Hostel Project Space has become a firm part of the independent and DIY art scene of Leeds, helping emerging artists develop their arts practice, so expect a snapshot of this growing activity.

So, welcome to the wonderful and colourful world of Art Hostel!
Contact us, if you have remarks, we love hearing from you.