We all know January isn’t always the most exciting month for many of us.
So, with that in mind, we are trying our very best to get you in a good mood and help cure those January blues. In this feature, you’ll find details of just a hint of the many, many things we have to look forward to in 2023.
First up, we’ve got many brilliant gigs and festivals happening in Leeds over the coming 12 months. Highlights of that programme include Leeds Festival , Live at Leeds: In The Park and Let’s Rock: The Retro Festival.
Read more: Popular Leeds city centre bar announces closure
Our city will also soon welcome some incredibly exciting new restaurants and bars. Don’t forget, this is just a mere peek of what is coming and we’ll keep you updated throughout the year with all the latest announcements.
For now, take a scroll and plan out your 2023 fun in Leeds.
Big gigs and festivals
We’ve already alluded to some of the major music festivals we’ll see in Leeds but there’s much more than those to look forward to. There’s lots of big gigs planned with Shania Twain, Kasabian and Duran Duran pencilled for a visit as well as a stop by Sir Elton John on his farewell tour.
Peter Kay will be bringing his comeback tour to Leeds First Direct Arena and we'll see many big theatre productions showcased at Leeds Grand Theatre. Here’s the major Leeds 2023 gigs, festivals and events which have caught our eye:
Big new openings
One of the exciting things at the start of a new year is having new restaurants, bars and shops coming soon. We’ve taken a look at some of the big arrivals planned for Leeds in 2023. Have a look below and see what takes your fancy:
Jamrock
A beloved Caribbean eatery is reopening in Leeds. After closing their Call Lane venue in May, Jamrock will be launching in Kirkgate in 2023 taking up residence in a former Domino’s Pizza unit in Wade Lane.
Blue Pavilion
The Merrion Centre restaurant will be able to accommodate 130 covers while there will also be a VIP private diningroom and the K Kube karaoke venue. There will be seven rooms in K Kube with the new restaurant and karaoke bar expected to open later this year.
Tong Huang, Blue Pavilion director, said: “Following the success of Blue Sakura, we are confident that Blue Pavilion will prove a huge hit with discerning diners looking for innovative Chinese cuisine and first-class entertainment facilities.
“Our prime position within the Arena Quarter, coupled with stunning, contemporary surroundings will ensure Blue Pavilion is firmly on the map as a memorable dining destination for Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region.”
We will bring you more details on the new opening when we have them.
Tell us the shops and restaurants you'd like to see open in Leeds by completing our poll. You can also do so here.
NQ64
We’ve previously reported retro arcade bar chain NQ64 are eyeing up openings in Leeds and Sheffield. NQ64 has enjoyed great success since launching in Manchester back in 2019. It specialises in providing punters with an opportunity to play the arcade video games from their childhoods.
They also serve a host of cocktails themed around video game legends. They also have a host of Craft beers behind the bar. Andy Hagarth and Matt Robson launched NQ64 with them subsequently opening branches in London, Liverpool and Birmingham among other locations.
“We have a great team that enabled us to open the first nine NQ64s in a relatively short space of time,” explained Hagarth. “We are really excited about the next phase of growth. With the backing of Imbiba and, our new partnership with ThinCats, we are looking forward to bringing our neon splattered drinking dens to a host of new guests.”
We’ll bring you news of NQ64’s expected venture into Yorkshire when we know more.
To find out the latest food and drink news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
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