Often described as one of the city’s most popular suburbs, Chapel Allerton has built a strong reputation for its food and drink scene. Located just a short distance from Leeds city centre, the neighbourhood attracts a steady mix of locals, visitors and food lovers thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and varied dining options.

Centred around Harrogate Road and its surrounding streets, Chapel Allerton is home to a diverse range of restaurants, cafés and bars, many of which have become firm favourites with locals. From casual brunch spots to relaxed evening dining, there is plenty of choice for those looking to enjoy good quality food without the crowds and hustle of the city centre.

If you are planning a visit to Chapel Allerton, whether for a weekend meal, a catch-up with friends or a laidback evening out, you will be spoilt for choice. To help you decide where to go, we have put together a list of our favourite restaurants in the area.

The Best Restaurants in Chapel Allerton

De Baga

Address: 8B Stainbeck Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 4NB
Opening Times: Mon–Thu 12:00–14:30 & 17:30–22:00 | Fri–Sat 12:00–14:30 & 17:30–23:00 | Sun 12:00–21:00

Modern Indian restaurant, DeBaga, first opened its doors in Headingley in 2019, and its popularity led to the opening of a second venue in Chapel Allerton just three years later. With Michelin-experienced chefs in the kitchen and a strong focus on top-quality locally sourced produce, DeBaga consistently receives excellent reviews and boasts a TripAdvisor score of 4.7.

On the menu, you’ll find an incredible selection of Goan and regional dishes, all given an exciting contemporary twist. Begin with the street food favourites, such as Sev Puri and Calcutta Aloo Tikka Chaat, before tucking into one of DeBaga’s delicious curries, sizzlers, or biryanis. Kids are also catered to, with three different main dishes to choose from, so it’s a great choice for a family meal or celebration.

Sukhothai

Address: 8 Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4PE
Opening Times: Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00 | Fri–Sat 17:00–23:00 | Sun 17:00–21:00

My go-to for Thai food in Leeds is the fantastic Sukhothai. I’ve dined at both the city centre and Chapel Allerton restaurants, and the food and service have been consistently excellent at each. The menu features all the classic Thai dishes alongside some lesser-known options, all absolutely packed with flavour and beautifully presented.

To start, I’d recommend the Sukhothai Platter. Priced at £11.75 per person, it offers an assortment of their bestselling starters, including satay chicken, Thai fish cakes and irresistibly crisp battered king prawns.

The menu is extensive, to say the least, but if you’re struggling to choose, the knowledgeable staff are always happy to help. My personal favourites are the Weeping Tiger and the Gang Massaman.

On Sundays, the Chapel Allerton restaurant also serves a buffet from 12:30pm to 4:30pm, where you can pay a set price of £24.95 and help yourself to a wide variety of dishes.

The Olive

Address: 188-190 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4NZ
Opening Times: Mon–Thurs 17:00–21:30 | Fri-17:00-22:00 | Sat11:00-22:00 | Sun-12:00-21:00

For Mediterranean flavours and laid-back vibes, book yourself a table at The Olive. This much-loved independent restaurant sits in the heart of Chapel Allerton and is a firm local favourite. Open for evening service Monday to Friday, and for all-day dining at weekends, it serves a stunning medley of authentic Greek and Cypriot cuisine.

Classics such as Moussaka, Beef Stifado and Lamb Kleftiko will evoke fond foodie memories of favourite holidays, and the traditional meze platters are perfect for those weekend catch-ups with friends. Visit on a Sunday, and you can enjoy their special Sunday roast – roast lamb or chicken breast with sauteed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, fresh veg and gravy for £18.95.

Mythos

Address: 5 Stainbeck Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PJ
Opening Times: Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00 | Fri–Sat 12:00– 220 | Sun 12:00–21:00

Chapel Allerton has been blessed with not one, but two great Mediterranean restaurants, the second being the brilliant Mythos. One of Chapel Allerton’s foodie hotspots, it serves most of Greece’s best-known dishes, but it’s mostly adored for its authentic gyros and amazing grill boards. A traditional pork or chicken gyros wrap costs just £13.50, making Mythos a fantastic option for a bargain lunch or budget-friendly evening meal.

Want to sample a variety of Mythos’ beautifully marinated meats? Opt for the mixed grill! Available to serve one, two or three people, it includes chicken, pork, wild boar sausage, lamb chops and beefteki. What a feast!

Hern

Address: 5 Stainbeck Corner, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PG
Opening Times: Mon, Wed & Fri 18:00 – 21:00 | Sat 12:00 – 14:00, 17:30 – 21:00 | Sun 12:00 – 15:00

For a standout British dining experience in Chapel Allerton, Hern is a must-visit. The restaurant celebrates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with every dish thoughtfully prepared and full of flavour. Expect dishes such as fresh cod with mussels, coco beans, salsify and pesto, or light, creative desserts like rhubarb and buckwheat crumble with vanilla custard.

Hern is open for evening dining on weekdays, except Tuesdays, and on Saturdays, with lunch sittings available at weekends. The stylish yet relaxed interior makes it perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or simply treating yourself to a special meal. The staff are welcoming and happy to guide you through the menu, ensuring a dining experience that feels effortless and enjoyable.

The Crossing Indian Bistro

Address: Regents Court, 33-39 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD
Opening Times: Mon – Fri 17:00–22:30 | Sat 12:00–22:30 | Sun 12:30–22:00

Taking over the former India Bistro space in Regents Court, The Crossing Indian Bistro is a massive upgrade for the neighbourhood’s dining circuit. It moves far beyond standard high-street curry house fare, focusing instead on sharp, vibrant subcontinental cooking with plenty of regional variety.

The menu covers everything from crisp street-food small plates and smoky tandoor grills to deeply layered curries that let proper spices do the heavy lifting rather than just blunt heat. It’s also one of the few places in the area offering a dedicated lunchtime thali, serving up an authentic, multi-dish spread that makes a quick daytime visit well worth the detour.

Inside, the room is bright, stylish, and comfortable, with friendly staff who know the menu inside out. It’s easily one of the most exciting additions to Harrogate Road in recent memory.

House of Koko

Address: 62 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4LA
Opening Times: Tue – Fri 08:00-16:00 | Sat 09:00–17:00 | Sun 09:00–16:00 | Closed Mon

For daytime dining in Chapel Allerton, I can’t recommend House of Koko enough. If you’re after one of the best brunch spots in Leeds, this is it. The original House of Koko in Chapel Allerton is super chilled and welcoming, with friendly staff who make you feel right at home.

But it’s the food that really steals the show. Expect creative brunch dishes made with top-quality ingredients and packed full of flavour. The Steak & Eggs is a personal favourite, cooked just right and ridiculously tasty, and the iced coffees are absolutely worth a mention too. Whether you’re meeting friends for a lazy weekend brunch or just need a pick-me-up during the week, House of Koko hits every note.

Tips for Visiting Chapel Allerton

Chapel Allerton can get busy, particularly on weekends and during peak dining times, so it’s worth planning ahead. If you’re coming from Leeds city centre, there are a few straightforward ways to get here without a car.

By Bus:
Several regular bus services run from Leeds city centre to Chapel Allerton, with stops along Harrogate Road close to many of the restaurants listed above. Services such as the 2, 3 and 3A run frequently from stops around Vicar Lane and New Briggate, taking around 10–15 minutes to reach Chapel Allerton. The 36 also serves the area from Leeds City Bus Station, with similar journey times. Buses tend to operate throughout the day, making them a convenient and cost‑effective way to travel.

By Taxi or Ride‑Share:
If you prefer a direct route, taxis from Leeds city centre to Chapel Allerton typically take around 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic, and are a quick option if you’re heading out for dinner or drinks with a group.

On Foot or By Bike:
Chapel Allerton is roughly 2.3–2.7 miles from Leeds city centre, so if the weather’s good and you’re up for a walk or a cycle, the journey can take around 45–60 minutes on foot or significantly less by bike.

Booking ahead is still recommended to secure a table at your preferred restaurant, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Related Reads

Ultimate Guide to Brunch in Leeds City Centre

Bottomless Brunches in Leeds City Centre

The Ivy Asia Leeds 2025 Review

The Cosy Club Leeds 2025 Review

So, where do you head to satisfy those cravings in Leeds? Luckily, the city has no shortage of brilliant dining spots to escape the cold. Whether you’re after a candlelit French bistro, fresh handmade pasta, a wood-fired feast, deeply comforting subcontinental spice, or a pint and a hearty feed in the city’s oldest pub, here is your guide to the cosiest places to eat in Leeds this autumn…

Kendells Bistro

Address: 3 St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH

Tucked away in the arts quarter opposite the Leeds Playhouse, Kendells Bistro is practically made for autumn evenings. The second you step inside, the flickering candlelight, blackboard menus, and relaxed French charm make you completely forget the chilly weather outside.

Because their menu changes daily based on what’s fresh, you’ll find the choices handwritten on giant blackboards across the restaurant. But when it comes to true comfort food, they nail it every single time. Start with a steaming bowl of traditional French onion soup topped with a thick, melted Gruyère croûton, before moving on to a tender slow-roasted duck leg or a classic rich beef bourguignon. Room for dessert? Good luck choosing between their Tarte Tatin and Fondant au Chocolat – both are suitably indulgent!

Ox Club

Address: Bramleys Yard, 19a The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU

Tucked away in Bramleys Yard behind Headrow House, Ox Club is a crown jewel in Leeds’ dining scene. Proudly holding a spot in the Michelin Guide, this modern eatery centres its entire kitchen around a solid-fuel Grillworks wood grill. When the air turns crisp, sitting near the open kitchen while the aroma of smouldering oak fills the room is about as cosy as city dining gets.

Their evening menu of wood-fired Yorkshire produce is exceptional, and if you’re looking for a serious midweek treat, their Steak & Chips deal is an absolute steal at £17.95 (available Tuesday to Thursday, plus Saturday lunch).

But special mention has to go to their legendary Sunday Roast, widely regarded as one of the very best in the city. Their current autumn offering is pure comfort on a plate: choose from a tender roast rump cap of beef drenched in rich bone marrow gravy, a seasonal porchetta paired with trotter and fennel gravy, or a brilliant vegetarian smoked celeriac and squash served with truffled grains and veg gravy. Whatever you order, save room for dessert because their signature burnt Basque cheesecake is a caramelised slice of perfection!

Sarto

Address: Munro House, Duke Street, Leeds, LS9 8AG

Nothing screams autumn comfort food quite like a steaming bowl of fresh, hand-rolled pasta. A joint project between the teams behind Laynes Espresso and Northern Scum, Sarto has mastered the art of casual, high-end pasta dining without an ounce of snobbery.

Take a seat along their long wooden benches and prepare to be spoiled for choice. Their menu is packed with rich, warming options perfect for the colder months, such as Rigatoni with confit duck leg ragù topped with spiced orange and crispy duck skin, Fazzoletti with tender pig cheek ragù, or Fettuccine with miso, garlic mushrooms, and spinach.

I recommend their Brie arancini with pear and walnut chutney to start, and if you’re dining early, their Friday Lunch / Pre-Theatre deal at £16.50 for a snack and pasta is excellent value.

Whitelock’s Ale House

Address: Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds, LS1 6HB

Hidden down a narrow alleyway right off Briggate, Whitelock’s is officially the oldest pub in Leeds, having first opened its doors way back in 1715. Stepping inside genuinely feels like taking a step back in time, and its stained glass, polished copper bar, and roaring open fires offer instant sanctuary the moment you duck out of the Yorkshire cold.

Their kitchen is dedicated to proper, unpretentious Yorkshire pub classics made using locally sourced ingredients. Expect slow-braised beef and ale pies encased in golden shortcrust pastry, classic toad in the hole served with monumental mounds of mash, and proper dark gravy made the traditional way. Paired with a pint of local cask ale from their extensive tap list, it’s about as comforting as a chilly afternoon in Leeds gets.

The Ivy Victoria Quarter

Address: Victoria Quarter, Vicars Lane, Leeds, LS1 6BB

Housed inside the stunning, historic Victoria Quarter arcade, The Ivy offers an unmatched atmosphere when the autumn weather turns grey outside. With its polished Art Deco interior, warm brass accents, and vibrant greenery, it’s a luxurious haven for a long, lazy weekend meal.

While their brasserie menu is packed with seasonal British classics, their Sunday Roast is a masterclass in autumn comfort. Expect generous cuts of dry-aged sirloin of beef served with monumental, golden Yorkshire puddings, rosemary-roasted potatoes, glazed carrots, and rich, red wine gravy poured tableside. It’s decadent, deeply comforting, and best paired with one of their seasonal spiced cocktails or a large glass of red!

The Crossing Indian Bistro

Address: Regents Court, 33-39 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD

The Crossing Indian Bistro is my new favourite restaurant in Chapel Allerton, and I highly recommend it if you love proper Indian cooking done well. I visited recently for the first time and can confirm that both the food and service are spot on.

If you drop in during the day, their lunchtime thali offer is well worth checking out for a great-value feast. But if you’re heading down for dinner, there is plenty of comforting, deeply spiced cooking to get stuck into. If you’re a seafood fan, I highly recommend the Alleppey Prawns Curry. It’s aromatic, indulgent, and packed with just the right amount of warming spice – pair it with a butter naan to mop up all the incredible sauce.

Cosy Club

Address: 53 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5AA

Housed in an old banking hall on Albion Place, Cosy Club truly lives up to its name during the colder months, both in ambience and food offerings. It’s always a solid shout when the weather turns chilly and you want somewhere buzzy and relaxed to settle in for a couple of hours.

I enjoyed a meal there on Friday night and loved the new dishes they’ve added for autumn. The belly pork and the satay blackened salmon were both fantastic. That said, all the old favourites are still very much on the menu, including the classic Cosy Club burgers which my son orders without fail on every single visit. Kicking things off with the warm, pull-apart sharing monkey bread is practically essential, too.

To wrap up the night, we finished with the new white chocolate cheesecake topped with sweet and juicy seasonal berries, which rounded off the meal perfectly.

Looking for fun things to do this Autumn? Check out our guide to the best family Halloween events in Yorkshire

Whether I’m meeting friends for a catch-up or just taking a break from a shopping spree, I’ve enjoyed countless lunches in the city over the years, and Leeds never fails to deliver. If you’re on the hunt for a delicious midday meal without breaking the bank, you’re in luck. I’ve scoured the city to bring you the ultimate guide to the best lunch deals in Leeds for 2026.

You can sink your teeth into sumptuous steaks at Miller & Carter, dine in enviable style at The Ivy Asia, or spice up your afternoon with some vibrant Indian street food at Bundobust. If you’re in a rush and need to grab and go, you can even head to ThatZiki in Trinity Kitchen for a filling lunch that costs less than a tenner!

Leeds is absolutely packed with hidden gems and “boujee” bargains if you know where to look. So, join me as we take a bit of a culinary journey through the city, showcasing some of the most mouthwatering lunch deals guaranteed to leave you satisfied and smiling. Grab your appetite and check out my favourite spots for cheap eats in Leeds city centre…

Best Lunch Deals Under £10 in Leeds City Centre

Looking for a lunchtime bite that won’t break the bank? These city centre gems all offer a delicious daytime meal for under a tenner…

Manahatta (Greek Street)

29 East Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS

Head to Manahatta between Sunday and Friday to take advantage of their upgraded Manahatta Meal Deal, which offers a main dish alongside a selected soft drink for just £9 all day long.

The menu features standouts like the Chicken Parm Grilled Cheese (breaded chicken breast, marinara sauce, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and cheddar on toastie bread with house fries and a herby marinara dip). The £9 deal also covers any dish from their Brunch & Lunch section, including options like the Manahatta Club, Avocado Sourdough, or P&P Bagel, as well as the Deluxe Burger or the Chicken Caesar.

If you’re after a little extra treat, you can upgrade your soft drink to a 175ml glass of house wine or a pint of Madri for £2.00. Alternatively, you can upgrade your meal to a Flat Iron Steak, Fries & Mini Caesar Salad for just +£1.00.

ThatZiki

Trinity Kitchen, 27 Albion Place, Leeds LS1 5AT

A personal favourite when in Leeds for a spot of retail therapy is the fantastic ThatZiki in Trinity Kitchen. These guys now have a permanent spot from which they serve their unbelievably good gyros, and I LOVE them. Choose from chicken, pork, a combination of the two meats or salty halloumi, stuffed into a soft pita with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, fries and your choice of sauce.

Super filling and a bargain at just £8.50! There’s also a vegan version available, so non-meat eaters don’t have to miss out on this brilliant offer! If you’re feeling extra hungry (or you’re my husband), you can upgrade your gyros for £12.50 and get double the filling in an oversized pita.

Little Bao Boy

3 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds LS1 4BA

From their resident kitchen at the North Brewing Co taproom on Sovereign Street, the iconic Little Bao Boy is serving up a stunning array of fluffy, cloud-like bao buns with a diverse selection of creative fillings. Having started as a street food favourite, they’ve truly mastered the art of the bao, and the vibe at the taproom makes it one of the coolest spots in Leeds for a casual bite.

These are easily some of the best baos in the city, and their lunch deal is an absolute steal for anyone working in or visiting the city centre. You can grab two of their signature baos plus a side of fries for just £11! It is the perfect portion size for a midday refuel without that heavy afternoon slump.

Available Monday to Friday from noon until 4pm, the deal allows you to mix and match from their lineup of fan favourites. I’m a huge fan of the KFB (Katsu Fried Buttermilk Chicken), which comes topped with a delicious katsu curry mayo, but the Chicken & Gravy is a brilliant, comforting twist that you don’t see everywhere. For those who love a classic, the Char Sui Pulled Pork is slow-cooked to perfection, while the Salt & Pepper Aubergine is a must-try for vegans or anyone looking for a crispy, flavourful plant-based option.

The combination of the soft, steamed dough and those bold, punchy Asian flavours, paired with a fresh pint from North Brewing if you’re so inclined, makes this a cheap lunch ritual you’ll want to repeat every week.

Bundobust

31–32 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JD

Bundobust has been one of Leeds’ most celebrated restaurants since the day it opened, and for good reason. It combines authentic Indian street food with a craft beer taproom in a way that shouldn’t work on paper but absolutely does in reality. The vibe is always buzzing, and because it’s a walk-in-only spot with no bookings taken, it’s my favourite place to just turn up and grab a bench whenever the craving hits.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly lunch that doesn’t skimp on flavour, this is where you should go. The menu is built entirely for sharing, with most of the legendary small plates still priced at under £7 each for 2026. You can easily get a satisfying lunch for two for well under £20, which is incredible value for food this good. You can’t visit without ordering the Okra Fries – they are seasoned to perfection and totally addictive – and the Vada Pav, which is a spicy mashed potato burger that is pretty much the ultimate Mumbai street food comfort meal.

While they are unlicensed for spirits, their craft beer selection is exceptional, featuring plenty of their own Bundobust Brewery brews designed specifically to pair with the spices. This lunch deal in Leeds is available all day, every day, so give it a go – no excuses!

Manjit’s Kitchen

Leeds Kirkgate Market, George Street, Leeds LS2 7HY

Kirkgate Market is one of the best spots in Leeds to grab cheap eats without compromising on flavour. The market is packed with independent stalls and eateries serving up a variety of tasty lunch options for under ten pounds. One standout has to be Manjit’s Kitchen, an Indian vegetarian kitchen known for its incredible street food.

If you want to add some spice to your lunch break without breaking the bank, Manjit’s Kitchen is the place to go. Everything on the menu is under £10, making it easy to explore different dishes. For the full experience, try the £7.50 Thali, which comes with cumin rice, a mixed salad, two curries, and a roti. And if you fancy a little extra indulgence, their crispy onion bhajis are just £1.50 each.

House of Fu

15-19 Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU

While House of Fu is best known for its vibrant evening atmosphere and late-night karaoke rooms, their daytime offering is brilliant if you need a quick, high-quality midweek refuel on The Headrow.

Available Monday through Friday between 11:30 am and 2:45 pm, their Express Lunch Deal gets you a selected ramen or rice bowl alongside three crispy gyoza for just £12.95 (yes, it’s over a tenner but still great value!). It’s served fast, absolutely packed with flavour, and certainly delivers high-end ramen house quality at a fraction of the usual price. Perfect for a quick bite if you’re looking to dodge the standard meal deal sandwich and snack combo.

Best Set Lunch Menus & Two-Course Deals

For something a little more indulgent, several city centre restaurants offer set menus at great prices. Here are some of my favourites:

Dishoom

68 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 7JH

Bringing the warmth, bustle, and spirit of the old Irani cafés of Bombay to Vicar Lane, Dishoom’s new weekday (Mon to Fri 12pm – 5pm) lunch options are served as generous spreads for two to share.

The £15 per person Swift Vitality menu offers a lighter bite with one salad and two grills, including dishes like the Chilli Broccoli Salad and overnight-marinated Murgh Malai. For £18 per person, the Prompt Replenishment menu delivers a heartier spread with a small plate, a grill, a pulao, and Dishoom’s signature 24-hour slow-cooked House Black Daal. It is a fantastic option for city-centre workers and shoppers looking for high-end dining at a fixed price point. Walk-ins are always welcome, or you can book online in advance.

Whitehall Restaurant & Bar

West Point, Whitehall Road, Leeds LS1 4JY

Whitehall Restaurant & Bar is an excellent choice for those who want to stay close to the city centre yet away from the hustle and bustle. This chic and elegant restaurant boasts spacious interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a wrap-around terrace for al fresco lunches and summer cocktails.

From Monday to Saturday between 12 pm and 5 pm, diners can enjoy two courses for £20.95 or three for £27.95. The options are brilliant too – think British classics prepared using the best ingredients and a great deal of culinary expertise. Main courses currently include a generous portion of Fish & Chips, a delightful Pork Belly dish (I highly recommend trying this – it’s delicious), a vibrant Pea & Mint Risotto, plus salads, pastas, grills and more.

The desserts are just as good as the mains. I ordered the Tropical Cheesecake, which is served with coconut sponge, granola, and an incredible mango & passionfruit sorbet. My other half chose the Dark Chocolate Brownie, which was wonderfully rich and moist. Two desserts that neither of us will forget in a hurry!

Browns Brasserie & Bar

The Light, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8TL

Browns Brasserie & Bar in The Light is one of Leeds’ most beloved all-day dining spots, and their freshly launched spring/summer menu is a very good reason to make it your lunch destination of the moment. The new menu is a celebration of British brasserie cooking at its seasonal best – elegant without being fussy, and genuinely impressive for a weekday lunch. This season’s offerings include new starters like Asparagus and Poached Egg with hollandaise and crispy leeks, and fresh, vibrant main courses such as Cornish Sole, served with sautéed baby potatoes and clam & pancetta butter – delicious!

Monday to Friday from noon until 7pm, two courses cost £19.50 and three cost £24.50 – exceptional value considering the quality and setting.

Banyan

2 City Square, Leeds LS1 2ES

Conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Leeds railway station is Banyan, an elegant yet laidback bar and restaurant serving globally inspired cuisine. For 2026, their popular two-course offer is still running Monday to Thursday for just £15, where you can choose a main course and pair it with either a starter or a dessert.

To start your meal, you can pick from five different options. These include the Bang Bang Chicken Skewers drizzled with satay sauce and caramelised peanuts, Thai Sweetcorn Fritters with gochujang ketchup, or the Salt & Pepper Squid. For those who prefer something lighter, the White Bean Houmous served with hot honey and toasted flatbread is a great choice.

For the main event, the current menu features flavourful dishes like the Chicken & Chorizo Pasta or the Lemon & Herb Roast Chicken on a bed of sweet potato and pesto mash. A standout choice remains the Deluxe Burrow’s Burger, served with house fries, where 25p from every sale is donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

If you’d rather finish on a sweet note (yes, please!) instead of starting with something savoury, you can choose from desserts like the Strawberry & Rhubarb Crumble Blondie. However, I still highly recommend the Mini Nutella Doughnuts, which come warm with vanilla ice cream and toasted hazelnuts.

The Ivy Asia

55 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 6BA

With its impressive, maximalist interiors and mouthwatering menus of Asian-inspired dishes, The Ivy Asia Leeds should be top of your list for a romantic lunch date. I have been numerous times now, and it honestly always feels like a proper “boujee” treat from the second you step onto that glowing green malachite floor. The decor is incredible – it’s easily one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city – and the food looks just as pretty as the interiors.

The best part is that an afternoon here doesn’t have to break the bank. Their Dragon Set Lunch Menu is a fantastic way to experience the high-end vibes for a fraction of the usual price, offering three exquisite courses for just £21.95 per person. It is available Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, making it the perfect excuse for a mid-week escape.

Your meal begins with a vibrant sharing plate of Crispy Wontons and Poppadoms served with a spicy Szechuan dip to get the palate going. From there, you get to select your own starters and mains from a really thoughtful, curated list. You truly can’t go wrong with the Satay Chicken Yakatori starter- the peanut sauce is perfection – and I am absolutely thrilled to see the Char Siu Pork Belly has made it onto the set menu!

Want something on the side? Order a portion of steamed rice and wok-fried greens for just £2.50. If you’re looking for lunch deals in Leeds that will impress for less, this is one not to miss! Honestly, it’s one of my favourite spots for fancy lunch, and this offer makes it so much more accessible. Available Monday to Friday from 11:30am until 4:30pm – book ahead as it’s popular with city centre workers.

Thai Aroy Dee

120-122 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS2 7NL

Thai Aroy Dee is a much-loved family-run restaurant that has been serving authentic Thai cuisine since 2012. A firm favourite with locals, this independent eatery offers delicious dishes at reasonable prices, so it’s well worth a visit if you’re seeking a bargain lunch.

Thai A Roy Dee has an excellent happy hour menu, available daily between 12pm and 5pm – pay just £10.95 for a starter, main course and a side dish of chips or rice. The choices are varied with starters such as Vegetable Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay and Spicy Pork Spare Ribs on offer alongside popular main courses like Thai Green Curry and Pad Thai.

Miller & Carter

56-58 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8TL

Going out for a steak on a midweek lunchtime may seem a little extravagant, but Miller & Carter’s fixed-price lunch menu makes it more accessible. Served Monday to Friday 12-5pm and for a slightly shorter window of 12-3pm on Saturdays, it enables diners to choose two courses for £20.50. There’s a great selection of dishes for each course, and you don’t have to pay a supplement to order steak unless you want to upgrade from a 7oz. Rump to another cut, such as the 10oz. Ribeye (always my go-to!).

Not in the mood for steak? Opt for the Pork Tomahawk, Ultimate Half Rack of Barbecue Ribs, Chicken Milanese or perhaps the Sunshine Plant Burger. There is something to suit most tastes and dietary requirements!

If you want more of their legendary sides, they’re on 3 for £12. The Onion Loaf is a must!

The Swine Bistro

77A Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3PS

Okay, so this one isn’t right in the city centre, so you will need to venture out to Headingley to find it, but if you’re looking for high-end, award-winning cooking without the formal evening price tag, the new lunch launch at The Swine Bistro is one you absolutely need to have on your radar. They have just introduced a three-course lunchtime offering for £30 that brings their seasonal style to a much more accessible daytime slot.

What I love about this new menu is the massive focus on sustainability, spearheaded by their sous chef, Angus Evans. Drawing on his experience from the legendary Eat Your Greens, Angus has created a kitchen culture where nothing goes to waste, but the food still feels incredibly indulgent and “proper” bistro-quality.

A must-try is the Potato Pancake with Braised Chicken. It is a clever bit of cooking – they actually take leftover Sunday roast potatoes and transform them into a smooth purée for a perfectly crisp pancake. This is topped with shredded chicken simmered in a rich, spiced stock and finished with a clever leek top relish and walnut ketchup.

The Crossing Indian Bistro

33-39 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, LS7 3PD

If you don’t mind venturing out of the city centre, The Crossing Indian Bistro in Chapel Allerton has launched a banging lunchtime offer. The Crossing Lunch Thali brings together a complete Indian meal on one thali, thoughtfully composed for a satisfying midday break for a very reasonable £15.

Served in traditional metalware, guests can choose their main course from Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Paneer Tikka Butter Masala, or Mushroom Korma, accompanied by house-made dal, seasonal vegetables, pickles, fragrant basmati rice and freshly baked tandoor bread.

Fancy finishing with something sweet? Dessert with chai or coffee can be added for an additional £3. A brilliant deal and a great excuse to visit one of Leeds’ exciting new foodie spots.

Prefer to dine out later in the day? Check out our guide to Early Bird Restaurant Deals in Leeds

Lunch Deals in Leeds – Insider Tips

Kirkgate Market for under a fiver: Manjit’s Kitchen serves a curry of the day on cumin rice for £6.50, and Fat Annie’s meat-free comfort food comes in under £6. The market’s food hall is the single best place in Leeds for a cheap, quality lunch.

Trinity Kitchen rotates its traders: The permanent stalls like ThatZiki stay year-round, but the rotating food trucks change every six weeks. It’s worth checking what’s new before you visit.

Weekday only: Most set lunch menus listed here run Monday to Friday only. If you’re visiting at the weekend, street food spots like Manjit’s and ThatZiki are your best bets for value.

Book ahead for set menus: The Ivy Asia and Miller & Carter both benefit from booking in advance for lunchtime – walk-ins are possible, but you may have a wait.

FAQs About Leeds City Centre Lunch Deals

What time do lunch deals usually run in Leeds City Centre?
Most weekday deals run from 12pm until 3–5pm, though some venues extend into early evening.

Are there lunch deals in Leeds City Centre at weekends?
Yes. Deals at street food spots often run all week, but most set lunch menus are only available on weekdays.

What’s the cheapest lunch deal in Leeds City Centre?
Sandwich meal deals (Greggs, Boots, Tesco Express) typically start at around £4–£5, while hot sit-down options start from around £9 at venues like Manahatta and ThatZiki, with set lunch menus from £15 at restaurants like Banyan. For bargain deals on street food, head to Trinity Kitchen (ThatZiki, Rola Wala), Kirkgate Market (Manjit’s Kitchen, Fat Annie’s), or Bundobust on Park Row – all offering brilliant options under £10

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From working alongside global culinary teams to sourcing peak-season Yorkshire produce, Bonello shares how he is building a modern, authentic food offering at the city’s only five-star hotel.

Inside the Kitchen with Kevin Bonello at The Grand York

You’ve spent years in fine dining and Michelin-starred kitchens. What drew you to take on the food vision at The Grand, York, and how would you describe the identity you are building there in three words? 

I’d say seasonal, precise and bold.

I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to work in some fantastic kitchens and alongside chefs who have really shaped the way I approach food. My years in Michelin-starred restaurants gave me a very strong grounding in technique and precision, while travelling and working internationally exposed me to different ingredients, flavours and ways of thinking about food.

I’ve always admired chefs such as Eric Frechon, particularly his philosophy of respecting both the product and the region you are cooking in. That is something I strongly believe in myself.

When the opportunity came to join The Grand, what excited me was the chance to bring all of that experience into a completely new environment. Yorkshire has an incredible natural larder, so there is a lot for a chef to work with. The aim is to take the skills and techniques I’ve developed throughout my career and use them to showcase the very best local and seasonal produce we have around us.

The new approach at The Grand focuses on food that is considered rather than performative. In a world full of theatrical dining trends, what does considered cooking mean to you on the plate?

For me, considered cooking starts with getting the fundamentals right. It is about attention to detail, understanding your ingredients, seasoning properly and, importantly, tasting your food throughout the process. Those things might sound simple, but they make an enormous difference.

My fine-dining background has naturally given me a respect for precision and technique, but technique should always have a purpose. You should never add something to a plate simply to demonstrate that you can do it. The ingredient has to remain at the centre of the dish.

However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for theatre. We are actually seeing guests become much more interested in tableside elements and interaction in the dining room. They want to ask questions about where an ingredient has come from, how something has been prepared or why certain flavours have been put together. I think that kind of theatre is very positive because it creates a genuine connection between the kitchen, the team and the guest.

Ultimately, though, the food still has to deliver. The experience around a dish should enhance it rather than distract from it.

Yorkshire has one of the richest food larders in the UK. Since taking on the role, which local ingredients or producers have excited you the most? 

Yorkshire strawberries at their peak are fantastic, and spring lamb is another ingredient I particularly look forward to. Yorkshire rhubarb is very special too. It has such a strong identity and history within the region and is recognised far beyond Yorkshire.

We are also lucky enough to have honey produced from hives on the roof of The Grand. Having an ingredient that is quite literally produced at the hotel is wonderful for a chef because there is a real story and sense of place behind it.

How do you ensure that a grand, historic five-star hotel feels genuinely rooted in Yorkshire’s food story, rather than serving a generic luxury hotel menu? 

The Grand is a beautiful, historic building and there is naturally a sense of occasion when people come here. For me, luxury doesn’t have to mean using an expensive ingredient simply because it is expensive. It can be taking a fantastic local ingredient at the peak of its season, treating it with respect and using technique to make it the best version of itself. That is much more interesting to me, and it gives the food an identity that belongs here.

What do you think modern hotel guests are actually looking for when they sit down to dinner today compared to five or ten years ago?

I think authenticity has become much more important. Guests travel more, they are more knowledgeable about food, and they are interested in understanding what makes a destination different. If they are visiting Yorkshire, they don’t necessarily want to eat exactly the same dishes they could find in a luxury hotel somewhere else in the world. They want the food to have a connection to the place they are visiting.

At the same time, expectations have broadened. Guests want choice and variety, and they are increasingly curious about different flavours, ingredients and styles of dining.

People also ask more questions now. They want to know where produce has come from, how a dish has been prepared and the story behind it. I think that’s a really positive development because it encourages restaurants and chefs to think more carefully about what they are serving and why.

When you start developing a brand new dish for The Grand, where does the process usually begin for you? Is it an ingredient, a memory, or a technique?

It always begins with the ingredient.

I look at what is at its peak at that particular point in the season and make that the core of the dish. That ingredient becomes the canvas and everything else develops around it.

From there, we think about which flavours naturally complement it, what techniques will bring out its best qualities and how we can introduce different textures without losing sight of the original product.

How do you see the relationship between the main restaurant menus and the interactive experiences over at the Cookery School developing?

They have a very natural relationship, and I think that is one of the things that makes the food offering at The Grand quite unique.

We can take dishes, techniques or ideas that guests particularly enjoy in the restaurants and develop Cookery School classes around them. It gives people an opportunity to go beyond simply eating a dish and actually understand some of the thinking and technique behind it.

Having those different elements under one roof creates a real culinary ecosystem. We are constantly learning from what our guests enjoy and feeding that back into what we do.

How do you manage to stay inspired and keep pushing creative boundaries when running such a busy, high-pressure operation?

The people around me are a huge source of inspiration. We have a large culinary team at The Grand made up of chefs from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. Everybody brings their own memories of food, traditions and experiences into the kitchen, and I think it is important to create an environment where those ideas can be shared.

As a Culinary Director, I don’t believe creativity should only ever come from one person. Some of the most interesting conversations start when somebody talks about a dish they grew up eating or a technique that is used in their culture, and then we begin thinking about how that could influence something we’re working on.

Ingredients keep us creative too. Seasonality means the kitchen never stands still. Just as you become comfortable working with one ingredient, the season changes and something new arrives. That forces you to keep thinking, tasting and developing.

For me, that’s one of the most exciting things about being a chef. You are always learning.

If you could point to one single dish currently on the menu that best captures where The Grand is heading right now, which one would it be and why?

It would have to be the salt-baked celeriac. For me, it captures a lot of what we are trying to achieve because it starts with a very humble ingredient. Celeriac isn’t something people necessarily associate with luxury or fine dining, but that is exactly what makes it interesting.

We take that one ingredient and explore it in different ways, using different techniques, textures and forms to demonstrate both its versatility and the craftsmanship of the chefs working with it. It is very considered: nothing needs to be added simply for the sake of making the plate feel more luxurious.

When that happens, the end result can be mind-blowing.

To explore the current menu at The Grand or book an experience at the Cookery School, visit: www.thegrandyork.co.uk/

Founded in 2013 by Stephen Fleming before relocating to larger premises on Harrogate Road in 2017, the independent business sold over 27,000 pieces of cheese last year alone. Alongside its retail counter, George & Joseph has processed over 15,000 online orders, hosted more than 200 tasting events, and fulfilled over 200 celebration and wedding cheese wheel orders.

To mark the 13-year milestone, Fleming – who is one of only two Academy of Cheese trainers in the North of England – has shared 13 practical tips for choosing, serving, and storing artisan cheese:

1. Keep it simple: Three well-chosen cheeses beat eight random ones. Allow 80–100g per person after a meal, or 150–200g if cheese is the main course.
2. Focus on the person: Consider who is eating it, when, and what they usually prefer.
3. Prioritise confidence over expertise: Choose what you enjoy rather than focusing on complex jargon.
4. Always ask for a taste: Requesting a sample at the counter often leads to discovering new favourites.
5. Don’t judge by aroma: Washed-rind and pungent cheeses often taste much gentler than they smell.
6. Expect natural variation: Weather, seasons, and milk batches mean artisan cheese changes naturally throughout the year.
7. Trust British makers: British artisan cheesemakers produce world-class products that rival any international producer.
8. Mind the temperature: Remove cheese from the fridge 30 to 60 minutes before serving to let the flavours open up.
9. Wrap properly: Store cheese in wax paper or specialised cheese paper rather than tight cling film.
10. Balance accompaniments: Pair cheese with fresh fruit, nuts, or good bread, and avoid overpowering it with heavy chutneys.
11. Value producer relationships: Knowing the farmers and cheesemakers improves quality care and sourcing.
12. Prevent waste: Grate leftover hard cheeses into sauces, toasties, or freeze them for future cooking.
13. Enjoy the social aspect: Cheese is best shared around a table with family and friends.

“Reaching 13 years of trading is a real milestone. What started as a passion for cheese has become a career I could never have imagined,” said founder Stephen Fleming. “We’ve moved into much larger premises, introduced events, launched our cheese subscription club and expanded to nationwide delivery.”

“We’ve also weathered the pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, so it certainly hasn’t always been easy,” Fleming added. “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved and incredibly grateful to all the fellow cheese enthusiasts who have supported us along the way.”

Looking for exciting things to do in Yorkshire with your family this Halloween? Unlike the days of simple trick-or-treating with a makeshift costume (my fellow millennials will recall the black bin bags and plastic fingers), today’s kids are genuinely spoiled for choice with a fantastic array of Halloween events at various attractions and venues scattered across the region.

To help you create your Halloween itinerary, I’ve rounded up some of the best events that Yorkshire has to offer this year. Here’s my guide to the top events and attractions in Yorkshire for the spooky season of 2026…

Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival

Where: Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract Road, Pontefract WF7 5AF
When: 26th September – 1st November
How much: From £6.70 per person. Free entry for under 3s
Website: https://farmercopleys.co.uk/events/pumpkin-festival/

Farmer Copleys, one of Yorkshire’s best farm shops, runs a brilliant Halloween event each October, and it’s set to return at the end of this month with more seasonal fun. Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival will run until November 1st with a variety of activities on offer, including the obligatory pumpkin picking opportunities. Once you’ve chosen your pumpkins from an impressive 300,000 grown right there on the farm, you’ll enjoy live shows, storytelling sessions, archery, vintage fairground rides, fancy dress competitions and so much more! Arrive at your chosen time, and you can stay until it closes. With plenty to see and do, it’s super easy to make a full day of it.

Trick or Treat Street at William’s Den

Where: Castle Farm, near North Cave, East Yorkshire HU15 2LS
When: 24th – 31st October 2026
How much: From £16.00 – £18.30 for adults and children (3+), £7.20 for children aged 1–3, FREE for under 1s. (Optional Adventure Play upgrades available separately)
Website: https://www.williamsden.co.uk/

Award-winning Yorkshire adventure play destination William’s Den brings back its immersive Halloween experience, Trick or Treat Street, featuring a brand-new mystery for 2026! Designed to be just a little spooky rather than horrifyingly scary, this interactive outdoor adventure combines live theatre, Halloween activities, and storytelling tailored specifically for families.

This year, visitors become official detectives set with the challenge of solving the mystery of the village’s missing magical chime. Families journey through the fictional village of Trick or Treat Street, gathering clues, meeting colourful residents, and collecting sweet treats along the way.

Beyond the main mystery, kids can hone their skills at Detective School, hit the floor at the Monster Disco, snap photos, and indulge in autumn food and drink. Fancy dress is encouraged, with prizes awarded for the best family costumes. Advance online booking is certainly recommended due to high demand.

SPOOKS! at Thornton Hall Farm

Where: Thornton-in-Craven, Skipton BD23 3TS
When: 3rd – 31st October 2026
How much: Ticket prices vary depending on weekday vs. weekend booking and event selection (standard Pumpkin Picking vs. SPOOKS! event):
Website: https://thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk/

Thornton Hall Farm is an excellent local farm attraction and one of my son’s absolute favourites when he was little. Starting in early October 2026, standard admission tickets include access to the farm’s rustic pumpkin patch. Pumpkin picking and carving are available alongside the usual farm favourites, including animal petting, pony grooming, soft play (select time slots when booking online weekend tickets), and outdoor play areas.

For the ultimate Halloween day out, book tickets for their annual family-friendly SPOOKS! event, running on selected dates throughout October. Little monsters can get messy in slime workshops, catch spooktacular live shows, explore Mischief Manor, and embark on an interactive adventure through Trick or Treat Town. Tickets for peak Halloween dates sell out quickly, so I recommend booking online in advance.

Pumpkin Picking at Cannon Hall Farm

Where: Bark House Lane, Cawthorne, Barnsley S75 4AT
When: Select dates from 10th – 31st October 2026
How much: Full-day admission (depending on arrival time and peak dates); FREE for under 2s.
Website: https://www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk/

Cannon Hall Farm rose to fame following its appearance on Channel 5’s 5 on The Farm. It’s one of the best farm parks in the county with numerous adorable animals to meet, a whole host of play opportunities for children, and an award-winning farm shop.

For October 2026, the farm’s award-nominated Pumpkin Patch event returns with almost 10,000 pumpkins available to pick for £3 each, whatever the size. Visitors can explore Instagram-worthy photo spots, like the pumpkin swings and pumpkin house, before heading over to the free pumpkin decorating and painting area.

Entry includes full access to all the animal barns, talks, indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds, and reptile and mammal houses. Fancy dress is highly encouraged, as staff will be awarding prizes for the best costumes throughout the day. Tickets must be booked online in advance.

The Pumpkin Festival at Birchfield Ice Cream Farm

Where: Oakmount House, Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge, Harrogate HG3 4JS
When: 26th/27th September & daily throughout October 2026
How much: FREE entry to the pumpkin patch (no pre-booking required; just pay for what you pick). Pumpkins are priced depending on size and variety, generally ranging from £2.50 to £12.00. Optional Farm & Maze Pass: £5.00 – £7.95 per person (Free for Under 2s) if you want full access to the animal pens, maize maze, and indoor activity/carving barn.
Website: https://birchfieldicecream.co.uk/

The Pumpkin Festival at Birchfield Ice Cream Farm near Harrogate remains one of North Yorkshire’s best-value autumn days out. Spanning 6 acres, the farm grows thousands of pumpkins in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colours every year. Visitors can grab a wheelbarrow and head directly into the fields to pick their own pumpkins without the need for advance tickets.

Along with the patch, you’ll find plenty of seasonal photo ops dotted across the field. If you choose to add on full farm admission, you’ll also get access to the maize maze, outdoor animal pens, woodland walk, and the undercover carving barn where kids can get creative without taking the mess home. The maize maze is worth the entry fee alone – it’s planted in May and can grow to 8 ft tall! Wellies or sturdy boots are strongly recommended as the fields can get incredibly muddy.

Pumpkin Festival at Piglets Adventure Farm

Where: Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, Towthorpe, York YO32 9ST
When: TBC – Usually weekends throughout October and daily for October Half Term (October 24th – 31st, 2026)
How much: TBC – Likely around £15.95 for adults, £16.95 for children, FREE for under 1s (online booking prices)
Website: https://pigletsadventurefarm.com/

Piglets Adventure Farm’s annual Halloween Spooktacular is a staple autumn event in York, featuring over 10,000 homegrown pumpkins. Every paying child ticket typically includes a free pumpkin voucher, which can be carved on-site in the undercover carving tent (keeping the mess off your kitchen table) or taken home.

Admission grants access to all standard farm attractions—including the indoor play barn, outdoor play areas, tractor rides, and animal barns – alongside Halloween extras like the Gruesome Ghost Trail in the maize maze, live stage shows, and fancy dress discos. Dressing up is highly encouraged!

Pumpkin Festival at Spilmans

Where: Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk YO7 3NB
When: 26th September, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, and 23rd–30th October 2026 (Back to Basics quiet days run 13th–16th & 20th–22nd October)
How much: Standard entry starts from £7.95 (includes a £5 pumpkin voucher). “Back to Basics” quiet days are £4.50–£4.95 (includes a £2.50 voucher), Pumpkin Nights are £9.50 (includes a £4 voucher), and Fireworks tickets are £10.00. FREE for children under 2.
Website: https://www.spilmans.co.uk/pyo-pumpkins/

For its 10th Anniversary, Spilmans – a popular family farm growing over 175,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squashes – is going bigger than ever this autumn!

Standard Pumpkin Festival tickets now include a £5.00 voucher per person to spend on picked pumpkins, plus access to their brand-new live stage show “Wizfords Academy: The Great Fortune Flop”, a Halloween fancy dress disco hosted by Skelebones, walkabout characters (like Pumpkin Pip), and access to the Bale Mountain and Giant Bale Slide.

The fun doesn’t stop there! Visitors can also book activity pass add-ons for farm games (like the Corn Cannon, Pumpkin Slingshot, Tractor Rides, Spooky Walk, and the Giant Bean Pit), carve their pumpkins in the undercover Carving Barn, or ride the newly added Big Wheel. Advance online booking is essential for all key dates.

Pesky Pumpkin Trail at Castle Howard

Where: Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA
When: 1st October – 2nd November 2026
How much: Included with a standard House & Gardens ticket (£19.00–£27.00 for adults, £9.50–£13.50 for children, FREE for under 3s).
Website: https://www.castlehoward.co.uk/

Throughout October, families visiting Castle Howard can follow the Pesky Pumpkin Trail. Silly squashes, giggling gourds, and hidden pumpkins will be scattered across the stately rooms for kids to spot during their tour, with sticker rewards given to successful pumpkin hunters at the end. Access to the adventure playground at Skelf Island and the surrounding gardens remains included with standard admission tickets.

Hocus Pocus at Mother Shipton’s

Where: Prophecy House, Harrogate Rd, High Bridge, Knaresborough HG5 8DD
When: 24th October – 1st November
How much: £42 per car (up to 5 people), £16 for additional passengers/pedestrians, FREE for children under 2
Website: https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/

Prepare to be spellbound this Halloween at Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough. From 24th October to 1st November, step into a bewitching adventure inspired by Hocus Pocus as the historic attraction transforms into a land of enchantment filled with creepy displays, scary witches, bubbling cauldrons, and plenty of magical mischief. Keep your eyes peeled for their iconic witchy sister trio conjuring chaos throughout the woodland; you can meet them, join their coven, and capture a photo together.

Along the way, you can step into the famous cave, which is believed to be the birthplace of a real witch. Of course, you mustn’t leave without marvelling at the famous Petrifying Well, where everyday objects mysteriously turn to stone. No Halloween outing would be complete without a spooky treat or two, so be sure to get yourself a black vanilla ice cream, a pumpkin spice latte, or toast marshmallows over the fire pit. Again, tickets must be booked online in advance!

Halloween at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Where: Hurst Lane, Doncaster DN9 3QY
When: 24th October – 1st November 2026
How much: Online advance tickets start from £20.39 for adults, £17.39 for children (3–15 yrs), and FREE for children under 3. Included with standard park admission and free for members.
Website: https://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com/

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one of my favourite Yorkshire attractions, and we visit as a family every year. It’s an amazing place to visit all year round, but during the later months, they add a touch of magic with their seasonal events. For Halloween 2026, they’re offering a thrilling mix of spooky fun and wildlife adventures! Running from 24th October to 1st November, the park will be transformed into a Halloween haven, with themed activities and attractions for the whole family.

Have a scream on fairground rides, watch terrifyingly good live shows in the amphitheatres, explore the Walking Dead Woodlands, and encounter costumed characters as you explore the park’s wild habitats. Little ones will love the Trick or Treat trail and the Halloween crafting activities, while everyone can enjoy the spooky selfie spots and seasonal treats available throughout the event. One of the more expensive options on my list, but worth every penny when you consider how much is included and the incredible conservation work they do!

Halloween Adventure at Stockeld Park

Where: Stockeld Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 4AN
When: Weekends throughout October (3rd – 4th, 10th – 11th, 17th – 18th) and daily for Half Term (24th October – 1st November 2026)
How much: Online advance tickets start from £18.50 for adults and children (3+), FREE for under 2s. Entry includes access to the pumpkin patch and tractor rides (pumpkins are charged separately depending on size). Optional add-ons like Zombie Laser Tag or the indoor Playhive are priced separately.
Website: https://stockeldpark.co.uk/

Halloween is brewing at Stockeld Park as Yorkshire’s popular family attraction returns with its spellbinding Halloween Adventure. Step into a world of woodland magic packed with live-action entertainment, interactive trails, and spooky attractions across the estate.

At the heart of the event is the Woodland Witches experience in the Enchanted Forest. Young adventurers can meet mischievous live-action witches and collect trail stamps at interactive spots, including the Willow of Whispering Wishes, the Menagerie of Mismatched Monsters, the Pantry of Poisonous Potions, and the Wardrobe of Witchy Wonders. If your little ones enjoy a challenge, they can tackle the Mummy Maze to help a forgetful mummy track down her missing children.

Tickets also include access to the homegrown Pumpkin Patch (complete with tractor-trailer rides to the fields and live scarecrow encounters), six outdoor adventure playgrounds, and daily costume competitions. For extra thrills, you can upgrade your day with Zombie Laser Tag or book tickets for their all-new, twilight Pumpkin Nights on 17th and 24th October featuring fire-eaters, live folk music, and roaming entertainment. Advance online booking is recommended!

Halloween at National Science and Media Museum

Where: Pictureville, Bradford BD1 1NQ
When: 26th October – 1st November 2026
How much: FREE entry to the museum (advance online booking required). Pictureville Cinema screenings start from £3.00 via Kids’ Club.
Website: https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/

Shaun the Sheep is coming to Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum this October half term for a packed programme of free and low-cost Halloween-inspired activities! Inspired by the new film Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom and the museum’s own collections, the Mossy Bottom Laboratory brings Shaun’s Halloween adventure to life for a week of family-friendly fun.

Families can get hands-on with themed live science shows, Shaun the Sheep photo ops, special effects makeup pop-up talks, and stop-motion animation workshops run by the museum’s Explainers. You can also follow a special trail through the Sound and Vision galleries to uncover the science behind filmmaking, and view an original set used in Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015). Over at Pictureville Cinema, you can catch screenings of Aardman favourites alongside the new film.

On Halloween itself (Saturday 31st October), the museum is hosting an enhanced day of extra spooky activities – dance away at a spooky silent disco and join guided tours exploring iconic horror props and Victorian spirit photography from the museum’s collection. All in all, it’s a budget-friendly addition to your Halloween itinerary!

To the casual walker traversing the pathways of the Bolton Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, the stretch of water known as The Strid appears entirely benign. It presents itself as a picturesque mountain stream, in places less than two metres wide, bubbling quietly through Strid Wood.

Yet local lore maintains that this unassuming channel is one of the most perilous traps on Earth, carrying a feared 100% fatality rate. For centuries, regional history has warned that anyone who slips or attempts to leap across its moss-slicked banks is instantly pulled into an invisible abyss, never to resurface alive.

The Vertical River: A Freak of Natural Engineering

The deceptive nature of The Strid is an anomaly of geological compression. Just a few hundred yards upstream, the River Wharfe behaves predictably. It is a wide, flat, and tranquil waterway stretching a generous 30 feet across, moving with a gentle current.

However, upon striking a massive limestone shelf, the entire topography undergoes a violent structural shift. Instead of narrowing in a typical bottleneck, the riverbed effectively turns on its side. The vast volume of the entire River Wharfe is abruptly forced, compressed, and funnelled into a deep, vertical trench.

This extreme compression gives rise to three distinct subterranean hazards:

• Extreme Velocity: The sudden narrowing creates a profound hydraulic pressure-cooker effect. Water is forced through the fissure at immense speed, generating violent, vortex-like undercurrents that act as a fluid vacuum.
• The Invisible Abyss: While the gap appears shallow from above, the channel plunges into deeply recessed, largely uncharted underwater caverns.
• The Limestone Overhangs: Over millennia, these ferocious hidden currents have hollowed out and undercut the limestone banks. A person falling into the water is not merely swept downstream. They are dragged horizontally beneath the very rocks they were standing on, making escape physically impossible.

Mythology of the Abyss: The Strid Kelpie

An environment so profoundly deceptive has naturally birthed dark folklore over the centuries. Historically, Dales communities spoke of the Strid Kelpie, a malevolent, shape-shifting aquatic spirit borrowed from Celtic mythology.

According to regional lore, the deadly white foam of the churning waters would occasionally manifest as a beautiful white stallion trotting along the misty banks to lure weary travellers. The moment a passerby attempted to touch or mount the creature, its magical hide would trap them, pulling them instantly into the deep currents.

In later centuries, the legend evolved into a grim omen. Locals believed a phantom white horse would rise from the frothing waters of the chasm at the precise moment the river claimed another human life.

Historical Archive: Myth vs. Reality

The dangers of the site have been documented for nearly a millennium, creating a fascinating intersection between romantic poetry and cold archival reality.

The Boy of Egremont

The earliest and most famous tragedy involved young William de Romilly, the son of Lady Alice de Romilly, who supposedly drowned here in 1152. Legend states he attempted to leap across the gap while leading a greyhound on a leash. The dog baulked at the edge, checking his momentum mid-air, and dragged him into the chasm. The tragedy inspired William Wordsworth’s famous poem, The Force of Prayer, which claims his grieving mother founded Bolton Priory in his memory.

The Historical Twist: Local estate archives reveal a surprising historical discrepancy. Young William’s name actually appears as a witness signature on the legal land deeds granting the property to the monks long after his alleged watery demise, proving he survived the jump and lived well into adulthood.

The 1998 Honeymoon Tragedy

In modern history, the danger remains starkly real. In August 1998, a young couple walking through Strid Wood on the second day of their honeymoon were swept into the fissure and killed. A sudden, catastrophic bout of heavy rainfall upstream had caused a rapid, vertical rise in the river level, catching them completely unawares.

The Golden Rule: Never Trust the Scenery

Today, the Bolton Abbey estate maintains stringent, highly visible warning signage along the woodland paths, instructing visitors to stay well back from the edge.

The limestone rocks flanking the water are perpetually slick with moisture, liverwort, and moss. While Strid Wood remains one of the most visually stunning walks in North Yorkshire, it serves as a stark reminder of the Dales’ most enduring rule of safety: never underestimate the hidden physics of the natural world.

To help you spoil him without breaking the bank, we’ve rounded up twelve of the absolute best money-saving menus, free drinks, and unique treats happening across Leeds on Sunday 21st June 2026.

The Glee Club Leeds

Address: Great George Street, LS2 8ER

Opening Times: Doors open from 18:45.

If your dad loves a bit of comedy, you can grab a brilliant Father’s Day weekend special offer at this legendary city centre spot. They’re running a deal where you can get four tickets for the price of three, meaning you can literally bring your dad along completely for free.

To make it even sweeter, you can claim a slice of their delicious margherita or double pepperoni pizza with your ticket for just one pound. It’s a great way to get the whole family together for some massive laughs and cheap eats without spending a fortune.

How to book: Grab your weekend tickets straight through The Glee Club Leeds Booking Page.

The Wardrobe

Address: 6 St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH.

Opening Times: Sunday Lunch served from 12:00 to 18:00.

This iconic city centre bar and music venue is celebrating the launch of their brand-new Sunday Lunch menu with an incredible freebie. If you pre-book a table for Father’s Day, dads get to tuck into a full Sunday roast completely free of charge, and they’re even throwing in a complimentary pint on the house.

Their menu focuses heavily on regional Yorkshire produce, featuring options such as topside beef, lemon-and-thyme chicken supreme, and rosemary, fennel, and garlic-stuffed porchetta. They even have a vegan seitan chicken option, and everything can be made gluten-free. The roasts come with gourmet sides like truffle mash, creamy smoked leeks, and pigs in blankets, making it an absolute must-book.

How to book: Secure your dad’s free roast by reserving your space via The Wardrobe Leeds Events.

Tattu Leeds

Address: Minerva House, 29 East Parade, Leeds, LS1 5PS.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 12:00 to 22:45.

If you want to move away from the traditional roast completely and give your dad a seriously stylish, upscale experience, Tattu on East Parade is putting on an incredible spread. They’re running a specially curated Father’s Day set menu priced at £46 per person, featuring massive, theatrical sharing plates like mixed dim sum platters, aromatic roast duck, and their signature salt-and-pepper roast potatoes.

The best bit? They’re treating every single father who dines with them on Sunday to a completely free Crouching Tiger cocktail. It’s a premium signature blend mixed up especially to toast the big day, making it a fantastic excuse to tuck into some high-end modern Chinese food in one of the most stunning rooms in the city.

How to book: Grab your dad’s table over on the official Tattu Leeds Father’s Day Booking Page.

White Cloth Hall

Address: Crown Street, Leeds, LS2 7DA.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 10:30 to 21:00 (Food kitchens open until 20:00).

If your family can never agree on what to eat, the newly opened White Cloth Hall behind the Corn Exchange is the ultimate solution for a laid-back Sunday afternoon. This massive, beautifully restored independent food hall features four distinct kitchens serving up everything from modern Mexican street food to artisanal charcuterie and wood-fired slices.

They’re making sure dads are properly looked after for their big launch weekend too. Any dad who comes down to eat with his family on Sunday will walk away with a completely free first pint on the house. It is a brilliant, unpretentious spot to kick back, soak up the marketplace buzz, and let him choose exactly what he wants to eat while saving a bit of cash on the drinks.

How to book: Check out the menus and secure your table directly via the White Cloth Hall Events Portal.

The Ivy Victoria Quarter

Address: Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6BB.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:00 to 22:30.

If you want to treat your dad to a beautifully classic dining experience, The Ivy in the Victoria Quarter has a fantastic set menu running all day for Father’s Day. You can treat him to two courses for £34.95 or go all out with three courses for £42.95.

The dealbreaker here is the freebies they’re handing out to fathers dining from this special menu. Every single dad will walk away with a complimentary miniature bottle of 12-Year-Old Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch whisky alongside a custom Polaroid photo memento and a card to remember the day. Plus, if you’re a mum making the reservation, just pop a note in the booking registry, and they’ll give you a completely free bottle of Cintila Rosé to take home with you!

How to book: Lock in your premium table on The Ivy Leeds

The Ivy Asia

Address: 55-57 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6BA.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:30 to 22:30.

For a father who prefers theatrical, vibrant Asian-inspired flavours over a traditional British roast, The Ivy Asia is running an incredible Tribute to the Sensei weekend package. Available on both Saturday and Sunday, they have a set menu priced at just £29.95 for two courses or £34.95 for three courses.

The menu is packed with brilliant sharing plates, including aromatic duck spring rolls, prawn dumpling har gow, and a limited-edition bulgogi beef fillet created especially for the weekend. To top off the celebrations, any dad who orders from the set menu will be handed a completely free premium Pandan and Chocolate Negroni cocktail to take home, mixed with Tanqueray No. Ten Gin and chocolate wine. Lucky Dad!

How to book: Experience the drama by booking a spot through The Ivy Asia Leeds.

The Alchemist

Address: Trinity Leeds, Boar Lane, LS1 6HW & 27 Greek Street, LS1 5RU.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:00 to 00:00.

If your dad appreciates a bit of chemistry and high-end showmanship with his drinks, The Alchemist is a fantastic option for a Father’s Day treat. They have two spots in the city centre, one overlooking Boar Lane from Trinity, and their sleek venue on Greek Street. For the big day, they’re handing out a completely free Smokey Old Fashioned cocktail to any dad who orders a main meal on Sunday.

This is not just any basic drink; it is one of their most popular, iconic theatre serves featuring premium Buffalo Trace Bourbon, maple syrup, and balsamic bitters, all infused with real oak smoke right at your table. All you need to do is book a table for food and make sure to show your server the Father’s Day promo image from their website when you order to claim his free liquid gift.

How to book: Choose your venue and bag a table over onThe Alchemist Leeds Happenings.

Browns Leeds

Address: 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8EQ.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 09:00 to 22:00.

If you want to treat your old man to something a bit more sophisticated, Browns on The Headrow is a stunning choice. They’re running a brilliant app-exclusive offer for Father’s Day where your dad can score a completely complimentary drink on the house. He can choose between a crisp pint of Asahi, a glass of house red or white wine, or one of their refreshing non-alcoholic coolers when you scan your exclusive app voucher.

Food-wise, they’re putting on a stunning Sunday roast menu featuring a premium Trio of Roasts for £26, alongside classic individual cuts like garlic, lemon and thyme half roast chicken or their famous slow-cooked pork belly. The perfect excuse to dress up a little bit and enjoy a relaxed family dinner in a beautiful brasserie setting.

How to book: Download their app and set up your table reservation via Browns Leeds Brasserie.

Zizzi

Address: 133 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6BR.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:30 to 22:00.

Every single dad is a guaranteed winner if you head to Zizzi on Briggate or down at The Light. The Italian restaurant chain has teamed up with Peroni to make sure the first fifty fathers who dine with them walk away with a brilliant prize.

At the end of the meal, your dad will be handed a special card that reveals a surprise gift. Prizes range from free starters, mains, and desserts to exclusive Peroni merchandise, £20 carafes, and £100 gift cards. One incredibly lucky father across the country will even win the ultimate grand prize, a holiday to Italy.

How to book: Secure your spot early using the Zizzi website

CrowdedHouse

Address: Level 5, The Restaurant, Leeds City Centre, LS1 4ER.

Opening Times: Sunday service from 12:00.

For a luxury dining experience with gorgeous panoramic views right across the city skyline, you can treat your dad to a gorgeous rooftop lunch at CrowdedHouse. They’ve partnered up with the luxury chocolate makers Charbonnel et Walker to give every single dad a complimentary chocolate on arrival.

After that, you can dive into their signature Sunday roast menu, which comes with unlimited bottomless Yorkshire puddings. The menu is packed with incredible local Yorkshire produce, featuring standout dishes like ex-dairy cow rump cap, sage and onion stuffed pork belly, and a massive Sunday Sharing Board built for two.

How to book: Reserve your rooftop experience at The CrowdedHouse Leeds.

Heavenly Desserts

Address: 30 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2AD.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:00 to 23:30.

If your dad has a massive sweet tooth, Heavenly Desserts is making the big day even sweeter with a brilliant one-day-only promotion. Fathers can choose a completely complimentary dessert or a brunch main when you spend fifteen pounds or more anywhere in the restaurant.

The spot in Headingley serves up everything from decadent waffles and handcrafted cookie dough to premium brunch items. It is a fantastic excuse to slow down, skip the heavy roasts, and head out for a luxury breakfast or a late-night sugar fix.

How to book: Plan your dessert date over at Heavenly Desserts.

Electric Shuffle

Address: 123 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 5RD.

Opening Times: Open Sunday 11:00 to 00:00.

If you fancy doing something a bit more active than sitting at a traditional dinner table, Electric Shuffle on The Headrow is a phenomenal shout for the whole family. This high-energy bar features interactive shuffleboard tables with automatic camera scoring and screen replays that get sent straight to your inbox.

Spend the afternoon indulging in a spot of healthy competition, while tucking into tasty sharing platters and craft drinks. Best of all, they’re handing out a completely free bottle of ice-cold Madri beer to every single dad who walks through the door on Sunday.

How to book: Grab your game slot directly over at Electric Shuffle Leeds.

Gordon Bateman wanted to build something that felt a bit more useful. After decades of working alongside fast-growth companies, founders, and investors, he launched ClimbUK to skip the corporate fluff and focus entirely on the messy reality of running a business.

Now entering its fourth year, the platform’s flagship festival, Climb26, is returning to the Royal Armouries Museum and Leeds Dock on 1st and 2nd July. Instead of predictable corporate panels, the event brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, operators, and investors to share practical, honest lessons from the trenches. Many of the speakers are purposely chosen because they are just a step or two ahead of the audience, making the advice completely relatable and actionable.

The two-day festival is explicitly designed to tackle some of the toughest, unvarnished challenges in the UK startup landscape, from the fact that all-female founding teams still secure just 2% of venture capital funding to the massive geographic imbalance that sees most investment concentrated in London and the South East. Across 40 workshops, pitch sessions, masterclasses, and curated networking hubs, the goal is simple: create real, casual spaces for meaningful connections.

We sat down with Gordon to chat about the driving frustration behind the event, what happens when a founder accidentally becomes their own biggest bottleneck, and why he believes business is ultimately about trust and human chemistry.

Q: Every founder has a “lightbulb moment” where they realise the current market isn’t working. What was the driving frustration or gap in the market that compelled you to step up and launch ClimbUK?

A: The frustration was that I kept seeing brilliant founders and businesses outside London who simply did not have the same access to investors, networks, visibility and practical support.

After 30 years working with founders, business leaders and investors, I knew the talent was there. The ambition was there. The quality of businesses was there. But too often, the access was not.

At the same time, I felt the traditional business event model was not really solving the problem.

There were plenty of events with big stages, big-name speakers and big crowds, but founders were telling us that they often left exhausted, without meeting the people they actually needed to meet.

ClimbUK was created to do something different: to bring the right people together in a curated, practical and outcome-focused way. Not just to inspire founders, but to help them make useful connections, learn from people who had real experience, and leave with something they could actually use to grow their business.

Q: We often hear about the massive economic pull of London and the South East. In your experience, what are the unique advantages and untapped potential of regional business hubs like Yorkshire that national investors frequently overlook?

A: Don’t get me wrong, I am delighted that the UK is the 3rd largest Venture capital market in the world, and whilst we often hear that London still commands roughly 60% of total UK investment value, accounts for around 47% to 54% of deal volume, and is home to around 80% of UK VC firms…

Perhaps what people don’t talk about quite as much is that whilst London still attracts the largest cheques, early-stage deal counts are becoming more distributed.

Nearly half of all VC-backed businesses in the UK are now based outside London, which means the regions are full of start-ups raising smaller, earlier-stage rounds.

The opportunity around regional university spin-outs is also one of the most dynamic areas of growth in the UK venture landscape.

But the structural challenges are real.

Q: Building a business ecosystem from the ground up requires tackling systemic issues. What do you believe is the single biggest barrier facing ambitious UK entrepreneurs today when it comes to accessing vital investment and networks?

A: Perhaps this is a bit controversial, but I believe that the biggest barrier is not always the absence of capital; it is access to the right people at the right time.

Many founders do not know which investors are relevant to them, how to approach them, how to position their business, or what they need to prove, before they are genuinely investable and transactable.

At the same time, many investors do not have enough visibility of strong regional opportunities.

That creates a gap on both sides.

Founders can spend huge amounts of time chasing the wrong investors, while investors miss businesses that could be a very good fit. The result is frustration, wasted time and slower growth.

That is why curation matters. It is not enough to just put people in a room and call it an ecosystem. You have to understand who needs to meet whom, why that relationship might matter, and what needs to happen before, during and after that introduction to make it valuable.

Q: When business leaders look for guidance, they are often met with high-level theory rather than practical reality. Why do you advocate so strongly for peer-to-peer learning and sharing honest, raw lessons from the trenches?

A: We recognised that there are many events, perhaps too many, that follow the same format: professional speakers, polished keynotes, sector predictions, big economic views and personal success stories.

There is nothing wrong with those events:

A keynote on the “steps to building a billion-dollar business” can be interesting.

A celebrity founder or influencer running around the streets interviewing billionaires can be entertaining.

A high-level view of the economy can be useful.

But founders need more than inspiration, they also need practical advice, honest insight and real tools they can take away, implement and use to grow.

We don’t grow businesses in theory. We are in the real world, where things are messy, fast-moving and often uncertain.

From speaking to thousands of founders, they tell us that what they really value is hearing from people who have been through the difficult moments: raising money, losing customers, hiring the wrong people, restructuring teams, entering new markets, managing cash, making mistakes and finding a way through.

Peer-to-peer learning also creates trust. A founder is far more likely to open up about a problem when they are speaking to someone who understands the pressure and has faced similar challenges.

That is why ClimbUK is built around practical insight from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, operators and specialists. Inspiration matters, but it has to be connected to action.

Founders need ideas they can take away and implement, not just polished stories that sound good from a stage.

Q: As the CEO of an organisation dedicated to helping others scale, what is the most critical hurdle you see business leaders face when trying to transition from a small startup to a high-growth operation?

A: I can say this from my own experience and my own admission – the founder CEO syndrome, where we get in the way. Where we become the bottleneck to decision making, and where our “Why” can get in the way.

In the early stages, a business is driven by the founder’s vision, relationships, resilience and ability to get things done. That can take you a long way, but it cannot scale indefinitely.

At some point, the business needs stronger systems, better leadership, clearer roles, deeper management capability and the right people around the founder.

As a founder, you have to move from doing everything to building a team that can execute without everything running through you.

That transition is often really difficult because it requires letting go.

Yes, it also means hiring better than yourself, creating accountability and building culture deliberately rather than accidentally. We have all read it in a book, heard it on a stage or been taught in an accelerator programme, and most founders I know do try to do that from the start.

The hard bit is knowing when the right time is, and having the emotional intelligence to move. This is particularly hard if you are building a business based on passion and purpose.

Q: Technology is rapidly reshaping how we network and manage operations. How do you approach integrating modern tech tools into your business strategy without losing the core, irreplaceable value of genuine human connection?

A: As you can imagine, having spent over 30 years helping businesses design, build and retain high-performing teams, the importance of having the right people in a business is at my core.

I therefore see technology play a critical part as an enabler, not a replacement for human connection.

At ClimbUK, we are using the latest technology to make the human experience better. For example, “Climb Growth Score” (which we have launched for Climb26) will help founders understand where they most need support and connect them with the most relevant sessions, investors and growth partners.

Our investor matching platform is designed to make introductions more targeted and useful.

And most recently, our new “Climb Insights” platform, built on the latest AI harnesses technology and will help investors, ecosystem builders, policymakers and support organisations access current, practical intelligence to improve speed and quality in decision making.

But the real value still comes from trust, conversation, judgement, chemistry and relationships. Technology can help identify the right people, reduce friction and improve decision-making, but it cannot replace the moment when a founder sits across from someone who understands their business and can genuinely help them move forward.

The best use of technology is to make those moments more likely and more productive.

Q: Reflecting on your own journey as a founder and leader, what is the most valuable lesson you have learned about building a resilient, high-performing team?

A: Obviously, this is where I do have genuine domain expertise, and I could write a book on it, so I will just pick a couple of areas

High-performing teams are not built by simply hiring impressive people and hoping they work well together. You need alignment, trust and shared standards. Teams need clarity on what matters, honesty about where the business is going, and a culture where people can challenge each other without politics or ego getting in the way.

When things are difficult, people need to know that they are part of something meaningful, that their contribution matters, and that the people around them will do what they say they are going to do.

I have also learned that leaders have to be very deliberate about the environment they create. You get the behaviour you tolerate, and if you want a team that is ambitious, generous, accountable and resilient, you have to model that consistently and make sure the people around you believe in the mission, not just the job.

As an example:

We know from experience that the final few weeks before the ClimbUK festival are the most intense and stressful of the year for us.

The deadlines are immovable, and everything feels as though it sits on the critical path. Some of the work we are doing now may feel like small changes and may not have the excitement of the bigger strategic tasks we were focused on in previous months, but these final details are critical to the success of the event.

Add to that the fact that we are working incredible hours, we are all tired, we are all passionate about making this the best ClimbUK event yet, and we are all highly capable people who care deeply about getting it right.

That is why, in meetings, calls and day-to-day conversations, we need to keep coming back to the shared goal. We should be able to challenge each other, speak directly and have robust conversations, while always remembering that they come from a place of respect, trust and commitment to the same outcome.

Q: If you could sit down with an ambitious entrepreneur who is just starting on their growth journey today, what is the one piece of definitive advice you would give them to accelerate their success?

A: Here, I am not the expert. Our job is to help founders get access to the very best support. So my advice would be: Be very clear about who you need around you.

Most founders focus heavily on the product, the pitch and the funding, and of course, those things matter. But the speed and quality of your growth will often be determined by the people you surround yourself with.

Only yesterday, I was talking to a very successful entrepreneur turned investor, and he explained this in very simple terms. What investors look for (because they know what makes a good business) is, in this order, – People, market, product.

That means the right co-founders, team members, investors, advisers, mentors, customers and peers.

I would add that you need people who will challenge you, open doors, tell you the truth, and help you see around corners. Not just somebody you already know, you need to be intentional about it:

Work out what you need next, who can help you get there, and how you can build relationships that are genuinely useful on both sides.

The founders who move fastest are usually the ones who build the strongest support system around them.

From massive car festivals and giant water fights to ancient warriors, hands-on gardening, and international performers, the historic estate has loaded its calendar with plenty of reasons to get out of the house.

Here is your ultimate cheat sheet to what is happening, when it is happening, and how much it will cost you.

The Daily Fun: Included in Your Standard Ticket (Or Membership!)

If you have already got a day ticket or a valid Harewood membership, you can rock up to these brilliant daily play zones and trails without paying an extra penny:

• Curtains Up! Outdoor Play (Daily, 10am–6pm): Head over to the Sun Sides field, where the grounds have been transformed into a huge theatrical playground. Kids can dress up, take to a pop-up stage, test out their circus skills, and jump into outdoor games with the lake as a backdrop.
• Wild Harewood: Family Den-Off (Weekly throughout summer): A proper, hands-on woodland challenge that pits your teamwork skills against the elements. Families head deep into the woods to build a natural shelter entirely out of branches and leaves, testing at the end to see if it can withstand the weather.
• Spot Simba the Pug Trail (Daily, 10.30am–3.30pm): Grab a free activity sheet in the Entrance Hall and take on an I-Spy quest through the grand State Floor. Little ones will love hunting for hidden replicas of celebrated photographer Cecil Beaton’s mischievous pet pug, Simba, tucked away in secret corners.
• Epic Woodland Playlands (Daily, 10am–6pm): Full access to Harewood’s three main outdoor play spaces. Run wild across the climbing towers, bridges, and zipwire at the Adventure Playscape, get lost in the twisting pathways of the Woodland Wonderland Willow Maze, or explore the Sylvascope treehouse hidden in the canopy.

Special Date-Led Events (Also Free with General Entry!)

Mark these dates in your calendar for extra workshops and activities that won’t cost you anything extra on the day:

• Little Gardeners (Every Tuesday throughout the school holidays): Have the kids ever fancied joining the estate’s grounds team? This interactive session lets families step into the shoes of a real gardener, where children get to decorate a compostable plant pot, scoop soil, and sow a seed to take home and watch grow.
• Snaps Through Time Talk (Every Tuesday throughout the school holidays, 2.30pm): Meet in the Entrance Hall to join Harewood’s Collections Care Team. They will be sharing cool history facts about the world’s earliest cameras and giving out handy, practical tips on how to rescue and preserve your own old family photo albums at home.
• Thomas’ Terrace School (28–29 July, 11–12 & 25–26 August, 2.30pm): Ever fancied letting the kids loose on historic monuments? This hands-on activity on the Terrace gives younger visitors the chance to grab a sponge and help clean the outdoor statues, learning how to scrub off dirt and grime while protecting the ancient stonework.
• Tashi Lhunpo Monks Visit (10–15 August): For one week only, monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery are taking over various spots across the site. They will be bringing Tibetan Buddhist culture to life through free, vibrant public performances, sacred music, ceremonial dance, and interactive family workshops.

The Big One-Off Festivals & Specials Clubs

If you want to level up your visit, Harewood is also hosting some brilliant one-off ticketed events this summer:

• VW Festival (8–9 August): One of the UK’s biggest and most family-friendly Volkswagen shows is landing on the North Lawn. Expect a massive display of custom show cars, trade shopping stalls, excellent street food, bars, and live music all weekend. Tickets start from a bargain £7.50, and it is completely free for Harewood members.
• Harewood Holiday Club (4–6 & 25–27 August, 9am–4pm): A drop-off day camp designed to get 7 to 11-year-olds completely stuck into nature, history, and art. It costs £40 per child per day, with action-packed themes including heritage crafts (4th), Anglo-Saxon warriors (5th), campfires (6th), bug hunting (25th), a Victorian seaside day (26th), and an epic giant water fight finale on August 27th.
• Tree Toddlers Summer Special (13 August, 10.30am–12pm): A beautiful sensory nature-play session hidden away in the woods at the Sylvascope treehouse. It is built specifically for under-5s and their grownups to connect with the outdoors, celebrating sunshine and a woodland in full bloom. Tickets cost £12 for a joint adult-and-child ticket.