Running from 11:00am to 3:00pm, the event begins at Leeming Bar Station, where children can collect a special trail booklet to hunt for hidden bears. The adventure continues with a short train journey to the beautifully restored Scruton Station, where a host of activities await, including traditional Victorian toys, games, harmonium music, face painting, story time, and badge making. Every child who completes their trail booklet will receive a special reward at the end of their journey.

Nick Keegan, Marketing and Fundraising Manager at Wensleydale Railway, said: “There is always something to do at our railway to keep children (and adults) entertained during the school holidays! In addition to our Teddy Bears’ Picnic event, we have trains operating between Leeming Bar & Scruton and Leeming Bar & Leyburn. Why not visit our restored station building museum at Leeming Bar and learn about rural railway life in the 1920s? Enjoy a free tour with our costumed living history interpreters! You can then board a train for a short ride east to Scruton, to visit this beautifully restored Edwardian station. Once again, our living history interpreters will be on hand to show you around and share this station’s rich history with you.”

He added: “Alternatively, why not take the train from Leeming Bar and visit the historic market towns of Bedale and Leyburn. The journey to Leyburn takes about 40 minutes and travels through some stunning scenery. We look forward to welcoming you to our volunteer-led heritage railway for a fun and great value family day out!”

Entry for the event is priced at £6 per child, which covers the trail booklet and return train travel, while adults can purchase a return ticket for £5. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets and teddies, though refreshments are available at the Leeming Bar buffet car and Scruton Station.

Running from 23–31 May, the museum is offering a full programme of hands-on activities and live shows designed to bring medieval history to life. The star attraction is the Saxons Story Hunters trail, where children can play trainee archaeologist for the day. Young explorers will follow clues across various “dig sites” throughout the galleries to solve a mystery and uncover the identity of a Saxon skeleton.

Other highlights of the half-term week include:

• Sword School: Interactive training sessions for budding warriors.
• Craft Workshops: Opportunities to design traditional Saxon brooches or build ancient board games to take home.
• Live Storytelling: Engaging sessions focused on the everyday lives of Saxons.

While the event is free to attend, the Royal Armouries, a registered charity, recommends booking tickets in advance due to high demand. Morning and afternoon sessions are available throughout the holiday.

The project, funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, will see contractors Galliford Try Ltd begin demolition work at the end of this month, starting with James William House on Cowie Drive, followed by the former Railway Social Club and Selby Business Centre.

Over the next 12 months, the first phase of the scheme will deliver:

• A brand-new station car park.
• New accessible platform access to the rear of the station building.
• A fully remodelled bus station.
• Extensive improvements to local footpaths and cycleways.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said:

“It represents a major investment to enhance the area and improve routes leading to the railway station, and we are confident that the project will act as a catalyst for further investment for Selby.”

The multi-million-pound investment is a joint effort funded by the Department for Transport, North Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Active Travel England, with additional support from Network Rail and Trans-Pennine Express.

Launching on Wednesday 13th May, the menu was developed by Group Executive Chef Mark Askew. It focuses on meticulous sourcing and bold flavours, featuring exclusive partnerships with high-end producers. This includes a bespoke smoked salmon from Severn & Wye and complex, sweet notes from Black Bee Honey, which headlines the new Stracciatella starter.

The menu strikes a balance between reimagined classics and contemporary global flavours. Highlights include:

• Truffled Chicken Kiev: Enriched with wild garlic butter and served with silky mashed potato.
• Roasted Salmon Supreme: Paired with a vibrant pink peppercorn hollandaise.
• Keralan Vegetable Curry: A masterfully spiced, globally inspired plant-based option.
• Dessert Theatre: Featuring classic French Paris-Brest and the iconic Ivy Signature Chocolate Bombe.

Group Executive Chef Mark Askew commented:

“We’re not simply serving dishes; we are creating a genuine sense of occasion. When you cut into the new Truffled Chicken Kiev to reveal the rich wild garlic butter… you understand the intention behind this menu. We’ve worked closely with exceptional suppliers, allowing the quality of the ingredients to speak for itself.”

The Ivy Edition is priced at £34.95 for two courses or £41.95 for three courses, and is available daily for lunch and dinner across selected Ivy Collection restaurants.

Held at Oulton Hall in Leeds, the awards recognised the Goole-based firm for its deep-rooted family ethos and the successful integration of multiple generations within its leadership. Founded in 2000 by Dean Murphy, Salko UK has grown over 25 years from providing a single mechanical fitter at Hatfield Colliery to delivering major engineering solutions for projects like the Woodsmith Mine and Enfield Power Station.

Today, the business benefits from intergenerational leadership; Dean’s daughter, Georgina Wilkinson, serves as Chief Financial Officer, while his son, Gary Murphy, acts as Senior Electrical Lead. This family structure has fostered a unique culture where employees are treated as part of an extended family, resulting in a highly loyal and skilled local workforce.

Dean Murphy, CEO of Salko UK, said:

“We’re pleased to have been recognised for our commitment to family values. Our family ethos extends beyond our immediate family, fostering a work culture where employees feel valued. This approach has enabled us to build a loyal and skilled workforce right here in Goole, providing stability through the ever-changing landscape of our industry.”

Following this regional success, Salko UK will now represent the North at the national finals, set to take place at The Savoy in London.

The restructure followed the closure of Veeno’s Chester site, which was deemed unviable due to structural building issues and an ongoing landlord dispute. Caruso was quick to clarify that the challenges in Chester were site-specific and do not reflect the health of the wider group, particularly in Leeds, which continues to go from “strength to strength.”

The brand’s new direction moves away from a “chain” feel, refocusing on its Sicilian heritage and authentic Italian hospitality. A major part of this reset involves a greater emphasis on wines sourced directly from Caruso’s family vineyard in Sicily, which was established by his great-grandfather.

Nino Caruso, Founder of Veeno, said:

“It is business as usual at Veeno Leeds. Over time, we felt the business was beginning to be perceived as a chain, and that’s something we want to move away from. Our focus now is on our heritage, our roots, and delivering a simpler, more authentic offering that reflects our Sicilian identity. I’m stepping back into a more active role so we can return to what Veeno has always been about – authentic hospitality and exceptional wines.”

Guests at the Leeds site can expect a refreshed experience, including new organic and small-batch wine additions and a streamlined food menu designed to pair perfectly with the Sicilian labels. Caruso assured partners and staff that all suppliers remain in place and that the restructure has effectively “future-proofed” the business.

The space, which previously operated primarily as a pre-show area, has undergone an ambitious transformation. It will now be open from midday until late, Wednesday through Sunday, offering a relaxed social space for coffee, cocktails, and craft beers, including a rotating selection from local favourites like Kirkstall Brewery.

Yuzu Street Food, inspired by a 2019 culinary tour of Asia, will serve up its signature contemporary menu of bao buns, ramen, katsu curry, and fried chicken. The partnership cements HAR bar’s position as a key destination in the thriving New Briggate area.

Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, said:

“We are very excited to be welcoming Yuzu to HAR bar. Their Asian-inspired street food is the perfect accompaniment to our range of drinks, firmly establishing us as one of Leeds’ leading spots to meet and eat. We want everyone in the city to feel that this is their space, where great music and exceptional service combine to support Opera North’s outreach work.”

Chris Hargroves, Yuzu Founder & CEO, added:

“We’re delighted to be back in Leeds city centre! Returning really feels like coming home. Working with such a prestigious venue as the Howard Assembly Room is something we’re absolutely buzzing about and we can’t wait to fire up the woks!”

Rooted in research by renowned food scientist Charles Spence, the soundproof, darkened booth isolates the snacker from the outside world to heighten taste perception. By suppressing auditory distractions, which Spence notes can mask sweet and salty notes, the mind is forced to focus entirely on the palate.

Inside the booth, guests are guided through a curated audio-visual journey to experience the new Chicken Royale and Bacon Double Cheese XL limited-edition Pringles. The experience is designed to reveal the flavour profile in layers: for the Chicken Royale, it begins with savoury mayonnaise and sweet bun notes, peaks with intense chicken and lettuce profiles, and finishes with a subtle return of sweetness.

Charles Spence, food scientist and flavour expert, explained:

“Scientific research has highlighted that suppressing senses like sound can actually enhance the tasting experience. Noise suppresses our ability to perceive sweet and salty flavours, so if you remove any auditory distractions, you’re likely to experience a heightened experience of flavour, because your mind focuses more fixatedly on the food in front of you.”

For those who can’t visit the booth, the new flavours are now available across major UK retailers, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Tesco. Even better, the collaboration includes a buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) offer: shoppers can scan the QR code on their Pringles tube to redeem a free Chicken Royale or Bacon Double Cheese XL at participating Burger King® UK restaurants.

Building on the success of last year’s Eid on Tour, the event will take place outside the Oasis Dining Quarter on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June. Visitors can expect a vibrant atmosphere from 11am to 8pm daily, featuring a diverse artisan market and high-energy live performances including Middle Eastern Zaffa and Dabka, alongside traditional African drumming.

Food remains a central focus of the celebration, with a curated lineup of street food traders. Highlights include Fargos FX (Japanese steak sandos), Super Birria Bros (birria tacos), and Cattle & Smoke (Texas-inspired smoked brisket). The festival will also host popular vendors like The Brioche Team, Mocktail Girl, and Dutch Fishmen.

Darren Pearce, Centre Director at Meadowhall, said:

“Eid Street is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Eid and bring our community together. We’re excited to welcome visitors who want to enjoy brilliant food, entertainment and the artisan market over the two days.”

Bilal Khan, Event Director at Eid Street, added:

“We’re excited to return to Meadowhall. It’s a great setting for a big, family-friendly celebration, and we know the mix of street food, market stalls and live performances will create a brilliant atmosphere outside.”

The event is supported by Eid on Tour and The Halal Food Festival. While entry is free, visitors are encouraged to book their free tickets in advance at meadowhall.co.uk/eid-street.

Starting this month, the brewery’s legendary Old Peculier will be available in cans at Tesco stores across the UK. It will be joined in the aisles by its alcohol-free twin, Nowt Peculier, which is set for a national rollout in Morrisons and a regional launch in the Co-op from June. Using advanced filtration, Nowt Peculier retains the rich, dark ruby character of the original 1890s recipe, offering a “no compromise” option for traditional ale fans.

The brewery’s latest success story, Theakston’s Salted Caramel Porter, is also seeing a massive boost. Following an exceptional response since its 2025 launch, Morrisons will stock the porter nationally this month, with Tesco and the Co-op adding it to their regional shelves. These new deals mean the porter will now be available in over 500 stores nationwide, including existing stockists Waitrose, Booths, and Sainsbury’s.

Richard Bradbury, Managing Director of Theakston’s Brewery, said:

“We’re delighted to see such strong demand for our beers. Much of our portfolio started life in the pub, gaining popularity before making the move into retail and enabling drinkers to enjoy their favourite pints at home. While we remain dedicated to supporting the Great British pub, it’s fantastic to see our beers continue to grow their presence in the off-trade.”

For more information on the full range, visit www.theakstons.co.uk.