Graham Walker

Fishies is hosting three student Freshers events at O2 Academy Leeds in September 2026, including a Bruno Mars tribute party on September 30 with free Mars Bars. The schedule also includes a pre-season warm-up on September 16 and a Freshers Week special on September 23. Students are advised to check ticket listings for age, admission and identification requirements.

Vanessa Williams will perform the only Yorkshire date of her first full UK concert tour at Bradford Live on February 26, 2027. The show will feature hits from her recording career, Broadway and West End performances, including “Save the Best for Last” and “Colors of the Wind,” alongside stories and surprises. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, and the event will take place at the restored 4,000-capacity former Odeon.

Wingspan Chocolate, the relaunched Autism Plus social enterprise formerly known as Park House Barns, is expanding its Yorkshire-made handcrafted chocolate range and seeking supermarket distribution. Operating from Bradbury House in Knaresborough and a shop and café in Easingwold, it provides work experience and skills development for autistic and neurodivergent people, including those with Down syndrome and learning disabilities. Founded through a 2012 partnership involving Autism Plus and Ampleforth Abbey Trust, the enterprise is being promoted as a way for chocolate purchases to support greater confidence, independence and employment opportunities. The relaunch coincides with Autism Plus’s 40th anniversary.

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance will perform five shows at Sheffield City Hall from August 20 to 23, 2026, marking the production’s 30th anniversary. The touring presentation will feature new choreography, special effects, precision Irish dance, pyrotechnics and more than 150,000 taps per performance. The production has reportedly reached more than 60 million fans in 60 countries since its 1996 debut. Ticketing, parking and rail-travel information is provided, including affiliate links.

French Connection has opened a new outlet store at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds in Glasshoughton, Castleford. The store offers womenswear, menswear and accessories, including contemporary collections, wardrobe staples and seasonal styles at outlet prices. It joins more than 85 brands at the destination, which also provides restaurants, attractions, free parking and rail access. The expansion is part of French Connection’s ongoing retail strategy, while the outlet promotes discounts of up to 70% across its stores and up to 60% off selected items online.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm has brought natural flood management, particularly leaky woody dams, to a mainstream television audience. The dams are designed to slow water, retain sediment and temporarily hold floodwater upstream rather than block flows entirely. The approach parallels work by Ousewem, a City of York Council-led partnership across the River Ouse catchment that combines dams with ponds, wetlands, woodland creation, floodplain restoration and other measures. Farmers can receive £764.42 per qualifying large leaky woody dam through a government grant, but Clarkson’s experience highlights the need to obtain permission before construction. Natural flood management is presented as a useful contribution to flood resilience, though not a standalone solution.

The original Phoenix Nights cast will reunite for How Far Away Are They?, a live comedy and behind-the-scenes storytelling show at Scarborough Spa on October 10, 2026. Neil Fitzmaurice, Toby Foster, Steve Edge, Janice Connolly and Archie Kelly are among the rotating participants, with the evening also featuring a support comedian and audience Q&A. The tour includes dates in Edinburgh, Stockport, Leeds and Middleton.

Popworld Leeds is offering three Pornstar Martinis for £13, compared with the usual £25.50, representing a saving of up to 49%. Customers can upgrade to four Sex on the Beach cocktails and four Sourz shots for £19. The deal is available on selected evenings, is valid for over-18s with possible ID checks, and can be redeemed without pre-booking until the venue’s stated closing times.

Gandeys K-POP Dragon Circus will perform at the Eureka National Children’s Museum car park in Halifax from September 24 to October 4, 2026. The family show combines K-pop-inspired music with acrobatics, Chinese Lion Dance, comedy, daredevil motorcyclists in the Globe of Death, and a dragon-themed story. A Wowcher promotion offers Grandstand tickets for £9 instead of a stated £19.45, subject to availability and selected performances. The production will also visit venues in Nottingham, Merry Hill and Gateshead.

Pastures Lodge in Mexborough has been acquired by experienced hotel operator Harry Sookun, who plans to invest in the 60-bedroom hotel, pub, restaurant and events venue while preserving its independent character. The existing management and staff will remain, and the hotel and pub operations are expected to work more closely together. The venue continues to offer accommodation, dining, weddings and other celebrations, with nearby attractions including Conisbrough Castle, Cusworth Hall, Doncaster city centre and Doncaster Racecourse.

A Wowcher deal offers a 30-minute interactive meerkat encounter, full-day admission to Willow Tree Family Farm near Shirebrook, and a cream tea for £14 per person or £26 for two, representing savings of up to 71% against the usual £45 price. The experience includes feeding hand-reared meerkats and is available on selected dates through November 29, 2026.

Leeds United unveiled its 2026/27 adidas home shirt at a one-day New York pop-up in Brooklyn, staged with principal partner Red Bull and Run Deep to celebrate the club's Yorkshire roots. The event featured the full travelling squad, Leeds legends, food, music and a fan Q&A. The shirt and related items are available through the club store, with adult shirts priced at £75 and free delivery offered with code LAW until 4 August.

The Ousewem partnership, led by City of York Council and funded through Defra’s £200 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, is combining scientific modelling, environmental monitoring and residents’ lived experience to improve flood planning across the River Ouse catchment. Andy Kerr argues that authorities must act on the best available evidence rather than wait for certainty, while remaining flexible as climate risks change. Lucy Allis highlights the difficulty of communicating uncertainty and the importance of incorporating farmers’ and communities’ experiences. The initiative promotes catchment-wide collaboration, natural flood management and adaptation alongside traditional defences, with the aim of reducing the human and financial costs of future flooding.

A comprehensive guide lists more than 60 ways to celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1, 2026, spanning historic sites, national parks, museums, stately homes, seaside destinations, family attractions, concerts, festivals, sporting events, food tours and community celebrations. It highlights free activities alongside ticketed experiences and promotes savings of up to 80% through booking and affiliate partners, including discounts for transport, accommodation and attractions across Yorkshire.

A new touring production of Cole Porter’s musical High Society will run at Leeds Grand Theatre from 25 to 29 August 2026. Helen George leads a 28-strong cast as Tracy Lord, alongside Freddie Fox, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Lindsay and Malcolm Sinclair. Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, the production features a full orchestra and an expanded selection of Porter songs, combining romance, comedy, mistaken identity and social scandal. Tickets are available through Leeds Heritage Theatres.