Namaste Nepal, one of the best restaurants in West Didsbury – if not all of south Manchester – has undergone a big refurbishment, with new menu dishes to boot.
The family-run business has become a local institution over the last 15 or so years, famed for its comforting, authentic Nepalese food.
For the first time since it opened, Namaste Nepal has had a full-scale cosmetic transformation to become a modern – but still cosy and welcoming – neighbourhood restaurant.
You’ll now find green suede, gold, and marble, in amongst the Nepalese artefacts on the shelves.
Namaste Nepal is known for its menu of curries and street food which takes influences from India and China.
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One of its hero dishes is its handmade Momocha dumplings, which are stuffed with lamb mince and topped with a classic peppery, spicy sauce.
There are platters of mixed shashlik, the meat slow-cooked in the tandoor oven; fiery traditional Chwela; and Kantipur Methi, where Tandoori chicken and minced lamb are mixed together.
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Curries range from the mouth-numbingly spicy (looking at you, vegetable naaga) to a crowd-pleasing Makhan Chara (aka butter chicken).
There’s plenty to keep vegetarians well-fed, from saag paneer to aloo gobi.
Namaste Nepal has been spicing up our lives since 2005 and is well and truly standing the test of time.
Manchester’s smash burger and ice cream legends Big Licks launch huge crowdfunding effort
Daisy Jackson
Big Licks, the Manchester restaurant that’s found the ‘sweet spot’ between amazing burgers and delicious desserts, is sailing through a huge crowdfunding campaign.
The restaurant, which has an eye-catching location down on Liverpool Road as well as two sites in Scotland, has already raised a whopping £135,000 for its expansion dreams.
It’s now pushing to hit £150,000 so that it can open new restaurants and franchises across the UK.
Big Licks was first launched by two teenagers in 2009 as a takeaway – it’s now gone on to be a rapidly expanding name bringing in £3m in sales and more than 400,000 customers in the last 12 months alone.
On their menu you’ll find incredible smash burgers (with up to four patties in each bun) made with free-range grass-fed beef that they source directly from farm, or buttermilk chicken topped with their signature ranch sauce.
There’s also an impressive menu of house-churned ice cream made with quality local ingredients, and cakes, cheesecakes and brownies all baked in house daily.
All that is alongside fried chicken, loaded fries, and other mouth-watering sides.
Next on the agenda for Big Licks is expansion across the country, offering up the chance to become a shareholder in this bright young business.
They want to use the money raised to prepare the business for franchising, with a target to open 18 restaurants by 2027.
Then any extra money raised will be used to open more company-owned restaurants.
And there are rewards on offer for those who choose to invest in Big Licks.
If you invest £100, you’ll get a Big Licks White Card which gets you 10% off in store, as well as owning a share of the business.
Then the rewards continue with other things like free burgers and shakes all the way to merch and much bigger discounts.
Co-founder Anees Ahmed said: “It is clear that the potential is great.”
He added: “We believe one of the key ingredients to a successful restaurant is creating a hangout spot, a vibe. That will always be our aim when you come to Big Licks.”
The businessman then said: “We won’t compromise on quality. We will always keep sourcing within head office. This means we keep producing our own ice cream using locally sourced organic milk and the finest Italian flavours.
“We’ve found that sweet spot. The combination of sweet desserts and smashing burgers that opens up audience’s doors, covering off every craving.
“We want you to be part of the journey and become a shareholder in Big Licks.”
You can find out more about the Big Licks crowdfunder through Crowdcube here.
*Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.
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Why Leeds is the best city to visit this summer for live music, gigs and festivals
Sophie Smith
Our neighbours over in Leeds have got all the best music festivals, homecoming gigs and performances you’ll struggle to find anywhere else this summer.
Leeds has become known locally, and increasingly nationally, as a go-to city for live music and it’s not difficult to see why.
Once upon a time it was Leeds Festival that carried their reputation as a proper Northern Powerhouse in the music scene, and whilst the city still welcomes 80,000 visitors the festival brings each year, there’s plenty more to explore than this.
From up-and-coming indie artists performing in intimate venues to England-exclusive performances; world record attempts; homecoming gigs from some of the biggest artists through the decades and a celebration of our local music nights, we’ve scoured the city in search of all the best events to get yourself down to.
Keep reading to find our sister page The Hoot Leeds’ guide to the most exciting events to visit this summer that are putting Leeds on the map as one of the best cities for live music and festivals…
Festivals
Whether you’re planning to camp out at one of the UK’s biggest music festivals or fancy yourself a trip into the city centre to discover new artists, Leeds is packed withfestivals and events throughout the summer, plenty of which you can’t find anywhere else in the country.
Gold Sounds Festival
The festival that booked Phoebe Bridgers before she became a hit sensation
Images: The Hoot Leeds / Hanglands
Hosted inside the legendary Brudenell Social Club, one of Leeds’ most popular music venues for up-and-coming artists, Gold Sounds Festival is an all-day event bringing alternative music lovers together for a day of non-stop tunes. The festival has a pretty impressive alumni, including Phoebe Bridgers, Wunderhorse, Dune Rats and The Big Moon.
Leeds and Manchester share the festival between them, but with a host of different names in each city, Sounds Of The City Leeds is well worth travelling for to your only chance to catch Anne-Marie, Paloma Faith and Gabrielle, Busted, Suede and Manic Street Preachers perform as part of the festival.
When: Thursday 4 July – Friday 19 July 2024
Where: Millennium Square, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
Tickets: Varying between £45 and £66.45, tickets are available via See Tickets here
Find out more here.
Live At Leeds: In The Park
The indie day festival where you’re destined to spot the ‘next big thing’
Image: Supplied
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Making up the summer portion of the Live At Leeds series, Temple Newsam will be abuzz with artists new and old. This year headlining are The Kooks, plus Declan McKenna, The Cribs, Sea Girls, Future Islands, Circa Waves, Baby Queen and Melanie C.
There’s nothing else like it on this scale in the north
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Image: Millennium Square
Image: Buster Shuffle via Instagram
Leeds music festivals span across all genres, including a seven hour festival dedicated to Ska and Mod music. Doors open from 2pm with artists like King Hammond & The Rude Boy Mafia, Stranger Cole, The Chords, Death Of Guitar Pop and Buster Shuffle confirmed for the outdoor event.
When: Sunday 4 August 2024, 2-9pm
Where: Millennium Square, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
Catch You Me At Six’s final UK festival performance.
Images: Supplied
The UK’s biggest indie rock festival regularly attracts crowds from across the country, and this year with a line-up of I Prevail, The Interrupters, The All American Rejects and the final UK festival performance from You Me At Six, this year will be no different.
Fred Again’s festival exclusive, the return of Catfish and The Bottlemen’s, plus the chance to see some of the world’s biggest artists live across three day festival
Image: Supplied
Image: The Hoot Leeds
An obvious choice when it comes to ‘must-visit events in Leeds’: the festival is set to have one of it’s biggest years to date with over 200 acts promised to attend over the three days, including headliners Blink 182, Lana Del Ray, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Gerry Cinnamon.
When: Friday 23 August – Sunday 25 August 2024
Where: Bramham Park, Leeds, LS23 6ND
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Tickets: £125 for a day ticket or £325 for the entire weekend, all tickets are still available viaTicketmaster here
Leeds is home to some incredible talent. We grew with the Kaiser Chiefs in the 00s, followed Mel B on her journey to success with the Spice Girls and have plenty of time for ex-One Direction star Zayn Malik who always shares how proud he is of his West Yorkshire roots (and is now the face of theBradford 2025 campaign).
If you want a live event where you can genuinely watch artists feel at home, with local fans pouring out to see their neighbours, school alumni, or even just celebrities that keep the dream of live music alive and accessible for us all, heading to a homecoming gig in Leeds is a must.
Here’s our top picks of which homegrown artists you can catch back in Leeds this summer…
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Yard Act
Vocalist James Smith and bassist Ryan Needham started the band after moving into a house in Meanwood together in 2016. Image: Yard Act
The four-piece band from Leeds have been going from strength-to-strength since steering their golden rover into the public eye in 2020. Yard Act command the stage at every single gig and fill their acts with fun, humorous twists choreographed to a tee and we’re expecting nothing less from their homecoming gig this August.
When: Saturday 3 August 2024
Where: Millennium Square, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
Corrine Bailey Rae grew up in Moortown and attended university in Leeds. Image: Corrine Bailey Rae
Black Rainbows is a musical project ‘inspired by the objects and artworks collected by Theaster Gates at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago’ that Corrine Bailey Rae will be sharing with Leeds as part of the Live At Leeds festival at Temple Newsam.
Kimberly Walsh grew up in Allerton and returns for two nights on The Girls Aloud Tour. Image: Supplied
Girls Aloud are back after a long hiatus, celebrating 21-years together and in memory of fellow band member Sarah Harding, the Sound Of The Underground returns to stages across the UK, with two nights planned in Leeds.
When: Saturday 15 June and Sunday 16 June 2024
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds, LS2 8BY
Tickets: Both dates still have limited tickets left, available via Ticketmaster here
The band came together in Bailiff Bridge, just outside of Halifax in the 90s.
Cast your mind back to the early 00s, Embrace were on the Millennium Square stage at Live At Leeds (pictured above), Chris Martin had just co-written a song with the band and Coldplay were their support act. Now the West-Yorkshire-born-and-bred band will be taking over the stunning ruins of an old monastery at Kirkstall Abbey in celebration of 20 years of album ‘Out Of Nothing‘.
Leeds’ own The Pigeon Detectives will be supporting Madness at Kirkstall Abbey this summer. With six albums to choose from, expect the summer party to start on stage before we’re welcomed to the House Of Fun this July.
The English indie rock band has been through it all in the last 40 years. Tied with Elvis Presley for the most number of Top 40 hits in a single year in 1992, seven record labels, nine albums and a whopping 26 band members during this time (five present and 21 former): now The Wedding Present is coming home for a performance at the O2 Academy.
When: Saturday 5 October 2024
Where: O2 Academy Leeds, 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AW
Gigs you’ll struggle to find anywhere else this summer
So Leeds might not be the biggest city in the UK, but it’s been chosen by artists across the world as a must-visit for live music, in fact, Leeds has been chosen as the only English city to host Global-Award-winning band Nothing But Thieves this summer, as well as one of a handful taking part in Frank Turner‘s world record attempt.
We’re also a city that knows how to party, and as such, you’ll be able to find tickets to the new day rave for over 30s here, and remain one of, if not the only, place in the country with availability.
Keep reading to find out our top picks for exclusive music events in Leeds this summer…
Frank Turner’s World Record Attempt
Image: Frank Turner via Facebook
Leeds joins a select number of UK venues for this weekend-long record attempt
Leeds has been chosen as one of the cities to play a part in artist Frank Turner’s attempt to perform at the most music venues in 24 hours. There will be a solo set lasting around 20 minutes or so around 4pm, but due to the nature of the record attempt, timings may vary on the day.
Millennium Square is the band’s only headline show in England this summer
The Dead Club City band toured the UK last year, missing Leeds off the rota – until now that is. Leeds is now the only headline stop for the band as they play across Europe this summer, and with a back catalogue of four albums and six EPs all recorded in the last decade to choose from, there’s going to be non-stop-hits all night long at Millennium Square.
When: Wednesday 3 July 2024
Where: Millennium Square, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD
‘The daytime disco that doesn’t ruin your Sunday’ is returning to Leeds following the success of its launch over Easter weekend. Over-30s club event Day Fever is touring across the country but Leeds is the only city (at the time of writing) that still has tickets available, but this is sure to change soon so grab yours whilst you can to avoid disappointment.
Paris, Berlin, New York and West Yorkshire host the prestigious event.
Now in its 21st year, Leeds International Piano Competition comes to an exciting crescendo at the Great Hall inside the University of Leeds. Heats are held around the world before a second round and semi-finals are held in Leeds, and the grand final nearby in Bradford.
When: Friday 13 September – Saturday 21 September 2024
Where: The Great Hall of the University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT
Returning favourites that keep us dancing every single month
Just because these events happen regularly, by no means suggests they shouldn’t be shouted about. As a city we’ve got world-renowned speakeasies with talented jazz artists inside; we’ve got the streets lined with DJs and open mic nights, and performances every single day of the week inside venues that have more customers each year than Leeds Festival.
Keep reading to find our top picks for unique live music events you can find each month (or so) in Leeds.
The Domino Pub Quiz
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Where else can you take part in a music quiz inside a secret Jazz speakeasy?
Barbers by day, underground speakeasy by night, The Domino is a local favourite for a fun night out and now you can take part in a monthly pub quiz with a live band that combines the tongue-in-cheek humour; an incredibly talented trio of musicians and all the best bits of your usual pub quiz (drinks included).
When: Last Tuesday of every month from 8pm
Where: 7 Grand Arcade, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6PG
Tickets: £10 per person, recommended four people per team, bookings can be made directly withThe Domino here
Think of the most British songs you can name, with lyrics replaced with northern slag; some of the most talented local singers, guitarists, violinists and more
Northern Guitars is Call Lane’s answer to an early doors night out to kick the Monday blues: head down for Happy Hour drinks and then relax into the evening with acoustic sets, hilarious covers and remakes, as well as musicians from near and far. It’s a real escape from reality.
Swiftogeddon is the Taylor Swift night that fans continue to sell out every single time it’s in town. Taking place at Belgrave Music Hall every few months, the night comprises of back-to-back hits from the American pop sensation, and nothing else.
When: Friday 26 April / Friday 21 June 2024
Where: Belgrave Music Hall, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds LS2 8JP
Anyone that’s worked their way up through the ranks as a performer in Leeds will be able to tell you about their first time at the Brudenell Social Club. Affectionately known as ‘The Brude’, the 400-capacity music venue is a jumping off point for artists big and small.
Recently Gene Gallagher (son of Liam Gallagher)’s band Villanelle ; The Last Dinner Party and Yard Act have performed here, and it’s been known to host secret gigs for the likes of Franz Ferdinand and the Kaiser Chiefs in the past. It’s a must-visit venue for anyone looking to find a new favourite artist.
If you find yourself travelling over from outside the city to visit Leeds, there’s a whole host of unique hostels, hotels and exciting staycation options to choose from.
You can find The Hoot’s top picks on where to stay in Leedshere.
Daisy Jackson -
7th December 2023 
