Santa is taking to the skies once again this Christmas, and families will get the chance to meet him in one of the most unique locations in the region.
With the festive season fast approaching, and now just 48 days to go until the big day is here, there’s arguably no better place in the North West to get cracking on your Christmas shopping than at Cheshire Oaks.
Just less than an hour’s drive from Manchester city centre, Cheshire Oaks is the largest Designer Outlet in the UK, and is home to over 400,000 square feet of retail space – with more than 150 boutiques, restaurants, and cafes to choose from.
But no festive visit to the shopping village is complete without meeting Santa, right?
You can meet Santa on a festive ferris wheel at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Although this year, Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto will look a little different to usual, as after what was the smash-hit success of the first ever ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience last year, the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again in 2023, and inviting you on a fantastical festive adventure on the outlet’s ‘Big Wheel’.
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Taking pride of place next to the iconic Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree – which stands at whopping a 90ft tall, and is in the heart of all the action – the Big Wheel offers shoppers breathtaking views of the Cheshire skyline all lit up brighter than ever before, so it’s not hard to see why Santa is pulling up a pew on there for another year.
The ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.
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The outlet’s Big Wheel offers shoppers breathtaking views of the Cheshire skyline / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Open every weekend and on selected weekday dates throughout December, with 10-minutes flights taking place from 2pm-7:30pm on Fridays, and 9am-4pm on all other days, included in the ticket price is a place on the Big Wheel flight with Santa and his elves, as well as a complimentary hot chocolate, festive cookie, and a personalised lanyard.
Little ones will also get a free bag of reindeer food to take home with them too.
Also new for this year are ‘Sensory Sessions’ inside the iconic Christmas tree – which will be running for the first hour of every open day, and will accommodate anyone with sensory or access needs.
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While ‘Santa in the Sky’ and ‘Sensory Sessions’ are bound to be the stand-out events, that’s not all that’s on offer at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas, as the outlet’s much-loved Winter Village is also back for another year, so you can take a break from shopping and snuggle up to enjoy a festive drink and bite to eat in one of the bookable Christmas huts.
Cheshire Oaks’ much-loved Winter Village is also back for another year / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Whether you’re in the mood for a bratwurst straight from the swing grill, a cup of hot mulled wine, or a delicious hot chocolate, the German Christmas market-inspired Alpine Lodge is the perfect place unwind and soak in the festive spirit after a long day of grabbing gifts.
Cheshire Oaks’ General Manger, Kenny Murray, says the outlet wants to give visitors an “unforgettable experience” this Christmas.
“By bringing back our much-loved Winter Village and the return of last year’s Santa in the Sky experience, we have made sure our guests will have an unforgettable experience visiting our centre this festive season,” he explained.
The Winter Village is the perfect place to take a break from shopping and grab festive food and drink / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
“We’re confident our unbeatable prices across a selection of our much-loved premium brands to explore will allow our guests to shop for the best festive gifts, whilst also enjoying the holiday cheer through the many activities scheduled this winter”.
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Tickets for ‘Santa in the Sky’ are going on sale next Monday (13 November) from 10am, and are likely to sell out, so you’ll need to be quick if you’re looking to secure your spot.
You can find out more about what’s on at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.
Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks
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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.
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Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome announces huge line-up of outdoor gigs including McFly, JLS and UB40
Daisy Jackson
Three new shows have been announced for an open-air gig series at Barton Aerodrome this summer.
Barton LIVE has today confirmed that McFly, JLS and UB40 will be taking to the stage, where the backdrop will be the bustling runway of Barton Airport.
The summer series also includes performances from The Jacksons Live, 90s Baby Festival, and Boogietown North.
Barton LIVE’s summer series takes place at one of the country’s most unique and exhilarating settings at Barton Aerodrome, where the worlds of music and aviation come together.
The three new shows that have just been announced kick off with McFly on Thursday 12 September.
The pop-rockers, famed for their hits like Five Colours In Her Hair, All About You and Obviously, will take centre stage with a typically high-energy performance.
Then on Saturday 14 September, the stage will be given over to British boy band royalty JLS, whose chart-topping hits include Beat Again, Everybody in Love, and She Makes Me Wanna.
Their signature blend of R&B, pop, soul and silky-smooth vocals will be part of Barton LIVE’s star-studded end-of-summer line-up.
Finally, on Sunday 15 September, legendary reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will perform.
They’ll be whisking audiences away to the warm and vibrant Caribbean through their iconic reggae rhythms and songs like Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Kingston Town.
Tickets for McFly, JLS and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell at Barton LIVE will be available on Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up for tickets via www.bartonlive.co.uk
Over the course of the summer, the stage at Barton Aerodrome will welcome the likes of Ronan Keating, The Jacksons, Peter Andre, Blue, Eternal, Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Boney M and many more.
Barton LIVE line-up in full for outdoor gig series at Barton Aerodrome
Friday 19July – The Jacksons LIVE (The Jacksons, Kenny Thomas, Soul Boutique Collective) – tickets £39.50 plus booking fee via Skiddle here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July – 90s Baby Festival (Ronan Keating, Eternal, Peter Andre, Blue, Five, A1, Scott Mills, 911, Sonique, Blazin Squad, Dave Pearce, Phats & Small, N-Trance, Happy Clappers Ft Sandra Edwards, Baby D, Alison Limerick, Ultrabeat, JX, Livin Joy Ft Luzahnn, Urban Cookie Collective, Nick Coulson + support) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Saturday 27 July – Boogietown North (Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Tunde Of Lighthouse Family, Boney M, Trevor Nelson, Craig Charles, Gina Breeze, Supernatire Disco, Nick Coulson) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Thursday 12 September – McFly – tickets £44.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Saturday 14 September – JLS – tickets £49.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Sunday 15 September – UB40 featuring Ali Cambell, tickets £39.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Emily Sergeant -
7th November 2023 
