What To Do This Weekend
Brand new openings and fun family-friendly events, here's how to make your first weekend of July a special one
What’s New
In Newcastle
The newest addition to Grainger Market is your new go-to for street food. LJ’s Mexican Street Food is serving up tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and there are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
In Gateshead
Popular brunch spot Café Filto is opening a new outpost in The Crescent within the Metrocentre this Saturday (4th), with coffee to keep you fuelled throughout your retail therapy. Try the iced matcha and you won’t be disappointed.
In Sunderland
Interiors shop Resinn have opened a new space in Sunderland, moving from the basement of the owners’ home to a spot on Murton Street. The new shop is filled with carefully-sourced and handcrafted products and antiques, and food and drink can be enjoyed al fresco.
In Darlington
Kip & Nook’s new restaurant, Albertos Farmhouse, opens on Friday (3rd) and will serve delicious Italian-inspired food from Thursdays to Sundays. The goal is to bring people together for slow evenings, shared dining and signature cocktails.
In Yarm
One of our favourite doughnut spots (already serving up delicious treats in Newcastle, Tynemouth and Sunderland) has launched a new outpost on Yarm High Street. Head along to Deep North for inventive doughnuts and good coffee.
In Whitby
A new Bram Stoker and Dracula-themed spot has opened on Church Street – part museum, part bar. Check out the Whitby jet and gold crown, crafted by the renowned local jewellers Hamond’s, within the Whitby Crown.
In Leeds
This new spot in Holbeck is a go-to for slices of your favourite pizzas. Pre-order yours for collection from Edges Pizza, Fourth Court. Slots are released at 12pm one day in advance
Let’s Celebrate
Town galas are offering a great excuse to get out and about this weekend
The Spennymoor Gala is one of the town’s most cherished traditions. While the gala funfair will open in Jubilee Park on Thursday (2nd), Gala Day will take place this Saturday (4th) with live country music following the grand parade through the town. Families can look forward to seeing vintage vehicles, the petting zoo and braving the rodeo bull. Meanwhile, in Leeds, Holbeck Gala is this Saturday (4th), with music, stalls, inflatables, animals and a climbing wall at Holbeck Moor.
Family Fun
This Saturday (4th) and Sunday (5th), families will be flocking to Brocksbushes for the return of its Summer Fayre
Families can look forward to live music performances, more than 40 local food and craft stalls, family-friendly entertainment and activities, funfair rides and traditional games, a Viking exhibition, the Brocksbushes barbecue, a local scarecrow competition and the chance to pick your own fruit.
Cheers To This
Beer lovers are invited to explore the pubs along North Tyneside’s coast this summer as CAMRA launches its Summer Ale Trail
The trail (from now until 31st July) will showcase 16 venues across Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth and North Shields, encouraging visitors to discover new pubs, taprooms, bottle shops and micropubs, and support the area's thriving hospitality sector. Visitors can collect a trail map from any participating venue and receive a sticker each time they visit one of the pubs on the trail. Collect 10 during July to be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 bar tab at your favourite participating pub.
Read All About It
Bookworms are headed to Bradford for the return of its popular literature festival
From Friday (3rd) more than 500 literary-themed events will be taking place, with a line-up including Prue Leith, Hannah Spencer, and A.A. Dhand, and engaging talks, readings and workshops in venues across the city.
Summer in the City
Gateshead is the place to be this weekend as Baltic team up with their neighbours The Glasshouse for a Summer Block Party
On Saturday (4th), Baltic’s annual Art Car Boot Fair will return with 50 stalls, plus there’s a chance to see two new exhibitions (Tish Murtha & Kuba Ryniewicz: Close to Home and Chitra Ganesh: Journey to the Great Below), artist talks, free tours, drop-in creative sessions and a Summer Preview Party with pizza, cocktails and DJs. Don’t miss the Rooftop Cocktail Lounge / Weezy Pop Takeover and the Launch Party for Newcastle jewellery brand Weezy Pop’s exclusive new collection, produced in collaboration with Baltic. At The Glasshouse, browse the makers market, and enjoy drinks with friends as the resident DJ plays.
Food Glorious Food
A new food festival is bringing famous faces and foodies to Pickering Showground
Flavours of Yorkshire will take place at Pickering Showground on Saturday (4th) and Sunday (5th) with an all-star lineup including TV chef James Martin and local food heroes Gilly Robinson (founder of top-rated cookery school, The Cook’s Place), Yorkshire Pasta entrepreneur Kathryn Bumby, and Masterchef finalist Ollie Farrar from FortySix, Malton. Visitors can browse creations from a variety of food and drink producers, street food traders and artisan specialists, and don’t miss The Whole Hog Barbecue competition.
Flower Power
We’re heading into PYO flower season, and these are just a few of our favourite places to do just that in Yorkshire (with more to open later this month)
In Ripon
Opening on Saturday (4th) The Flower Field have 33 different varieties of wildflower that will be in full bloom and available to pick until September. Pick your favourites and they’ll wrap them for you to take home. There are sunflowers too!
In Harrogate
Known for their fabulous flowers in Helmsley, you can now create your own bespoke flower arrangement at The Flower Belt’s new site in Harrogate, and take in the beautiful wildflowers.
In Leeds
Kemps Farm have slots available this weekend for wildflower picking (included in the price of fruit picking), then later in August there’ll be a chance to pick sunflowers too.
