What To Do This Weekend
How to make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend
Sing Along
This is shaping up to be an excellent weekend for music. On Friday (23rd) the OG princess of pop Kylie Minogue is headed to Sheffield Utilita Arena as part of her globetrotting Tension Tour and at Leeds First Direct Arena on Saturday (24th) the always-impressive Scissor Sisters will be playing. Further north, Gary Barlow will be playing two nights at Stockton Globe (22nd–23rd), and the iconic Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be at Newcastle O2 City Hall on Sunday (25th) before heading to York Barbican to do it all again on Monday (26th). Limited tickets are available for all these gigs, so grab them while you can.
What’s New
There’s been a flurry of recent openings to catch up on and no better time to do it than a Bank Holiday weekend. In Whitley Bay, Dough is the brand new coffee shop and kitchen you need to know about, serving homemade treats, classic brunch options, and açai in generous portions. In Ingleby Barwick (near Stockton) Soigné is a new speciality patisserie serving wonderfully delicate bakes. In East Boldon, Station Espresso Bar is a must for the caffeine obsessed, offering interesting blends from around the world. Collab.Coffee in Ackworth (near Pontefract) is another new spot for excellent coffee. Looking for your next dinner reservation? The Highland Laddie in Leeds is the recent new-meets-old pub with a dining room (think lobster Madeleine’s, shepherd’s pie and plenty of elevated bar snacks). Plus, the vibrant and contemporary Mexican restaurant Cantina is opening the doors to its first ever permanent spot in Heaton tonight!
Family Fun
There are plenty of weird and wonderful things heading our way this weekend, perfect for the whole family. This Saturday (24th), North Yorkshire Water Park are launching the world’s biggest inflatable unicorn for the first time as part of their new Unicorn Splash Park attraction. Alongside the new inflatable, families can expect games, activities, face-painting and lots more fun besides. In Spennymoor on Saturday, Let’s Circus are hosting a free family fun day packed with daring acrobatics, a circus school, a climbing wall and crazy golf.
Out and About
Of course as it’s a Bank Holiday the weather is changing, but that’s no reason not to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend with a stroll through nature. Walltown Crags in Northumberland is a fantastic spot to admire Hadrian’s Wall as it dips and rises along the dramatic crags of the Whin Sill. Black Hill near Holmfirth in West Yorkshire is another stunning area, and features a six-mile circular walk across rugged moorland. The highest hill in West Yorkshire, this is not a casual undertaking.
Drink to That
It should come as no surprise that we think the best way to spend the Bank Holiday weekend is in a beer garden or on on a rooftop terrace. For urban escapes, Above Rooftop in Newcastle and Kelu in Sheffield offer unparalleled city views. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, The Ship Inn at Low Newton has uninterrupted views of the sea from the square in front, and the beer garden at the Kirkstall Bridge Inn in Leeds is perched just above the lazy waters of the River Aire. Entertaining at home? We've got a list of nine different cocktails to make yourself.
A Sporting Chance
On Saturday (24th), Sunderland AFC will play Sheffield United in the Championship final at Wembley Stadium in what is sure to be a nail-biting match. This Sunday (25th) Newcastle United play Everton at St James’ Park and we can’t wait to go along and cheer the boys on as they compete for a spot in the Champions League.
Best in Show
A celebration of local culture, farming and food, Northumberland County Show returns this weekend (Saturday 24th) at Bywell. From livestock competitions and equestrian events, to shopping, kids’ entertainment and more, this is not one to miss. You can even take your Barbour along and make the most of their special re-waxing service in exchange for a donation to the Royal Countryside Fund, or swap an old Barbour jacket in return for a £50 voucher towards a new jacket under Barbour's Re-Loved scheme.
