IL Magazine (Issue 10)

Independent Leeds Magazine Issue 10 www.independentleeds.co.uk

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Issue 10

Work and Play At this time of year when thousands of students arrive in Leeds to work hard and play harder, the importance of how to balance these two apparent opposites is as relevant as ever before.

In 1944, Jonathan Lockwood Huie suggested “a time for everything: a time to relax and a time to be busy, a time to frolic and a time to labor.” In 2017 these words remain true, yet the boundaries merge, as Arnold J Toynbee claimed 20 years later; “The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” Wherever the distinction lies, modern day Leeds is catering for all definitions of work and play, and in this issue we discover the array of options the city provides for newcomers and locals alike to make their living and make their life; for if all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, Leeds is one exciting city.

Cover Illustration

Take the long road and walk it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Josh Parkin  @joshparkyart

Work Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cover Location

One Love, One Leeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

With thanks  @woodlawncoffeeco 'What’s Up Leeds?' Illustration:  @joshparkyart

Hope Through Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 With These Hands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Taste Hunter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Live at The Domino Live Jazz, Funk, Soul, Blues & Exceptional Drinks Every Night, Wednesday to Sunday 6pm-4am | Free Entry

Leeds Eye View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Digger’s Island Discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Cornucopia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Work. Rest. Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 What’s Up Leeds?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Game On. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Hungry For More. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

www.independentleeds.co.uk

We Are So Proud, We Shout It Out Loud. . . 40

Fancy Contributing?

We are open to all, so if you would like to write, illustrate or photograph in future issues, or have ideas for future content, please get in touch with our Editor John to join our growing collective.

Editor John Barran : john@independentleeds.co.uk

A reflection of the community. . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Run Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Airey Sharey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Know Your Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 For The Love Of Leeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Sales Sarah Laycock : sarah@independentleeds.co.uk

Middle schools and Social clubs. . . . . . . . . . 55 A garden in your pocket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Anything else

Nighttime Playtime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

hello@independentleeds.co.uk

The Holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Grand Arcade Leeds | thedomino.co.uk WHAT'S NEW / WHAT'S ON / WHAT'S GOING ON! independntleeds

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3

Words: John Barran Illustration: Rachael Powick, James Murphy  @iamjamesdmurphy

Take the long road and walk it A tour of the high streets and low lanes of Leeds...

FOOD + DRINK

ENTERTAINMENT + CULTURE

Leeds has been at the forefront of the nation's food and drink transformation from bland stereotypes to grand designs, with exciting eateries and drinkeries in every style all over the city. To start with an authentic taste of Yorkshire, Kirkgate Market is the heartbeat of Leeds. Other pop-ups across the city emphasise the area’s wealth of freshness, with farmer’s markets appearing regularly in the centre and suburbs, and events such as Leeds Indie Food and Leeds International Beer Festival showcasing the vast array of local talent.

As the saying nearly goes, 'if you're tired of Leeds, you're tired of life'. For the city surrounds its people with a culture that makes it a front runner for Europe's 2023 capital, and the people respond with an injection of invention and talent.

Whilst proud of its roots, Leeds invites all comers to the party. A brief walk from the centre's south to north moves from Vietnam's Viet Guy through India’s Tharavadu and Thailand's Zaap to Japan's Fuji Hiro, with countless more spicy stop-offs throughout.

America’s North and South have become equally popular, with the epic Red’s and the cosy Casa Columbiana fine examples of their respective cuisines.

Other cultures have made their home in specific areas of the city, most notably in Chapeltown, where West Indian and African joints such as Maureen’s celebrate their heritage.

And there aren't many places that are the base for these culture leading groups: Phoenix Dance; Northern Ballet; Opera North. Or the home of these education leading establishments: Leeds College of Art; Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

And as the country prepares to leave Europe, Europe does not prepare to leave this city. There’s classic French cooking at Kendall’s and Sous le Nez, authentic Spanish tapas at Iberica and Ambiente, wood fired Italian servings at Pizza Fella and Buca di Pizza, and clever British dishes at Home and Ox Club. These and hundreds more are set in a selection of diverse surroundings, whether dining up at Michelin starred The Man Behind The Curtain or chowing down at the relaxed Caravanserai.

And all that is just in the city centre. A venture out will discover many vibrant areas and hidden gems; Headingley serves up its students and residents at joys such as the legendary Salvo's and innovative The Cat’s Pyjamas; Roundhay revels at the likes of Ira B’s and Mykonos; Harehills offers authentic comfort and low prices at Tasty's and Abyssinia; Chapel Allerton chills out in cool indies including Pinche Pinche and Opposite.....

Few places can boast of a list of industry leading theatres that reads like this: West Yorkshire Playhouse; Grand Theatre; Howard Assembly Rooms; Carriageworks; City Varieties; Hyde Park Picture House.

And it is rare for a place to have a list of art leading spaces that reads like this: Leeds City Museum; White Cloth Gallery; Henry Moore Institute; Leeds Art Gallery; Stanley and Audrey Burton; The Tetley.

And there are not a lot of places that host such world leading events as: Leeds International Film Festival; Thought Bubble; Light Night. Or house internationally leading sports teams: Leeds Rhinos; Leeds United; Yorkshire CCC. And it is unusual for a place to be filled with a diverse array of creative leading people; Inkwell Arts; Leeds Young Authors; East Street Arts: Red Ladder; Live Art Bistro.

So there you have it: art, film, sport, theatre, culture and entertainment. It's here.

The latter epitomises Leeds' hot coffee culture, and along with Laynes Espresso, Mrs Atha's, and dozens more, provide a regular antidote to the omnipresent chains. Similarly, a plethora of independent bars swarm the city with great booze choices, at Belgrave, Brunswick, Bundobust, and going right the way through the alphabet.

The list goes on; with appetite up and thirst on, Leeds has an abundance to sate and quench.

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÷÷ Pick up a 270 Page independent index and city guide from stockists and at independentleeds.co.uk

5

SHOPPING + LIFESTYLE

MUSIC + NIGHTLIFE

In recent years, Leeds has invested impressively in shiny shopping centres; Trinity dominated the city centre upon its 2013 arrival, and only this year, was joined by the high end Victoria Gate. But rather than trample the independents, many have thrived off the city's reputation as the north's shopping capital.

It is credit to Leeds' eclecticism that the city is not identified by one musical genre. Sure, goth was created here; yes, we were the king of the clubs; but unlike other major cities and their associated sounds, Leeds has always kept its ears open to every octave and developed its own unique and diverse nightlife for all noises.

Whilst those sites are mostly populated by big brands, smaller businesses have gathered together to rejuvenate other areas of the city with their expertise and passion. One place this is particularly true of is historically Leeds' counter culture hangout, the Corn Exchange. This stunning building is circled by shop spaces, which after a recent decline, have been brought back to its former life, filled with independents specialising in cameras, clothes, music, jewellery, beer, hair, tattoos, gifts.....

Similarly, the city's beautiful arcades have welcomed gatherings of stores, with Welcome Skate and OK Comics amongst those in Thornton's, and with the glorious Grand now lined completely with independents, including Our Handmade Collective and My Vibrant Home.

Elsewhere, Leeds institutions continue to thrive after moves over the years; Hip Store, now on Vicar Lane; Nicholas Deakins, on Boar Lane; and Jumbo Records, in their new Merrion Centre home. And newcomers are regularly making their mark on the city; magazine and design fanatics Colours May Vary at Munro House; stylish opticians Cross Eyes on Mill Hill; and quirky gift store Fred Aldous on the reinvigorated Kirkgate.

Into the outskirts, there is more unique shopping to be done, whether in the communities of Garforth and Guisley, or the suburbs of Moortown and Morley.

Wherever you may roam, and whatever your retail cravings, Leeds can provide the therapy.

Since the city's early dancehalls and nightclubs, Leeds began to appear on musical maps in the 1980's, when Sisters of Mercy exported their dark gothic arts.

More guitar successes spread from the city through the likes of The Wedding Present and Gang of Four, whilst Back to Basics led Leeds to being dance music's go-to party city. The noughties spawned Leeds lads Kaiser Chiefs, and the music world took notice of an exciting DIY scene that was already here.

Now, despite the closure of live music venues across the country, including Leeds stalwarts The Cockpit and Joseph's Well, the city still boasts dozens in all shapes and sizes. From the snug Hyde Park Book Club, through the revered Brudenell Social Club, to the star attracting Arena, there are local acts and international performers to see every night.

Similarly, the rave has continued through the years, with clubs such as The Warehouse, Mint, Mission and Space dancing wide-eyed into the early hours. And other genres are equally catered for, by The HiFi Club for soul lovers, The Grove for folkies, plus many more new and established spaces.

Whilst Leeds' centre is populated by plenty of pubs, with traditional alehouses in the alleyways off Briggate, hedonistic bars on Call Lane, the allencompassing Headrow House on the Headrow, and modern openings in and around Trinity, it is at the expanding city edges where the independent night scene has recently flourished.

In the Northern Quarter, North Bar, Sela and The Reliance provide a quality that it's surrounding neighbourhood bars are living up to; at Granary Wharf, Water Lane Boathouse has joined a throng of waterside drinking spots; Wapentake and Doghouse are amongst those helping to transform Kirkgate; and further out, students flock to Headingley, and locals head to locals.

Whatever constitutes an evening out: a peaceful pint; a giggle at a gig; a bite to eat and a bottle of wine; or a hazy night at a crazy club. Take your pick and Leeds will take good care.

29 East Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS Booking enquiries please call 0113 245 1080.

@TattuRestaurant

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Illustrations: Catherine Pape ď…­ @catherinenoel

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9

Words: Tashi Barrett Photography: Nigel Allison  @unevenedits

One Love, One Leeds

Tashi Barrett, founder of Team Creative, talks about the Leeds West Indian Carnival, past, present and beyond.

Historically, Carnival was birthed out of passion, and a need for those of us coming from the Caribbean Diaspora to bring a bit of our culture to our new home here in the UK. It was a way of connecting us back to our Caribbean roots, but it was also a way for us to invite our new found English friends and neighbours into our world, of dance, music, drums and beautiful costumes. It was an invitation to a party, but instead of the party being in the house, we were going to bring the party outside to the streets, Caribbean style!

Carnival was and still is one of the best displays of multicultural England; it’s a fusion of our AfroCaribbean past with a sprinkle of our Black British present. When you see people of all walks of life, dancing and enjoying themselves together, it displays the very best of what a multicultural society should be. If I was going to use one sentence to describe Carnival, I would say it is an expression of love, passion and unity.

My first memories of Carnival are of me helping my step granma, the late Gloria Pemberton, spending hours sticking sequins on costumes, and of course winning as a Carnival Princess! I didn’t know that Carnival had such a rich heritage back then, nor did I know that the impact of all of the glitter, bright colours and beautiful outfits would have such a marked effect on me in years to come.

For me personally, Carnival is our heritage and our legacy to pass to future generations, and its that feeling of passion that led me to set up Team Creative, a company that specialises in special fx, face and body art, make up, and the best Carnival costumes of course, I am biased! This was actually our second year at the Carnival; last year we produced a Carnival King and this year we placed second in the Queen competition. Our eye is firmly set on that number one spot next year!

I think the Carnival will continue to go from strength to strength, as long as room is made for new talent to come through. My 17 year old daughter is my partner in Team Creative, and it is really important that we encourage our young people to take part in all aspects of the Carnival, that’s the way it will continue to grow.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the founding mothers and fathers of the Leeds West Indian Carnival; to start something and keep it going for half a century is truly a labour of love, and it is that expression of love that year in year out attracts thousands of people from across the racial spectrum to take part in this amazing event. I am persuaded that Leeds would not be the same without the West Indian Carnival, and I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years has in store for us. There is none quite like the Leeds West Indian Carnival!

Independentleeds.co.uk

11

Words: Madeleine Thorne, Georgina Sykes, Charis Charles

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Opera North is a national organisation but we are proud to be based in Leeds and we are passionate about making a positive contribution to our local community.

We believe that we have a duty to serve everyone in our city, not just those who are naturally drawn to our art forms, but also those who might usually have barriers to engaging with us.

Our Education department delivers a range of successful projects for people of all ages to access music and creativity, including schools and family workshops, youth choirs and orchestras, and intensive community residency programmes. Some of our regular activity includes Sing ON, a programme of music for people aged over 55, and Little Singers weekly groups for 0-4 year olds to experience music in relaxed sessions where children are free to express themselves.

Meanwhile I manage a Community Engagement project which aims to make our work accessible and welcoming to people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be involved with it. One key strand of this is Encore, a scheme for community groups and organisations that work with these people.

We develop meaningful relationships with Encore members through free tickets for performances, plus access to workshops in the community and invitations to bespoke events. This has facilitated over 8,500 attendances in the 4 years since the project began.

Independentleeds.co.uk

We have worked with over 100 groups and organisations and I am endlessly inspired by the amazing work that goes on throughout our city to support people who are facing all sorts of different challenges. There are many truly wonderful organisations in Leeds that quietly get on with their incredible work and don’t always get the recognition and support they deserve. We learn so much from them and sometimes it feels that what we offer in return is rather trivial.

However, I am proud to say that we are frequently told otherwise by the likes of Emma Crossley from Meeting Point, a fantastic charity based in Armley which supports refugees and asylum seekers, who says of Encore; “It opens up the theatre to marginalised groups who would usually be excluded from such events. It is an absolute delight to see the emotional wellbeing of attendees improve so much after experiencing a performance, and for this to continue for days and weeks after the event. It has a direct and immediate positive impact.” The truth is that engaging with the arts can be life-affirming and transformative. There are countless ways to express creativity; it is something that everybody should be able to experience.

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West Yorkshire Playhouse

Phoenix Dance Company

Leoni

Over the past 36 years, Education and Community Engagement has been embedded within Phoenix Dance Theatre. In 2010 the company moved into a purpose built dance house shared with Northern Ballet, where we run regular dance provisions which are accessed by diverse participants: the Saturday School Programme, Illuminate programme, and the Phoenix Youth Academy each provide differing dance classes for young people, from ages 3 to 19, some with additional needs.

Leoni first engaged with West Yorkshire Playhouse through Breeze Arts Foundation in 2014, a course for young people aged 16 to 19 not in education, employment or training. The course was held at First Floor, the Playhouse’s dedicated space for young people.

‘First Floor is not like school or college. It’s very practical. I found I was moving and doing and that’s how I learned. Before I came here I was on benefits and completely unsettled, but I found First Floor fulfilled all my needs. I met a lot of people in a similar situation to me and I became part of one big group full of confidence. I didn’t worry so much about what other people thought because I was standing as part of a team.

First Floor really affected me. It changed my mind about my future and potential, and made me think more deeply about what I wanted to do in my life. It gave me great opportunities and ideas, and pushed me forward. When I look back on the things I’ve done I keep motivated. I found the main keys to open up new doors, different pathways and different careers.

First Floor has had a massive impact on my life, and on so many other young people in Leeds.’

Leoni has performed on the Playhouse’s Quarry Stage, completed an 8 week placement at First Floor through the Head Start programme for unemployed young care leavers, and is working towards her Gold Arts Award. Leoni currently works as a Trainee Support Worker on a number of projects at First Floor.

Bola In 2014 West Yorkshire Playhouse became the first ever Theatre of Sanctuary, a public statement and recognition of our commitment to being a place of safety, hospitality and support for refugees and asylum seekers. Bola joined Asmarina Voices, an informal singing group for refugee women with play sessions for their children, after finding out about it through a friend.

‘I had been in Leeds for about a year before I found out about Asmarina Voices. When I went along for the first time I liked the friendly welcome. My son could play with the other children in the crèche while I sang.

I found it made my Friday busy and gave me the chance to make friends. I had the opportunity to really get involved with something. We performed our songs in front of big crowds, it gave me confidence and made me feel proud.

I now go to the music sessions on a Monday too.

I am learning to play the piano for the first time. I love it! And of course I still go to Asmarina Voices.

Every week we are singing different songs, trying out different things. We are all having fun together. It’s like being part of a family.’

Since joining Asmarina Voices, Bola has been to see a number of productions at the Playhouse with her family and gone on to perform many times with the choir on both the Playhouse Courtyard and Quarry stages.

We have also recognised the need for delivery to move into the local community, which is where the vast majority of our education provision takes place.

We have numerous projects running: Rough Gems, working with a local Housing Association where many of the 16 to 24 years olds have faced housing troubles in the past; Catalyst, a multi-art form project aimed at Young Carers; No Bounds, working with boy participants from Leeds and Bradford. Each one will have specific aims, whether it is developing dance skills, or using dance as a tool to improve self-esteem, self-discipline, or physical and mental wellbeing.

For the past two years, Phoenix has been one of numerous partner organisations working city wide to deliver Young@Arts; a project aiming to reduce social isolation through multi art forms. Although many of the women who attend this group would not have considered themselves to be ‘socially isolated’, these weekly sessions in Morley have made a huge impact; "Most of us arrived at the group knowing nobody. We all had our stories; some of us were recently widowed and trying to find our way in a new life; some were lonely; and some just wanted some fun in their lives.

Since that time, new friendships have formed and we have been able to socialise frequently. Importantly, we have formed a strong, supportive and loyal group bond.”

Through the schools partnership scheme, Phoenix also connects with a growing number of schools, colleges and community organisations to deliver GCSE/BTEC/A-Level dance syllabuses, engagement projects for hard to reach students, and offer dance in deprived areas that have little or no arts provision.

With limited access to dance in his local area, the introduction to the organisation through a school partnership scheme was integral to the development of one young boy's recent success story...

Independentleeds.co.uk

Clearly displaying natural talent and a genuine interest in contemporary dance, he joined our Saturday School provision for transitioning into the Phoenix Youth Academy. He continued to train with us until 2016, when he successfully auditioned for The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, a prestigious full time vocational school selecting students from across Europe. Within weeks of starting this course, he began his journey with the BBC Young Dancer competition and earnt a place in the Grand Final, which gave him the opportunity to dance on stage at Sadler’s Wells; a stage that many professionals aim to perform on during their career.

Whether the company is connecting with individuals or larger communities, it is vital that we continue to reach those by building relationships within the local area. Ensuring that time is invested to research what the needs are and devising appropriate programmes of activity that allows long standing relationships to be nurtured. Whether that means a successful career in the arts or an appreciation for the form as an audience member, we are able to bring a cultural experience, broadening lives of those whom may not have experienced it prior to our connection.

15

Words: Tom Paterson  @tcdeathcat Photography: Mike Jerrold  @mikejerrold

With These Hands

Standing back and admiring your work – it’s a magnificent feeling to see what you have been able to achieve; the failures that have led to success make the sensation even more heightened.

This feeling of pleasure is something that less and less people are able to enjoy through their lives as the world marches on in a technological age where the tangible is left behind and people live their lives in an ever virtual world...

Imagine that there in front of you is a 60/70/80 year old motorcycle, engine purring, your body is still shaking from the ride and the adrenaline rush and you have the biggest grin imaginable on your face. You’ve just done your first ride on the machine that you’ve tended to for endless hours…

Building bikes is a relief for me. My day job is running a business in a corporate world, but the last 10 years I’ve been able to get away from work, take off the suit, roll up my sleeves and learn how to build, weld, sculpt and create custom motorcycles that are from much simpler times. The bikes have barely any electronic components, and rely on you understanding how they work to ensure that they run and stay running.

I started in the coal shed at the side of our old house, and have now moved to a new unit that should give me the space and facilities to keep improving what I do. It's all part of the challenge for me; I wasn’t born with a bike between my legs, my brother was always more mechanically astute while I followed more of an academic route.

A few years after passing my degree and working for a business I realised that there was a massive part of my life missing - using my hands and my head to challenge myself and let my creative side out. That’s when I started building bikes and adding a lot of hand fabricated parts to make a one off creation.

It can be a lonely pursuit at times; hours sat working on your bike, making new parts, fixing old ones and getting your ride exactly as you view it in your mind’s eye. There are times that you wonder why, but you know why – being out on your own creation is the best feeling possible.

Old custom bikes are a statement of fashion, an engineering feat and test of your resolve all wrapped up in a pile of metal, rubber and oil. They feel, they sound, and they even smell amazing.

Once you step a foot into the old bike world you quickly find that you need help, and through time and perseverance you soon find that there are great guys out there that are willing to learn, share and assist you through the sometimes arduous task of creating 'your' bike.

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Words: Marko Husak Illustrations: Sophia Watts  @sophia_watts

Marko Husak takes a taxi ride of advice from Leeds to Roundhay Road via the flavours of Pakistan and the memories of Bradford.

Living in a city centre apartment I am spoilt for choice for places to eat out. There are all kinds of food within a stones throw of my place, and even though I have all this choice and new places are opening all the time in the centre of Leeds, I sometimes get bored and want to get out to discover what the city has to offer on the outskirts. I always value the local taxi driver’s opinion on where to eat out more than any guide book or trendy top 10 list, and after being recommended Tasty’s Karahi Restaurant on Roundhay Road by a handful of cabbies, I decided to give it a whirl with a friend on a quiet Tuesday night.

I was excited for Tasty’s. I heard that it was a basic, canteen kind of curry house. The kind of place you don’t find in the centre of Leeds. The kind of place that you’d have to get a train to my hometown of Bradford, where you’d find many. I’m not saying Leeds city centre doesn’t have great South Asian food, it does; Tharavadu, Bundobust, Akbars, Shabab and Bengal Brasserie are all fantastic, but sometimes I want that back to basics vibe to be reminded of glorious old Bradford.

On our short taxi trip up from the train station we passed all kinds of restaurants, cafes and takeaways. A taxi driver once told me that Roundhay Road was the equivalent of Leeds Road in Bradford or Wilmslow Road in Manchester. He wasn’t wrong, there are plenty of options on the street, and I was surprised and impressed with the variety. There is Ethiopian food from Melkam Megeb, Caribbean cuisine from Maureen’s kitchen, Persian from Soosi, and Greek from Mykonos, not forgetting the usual takeaways selling kebabs, pizzas and Chinese. Some of these places looked great and nearly tempted us away from our original destination but we decided to stick to the plan.

Independentleeds.co.uk

The menu at Tasty’s was everything I wanted and more. Proper Karahi style dishes, grilled meat, spicy korma and specialities such as paya that you only find in the real place. The food was fantastic - popadoms, sheesh kebabs, masala fish, lamb karahi, chicken biryani and a pastel pink chilli and mint yogurt raita that you don't see the likes of in most places - we were absolutely stuffed for a pleasingly affordable price.

The place itself did take me back to my youth, eating in Bradford curry houses before some of them got fancy bling makeovers. There are some amazing restaurants in Leeds, but there's something extra satisfying about finding that no thrills place with honest traditional cooking. It seems there are plenty of these to explore on Roundhay Road, and many more hidden all across this city.

21

Photography: Sue Xian Yang  @suexianyang

Leeds Eye View Sue Xian Yang takes a walk around Leeds’ Independent cafes, bars and shops to photograph the working life within.

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Words: Matt Bolton Photography: Wisdom Makubile ď…­ @shotbywizphoto

Digger's Island Discs Archie Bell - Where Will You Go When The Party's Over Since adding this to the vinyl stack years ago it has been the last record played at every night of MoveOnUp. There's not a single person who doesn't know the words to the chorus by the time it ends.

If nothing else I'd like to be remembered for this record drawing a close on many sweaty nights of soulful euphoria.

Fairground Attraction First Of A Million Kisses My earliest memory of being completely obsessed with music was this LP. Playing it over and over on a tape aged 9, its beauty entranced me. Eddie Reader's voice still sounds as tender and powerful as it was those years ago. The arrangements are sublime. The eerie production of the title track is genius. Probably the best British Folk-Jazz album ever made. I have 3 copies of this and treasure every single one.

Digger's Island Discs explores the collections of Leeds' most prolific vinyl slingers and groove bringers to present us with the records they could not live without. This time, Matt Bolton, resident DJ at legendary Leeds soul night Move On Up in the HiFi Club selects six stompers....

Jackie Wilson - Because Of You It would be remiss of me to not include something from my favourite artist's back catalogue. This LP is the best of an illustrious career. Because Of You is the standout track, but the rest of the album just oozes emotion. I could definitely listen to this on repeat as the sun endlessly rose and fell.

Pulp - Babies This record has been inextricably prevalent in various points throughout my life. Discovering it as a teenager was a defining point of my youth. Years later it would be the song during which I met my wife and subsequently the first dance at or wedding.

Witty, unabashedly Northern, singalong genius.

Bessie Banks - Don't You Worry Baby (The Best Is Yet To Come) The first time I heard this record I wept while dancing. It's a love song that just floors you from the first bars. The fact that it's a lazy 2-step makes it even more intense. It perfectly expresses the deep unconditional trust and belief in a relationship in a way few other songs ever have. 'Keep on Dreaming baby, they will all come true. Go on make em happen... I believe in you'. Took me years and a wad of cash to find a mint one. Still makes me cry. Worth every penny.

Sharon Scott - Its Better I first heard this unreleased RCA side about 17 years ago. Only once. And then not again for nearly 2 decades. Not until my pal Ady Croasdell from Kent Records handed me a test pressing one night and it lit up my heart once more. It's as perfect as soul records get. A brief 2:16 of heartbreak. For a while I was the only other person to have a legitimate copy to play out and seeing the reaction to it amongst young people felt very, very special.

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Words: Graeme Willson Photography: Laura Mate  @lauramate79

Cornucopia

There are certain visuals that become ingrained into a city’s psyche, so much part of its essence that they are just there, without thought of what, why, or how they became.

This is inevitably the case with iconic buildings and historic monuments, and more recently has become true of street art too. Impressive murals have seeped into Leeds’ unconscious skyline, and one that fits the definition of seemingly being part of Leeds forever whilst representing this modern city is 'Cornucopia', the familiar painting on the wall opposite the Corn Exchange in the heart of Leeds' independent quarter.

Mural artist Graeme Willson explains the work involved in creating a piece that the city can enjoy decades later.

The mural was commissioned in 1989 by ‘Speciality Shops’ of London. They were the original organisation behind the refurbishment of the Corn Exchange.

After all the research and preparatory work was completed and approved, the painting of the wall itself took place in the summer of 1990. I worked from five levels of scaffolding with three assistants and we used the Keim system of paints, an extremely resilient and long-lasting conservation paint system – German of course! When completed in Autumn 1990, the work was unveiled by Sir Patrick Nuttgens, and in 1994 it received the Leeds Award for Architecture (Commendation for Landscape).

In terms of subject matter, the painting is an attempt to sum up and embody that part of the City of Leeds, in spirit and over time. Moving from the left, we see a group of the original Victorian Corn Traders, followed by Old Father Time with his scythe, and then a number of more contemporary figures such as the building site worker in the foreground signifying the 1990 refurbishment, a market trader in a green anorak, and a figure on the extreme right representing present day traders in the Corn Exchange.

A small cherub with the basket of breads refers to the ‘Cornucopia’ theme, as does the sculptured ‘Ceres’ in the top centre. Both she and ‘Arachne’ (embodying Leeds’ textile tradition) are the presiding ‘genius loci’, together with the architectural depictions of the White Cloth Hall, the Leeds Markets and the Corn Exchange itself, both interior and exterior superimposed. The only figure which is a little out of place is the Asian female dancer, who was included because there had originally been talk of an Asian dance centre being based at the Corn Exchange, but there was a subsequent change of plan.

The project was extremely tiring, both physically and mentally, because of the scale and complexity of the work. We had to complete within about four months!

It has withstood the vicissitudes of time, northern climate and Leeds pollution reasonably well; but nevertheless could do with remedial work, and I am negotiating with BID for a grant to undertake the cleaning, restoration and conservation of the mural.

Then, if the grant application is successful and the restoration work goes ahead, I would like to submit an application for the work to be ‘Listed’. One can only submit for listing when the work, building or monument is over 30 years old; Look out 2020!

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Words: Helena Morley  @we.are.belong Illustrations: Dale Crosby Close  @dalebrains

Helena Morley spends her days working and officeless. Far from holding her back, this has inspired her to find and share some of Leeds’ best spots to work, rest and play…

Leeds is my home town and university town. It’s a wonderful city with no end of coffee shops and bars that you can catch up on some work or study in. But if, like me, you’re either running a business or working or studying in Leeds without an office, it means you’re usually armed with a laptop looking for somewhere unique to work; for somewhere to charge the laptop and feel inspired; for a place that can free thoughts to be creative and that is free to use. So, it has to be more than your usual coffee shop or paid for shared workspace.

Conscious of the importance of living a balanced lifestyle, I’m always keen to find places that also allow for a cheeky lunchtime run or a gratifying glass of wine at the end of the day. Leeds is a city to help you work, rest and play without sacrificing your style, coffee needs or your work/life balance. Here are just some of the many Leeds areas offering different takes on all of that:

South Bank

Up North

South Bank’s regeneration plans will double the size of the city centre and it’s here you’ll find over 30 listed buildings. This area is turning into a unique destination with many pubs to enjoy, such as The Grove, Midnight Bell and the Cross Keys, plus one of our city’s best brew houses, Northern Monk’s Refectory, which provides a refreshingly simple work space with exposed brick and wooden tables.

Housed in a Grade 2 listed mill, you’re surrounded by remnants of the industrial revolution, which had its heart in this area. To work those brain cells there is a challenging pub quiz, and to work that body there is Form Crossfit next door.

You’ll be falling over places to park yourself in the northern quarter and it’s tempting to stay all day and all night in this area filled with good times, live music and hit shows at Leeds institutions like Mojo, North Bar and the Grand Theatre. Day time is surprisingly chilled; you can perch on the bar stools at The Brunswick or Reliance, or take a seat in one of the squishy sofas by the large windows of Belgrave Music Hall, help yourself to a power supply, and enjoy a coffee before the crowds descend into the night. If you’ve worked hard, play hard, as like a holiday maker with a towel on the best sunbed, you’ll have already bagged the prime spot.

Canal Side

Get out of Town

A little further back into town, canal side you’ll find appealing bars and restaurants, such as Fazenda, The Hop and Livin Italy, in one of Leeds’ most relaxing central settings. Right at water level, Water Lane Boathouse combines a touch of calm with a buzzy atmosphere; there are power sockets and USB ports a plenty, and the natural light and green plants are important for clear thinking to work in. Around here, it’s easy to clear heads with a canal side run or walk, or just by sitting besides the water, enjoying the relaxation of the locks being put into action, and taking in the industrial charm of Leeds.

A few miles further north out of town you’ll find yourself in one of Leeds’ bustling suburbs. The student populated Headingley and Hyde Park offer vibrant places for daytime studies and night-time fun, and for a cool village vibe, Chapel Allerton provides. You can buy your goodies in the many independent shops then take your pick from café, restaurant, bar or pub; Pinche Pinche, the Mustard Pot and Seven Arts are ripe for working in, and the intimate spaces in The Woods, a wood burning stove and comfortable sofas, make this a place to settle. Add in nearby Yoga Kula and, further on, Roundhay Park and Oakwood cafes, this, like much of the city, creates a perfect Leeds in which to work, rest and play.

Down the Docks Leeds Dock is full of historical industrial charm. It’s here you’ll find the Royal Armouries and the home of Leeds’ own North Star Coffee roasters. You can take a water taxi from the centre of town to get here the fun way. For work, Dock 29, with its aeroplane hanging from the roof, has loads of tables with plug sockets; it brews a great cuppa, and even houses a shed where you can procrastinate by playing retro video games.

To break up the day at the dock there are lunchtime classes at Yoga Hero to revitalise for your afternoon tasks. Throughout the dock area are pop up stalls, regular foodie events, an outdoor gym and a happy hour or two, so it’s easy to let day time slip into night with a rewarding wine as the sun sets by the canal; life is all about balance after all.

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O N R E T G H N E I F C I T T N Y E D P o n N s ' / t a W U h H E w A T / L ' P S W E G E O N DN AT'S ING SE O

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We Recommend Our guide to what’s on in Leeds

STOP THE WAR: A TALK WITH STEPHEN JOHNSTON 5th Oct / Abbey House museum Alongside their Protest exhibition, Stephen Johnston from Leeds' Stop The War coalition talks about its origins and importance.

TIM HECKER NOTES FROM ANOTHER INDIA

1st Oct / Howard Assembly Room

9th October / Hyde Park Picture House

Electronic master Tim Hecker performs his new album of more melodic compositions in a beautiful intimate theatre.

Final instalment of three thought provoking films about India includes live readings by the filmmaker Shambhavi Kaul.

LIVING COLOUR 28th Sept / Brudenell Social Club

CR AIG HANDY QUARTET

Important and creative US band, still going strong 30 years after their debut, performing social music at social music club.

5th Oct / Seven Arts Leading US saxophonist Craig Handy and a trio of top European musicians jazz it up at the lovely laid back Seven Arts.

SH!T THEATRE: LETTER TO WINDSOR HOUSE 6th Oct / Live Art Bistro SLOWDIVE

BELGR AVE FEAST

11th Oct / Leeds Town Hall

14th Oct / Belgrave Music Hall

Nineties shoegaze champs return with a great new album and triumphant live show in the stunning Town Hall setting.

Monthly event celebrating food glorious food by showcasing a diverse mix of super street food stalls at popular Leeds bar.

The award winning Sh!t Theatre duo bring their critically acclaimed show to Leeds' innovative artist led venue.

HAGGIS HORNS 7th Oct / The Wardrobe Seven piece Leeds musical extravaganza funk up The Wardrobe at Soul Rebels 5th birthday party.

BEACONS METRO - JUNGLE, LIT TLE DR AGON, WILEY 2nd - 5th November / Canal Mills

(THE FALL OF) THE MASTER BUILDER 30th Sept - 21st Oct / West Yorkshire Playhouse Classic Norwegian play by Henrik Ibsen is given a thrillingly contemporary British makeover by Zinnie Harris.

A triple whammy of exciting gigs in Leeds' awesome warehouse space, taking in modern British fusion, adored Swedish electronica, and original London grime.

OK TOBERFEAST FOOD EVENT 7th Oct / Headrow House As booze hounds guzzle at Munich's Oktoberfest, Headrow House brings a taste of Germany to Leeds, with its celebration of sausage, beer and music.

Independentleeds.co.uk/events

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ALINA SZAPOCZNICOW 20th Oct - 28th Jan / The Hepworth Exhibition showcasing the intriguing life works of Polish artist and sculptor Alina Szapocznicow at Wakefield's leading art gallery.

DARK CIT Y BEER FESTIVAL 3rd / 4th / 5th november / Northern Monk Refectory Leeds' expert export brewers host a bonfire weekend at their refectory, specialising in the dark arts of beer; stouts, porters and black IPAs.

ZAK OVÉ: BL ACK & BLUE: THE INVISIBLE MEN AND THE MASQUE OF BL ACKNESS From now until June 2018 / Yorkshire Sculpture Park The wonderful Yorkshire Sculpture Park celebrates its 40th birthday with this extraordinary exhibition of 80 sculptures by visual artist Zak Ove.

31ST LEEDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 1st - 16th November / Various Venues This huge annual event returns to dozens of interesting venues with hundreds of interesting films for thousands of interesting people.

DAY AT THE MUSEUM: BONES 24th Oct / Leeds City Museum Nothing cries out family fun more than excavated skeletons! Another winningly hands on entertaining learning experience from the museum.

RUN THE JEWELS + DANNY BROWN 15th Nov / 02 Academy Jeremy Corbyn introduced them at Glastonbury, now Leeds is introduced to this marvellous political US hip hop duo.

IN EACH MAGAZINE WE PRESENT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WITH FULL LISTINGS ONLINE AND WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS. DON'T MISS OUT SIGN UP ONLINE NOW!

Words: Luke Jackson  @theboardgameguy Illustrations: Joel Burden  @joelburden

The crash of a tumbling Jenga tower is followed by an instance of stunned silence then shrieks of laughter.

The culprit stands aghast at the carnage he has just set in motion as his friends whoop and cheer and generally make jokes at his expense. I'm sat in the restaurant area at The Tetley where I host a pop up board game café once a month. I bring along a mix of board games from my ever expanding collection which might include classics like Scrabble and Guess Who or some newer games, titles such as Pandemic or Ticket to Ride that are leading the board game renaissance across the country - for enthusiastic folk to enjoy whilst they fill up on cakes, coffees and the odd beer.

As usual there's a real mix of people in attendance.

Beyond the Jenga Friends I can see a mum and two children stacking miniature wooden animals one on top of another, a young couple shuffling colourful plastic cubes around a map as they work together fighting to save the world from a series of deadly viruses, and a mixed group of four playing the family classic Buckaroo. A posse of Cards Against Humanity players will soon join the fray. And this is but one event in the patchwork of board game happenings that takes place across Leeds on almost a daily basis.

No longer are board games solely the domain of your stereotypical introvert who gets a kick out of painting a miniature goblin.

Undoubtedly, board games have seen an increase in popularity in recent times. Just as vinyl records, instant cameras and Nokia 3310s are all seeing mainstream appeal for a second time, it is easy to conclude how board games too could fit into this retro revival. In response to the endless digital information overload we experience through social media, smartphones and on-demand TV, people are shunning technology in favour of more tactile experiences. Forgetting about the iPhone for an hour or two for any reason is unquestionably refreshing, and board games are, for me at least, one of the best ways to do it.

The retro trend in the context of board games appeals because of the nostalgia element of sitting down to a game of Mouse Trap or Cluedo - it takes you straight back to your childhood. And while an afternoon of nostalgia games would be fun for a few hours, it might not hold your interest for much longer. This is where board games, and board game clubs, come into their own. Because the big secret that the board game community has been keeping is that modern games (and a few older ones) are actually really good. People are coming back to board games for the nostalgia, they are staying because of the myriad of amazing games that are out there to try.

The rise of crowdfunding platforms means that anybody with an idea can now pitch their board game and, if it's a good one, it will be backed. A global market that allows concepts to raise six-figure funding in just a few hours means quality new games are being produced at an unprecedented rate. And they look incredible too. The comical retro cyclists depicted on the Tour-De-France-inspired Flamme Rouge, the bleak steampunk alternate-1920s reality that Scythe inhabits, and the stunningly colourful translucent dice used to construct stained-glass windows in Sagrada.

Independentleeds.co.uk

And these are being played all across the city. You'll find card games like Sushi Go! or Dobble in cafés and bars like Sheaf St Cafeteria and Outlaws Yacht Club, people playing retro classics and discovering new favourites at pop up events like ours, and the latest strategy games being played by enthusiastic hobbyists like those at Travelling Man or Headingley Games Club. Further afield, dedicated board game cafes are popping up across the country and, with its thriving board game scene, one day Leeds will have its own too.

Back at The Tetley, the commotion settles back into line with the gentle hum of casual conversation, and as I observe the Jenga tower's painstaking reconstruction, I reflect that its demise just a few seconds earlier encapsulated why I think board games are great: they represent a common activity that brings people together, talking and laughing with one another. The big strength of board games is that you are sat around a table of people; the game is just a vehicle for social interaction. You are not communicating through screens or instant messages, but face-to-face, spending quality time with people in an age where nobody seems to have any time at all.

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Words: Lauren Hockney Photography:  @onlyopticempire, Tom Joy  @tomjoyphoto

MARKO HUSAK - BUNDOBUST "Friendliness and community spirit set Leeds apart.

There is a great community spirit and a great example is Friends of Ham supporting us in the early days by letting us do a pop-up."

Hungry For More

÷÷ Recommended: "Ham & Friends and Mommy Thai are great and I'm excited to visit Home. Old favourites wise it's The Reliance, Sushiwake, Thai Aroy Dee."

KADA BENDAHA - CAFÉ MOOR, CARAVANSERAI

STEVE NUTTALL - THE RELIANCE "This entrepreneurial, creative spirit can be seen in the flyers and posters which more resemble festival, instead of food posters. Young people see it as a legitimate form of creative expression, an extension of their personality."

Nobody knows the independent food and drink scene like those that run it, so we spoke to twelve of them about what they think of it...

BEN DAVY - OX CLUB "Leeds has an incredible buzz at the moment. Maybe helped by the fact Leeds is geographically small compared to other cities, which means the growth of such a strong, inclusive independent scene has been relatively easy." ÷÷ Recommended: "The Old Guard, Manjit's Kitchen, Café Moor, Zucco, Laynes Espresso, La Bottega. Plus, the new opening for North Star and Noisette Bakehouse is wonderful.

RENA GUELLAR - THE BOX TREE "The quality of the food and drink scene has improved with more artisan/local producers, microbreweries and distilleries." ÷÷ Recommended: "The new places such as Tattu, Issho and Iberica all bring an interesting international flavour."

SAMUEL HOWARTH - THE BRUNSWICK "What's unique is the great people with a common interest in food and supporting one another to build our community, also offering great service and building relationships." ÷÷ Recommended: "An old favourite is Zucco's in Meanwood, and then obviously The Reliance too who are always sending down customers to us."

÷÷ Recommended: "My favourites include Thai Aroy Dee, where I nip after work for some great value authentic food. I also love Zucco and sushi bar Hana Matsuri."

"The food and drink scene is unique. There is definitely an increased appetite over recent years of businesses to provide different, authentic food experiences – and for customers who want to search them out and discover them." ÷÷ Recommended: "Cat's Pyjamas. And my old favourite oysters off Hayes in the market. Also, Monsieur Dejeuner in Headingley who do the most wonderful, straightforward, authentic food."

GIP DAMONE - SALVO'S

TOM RENNOLDS - HEANEY & MILL

"The outlook on food and drink has witnessed massive changes in recent years. More people are now prepared to pay more for a better sourced and crafted product. The city has seen as massive growth in small quirky independent joints."

"In the last five years there has been a huge rise in the number and diversity of independent businesses. As a result of this growth of choice, people want more for their money and turn to independents."

÷÷ Recommended: "There has been a mini explosion of high end creative cuisine, new openings like Home and Man Behind The Curtain scratch the itch for those of us who like a surprise for dinner!"

÷÷ Recommended: "Sous le Nez and more like Cat's Pyjamas and The Mustard Pot in Chapel Allerton.

Home is somewhere I am looking forward to trying out."

ANTHONY KITCHING - FRIENDS OF HAM, HAM & FRIENDS "The main challenge for independents is increased competition from chains and rising costs from ingredients to staff to rent. We try to absorb costs where we can and not pass it all on to the customers but it can be difficult.” ÷÷ Recommended: "I still like my old favourites Preston (North Bar, near where I live), Stories, The Reliance and Thai Aroy Dee."

Independentleeds.co.uk

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Photography: Jonathan Straight  @straightpix

EDDY LASCELLES - HAREWOOD FOOD & DRINK PROJECT

The colourful Leeds Pride in black & white.

"Moving here from London two and a half years ago, my biggest concern was that I'd miss London's endless variety of food offerings. This has been well and truly smashed out of the water, as Leeds has a thriving independent food scene which must be the envy of anywhere else in the country."

WE ARE SO PROUD

÷÷ Recommended: "The incredibly talented Josh Whitehead and the great team behind his restaurant the Ox Club. Also, Home restaurant and Man Behind The Curtain.

ELIZABETH COTTAM - HOME "The independent scene is the heart and soul of the food scene, people work long hours with passion and devotion. Independent businesses support each other and build relationships, the city is on the cusp of a really important time." ÷÷ Recommended: "Doghouse and Northern Guitars – it has got real soul and we need more of these individual businesses."

LEEDS LOVES FOOD LEEDS GIVES FOOD Our growing independent food community that keeps on giving North Bar Ltd Bundobust Belgrave Music Hall Dough Boys & Patty Smith’s Water Lane Boathouse Ham & Friends Laynes Espresso Café Moor Lupe’s Cantina North Star Coffee Shop and General Store House of Koko

Greedy Pig Café 164 Out Of The Woods The Brunswick Ox Club Pizza Fella Pizzeria Friends of Ham Deeva Pinche Pinche Mans Market Swine That Dines The Reliance

CHECK OUT THE FULL FEATURE ONLINE.

"The independent restaurant scene in Leeds has been incredibly supportive of Action Against Hunger and we are extremely grateful for them supporting our Love Food Give Food initiative, with all public funds doubled by the UK Government this year. By choosing our supporting restaurants this autumn, diners can know that their meal will be good in more ways than one. Thank you Leeds!”

Colette Burroughs-Rose Regional Restaurant Campaign Officer North // Midlands

WE SHOUT IT OUT LOUD Independentleeds.co.uk

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Words: Cat Pearson  @seagullspaint Photography:  @onlyopticempire Mike Medlock  @vibrant_leeds

A reflection of the community: Sweet Home Armley

I’ve lived in Armley for 11 years. It is my home. It is a mixed and diverse place which has lots of great projects, enterprises and people wanting to create a community.

It also has a reputation for antisocial behaviour and is one of the poorest areas in the city. Armley Town Street has seen a decline in local and independent shops and a rise in Booze Bins and Bookies. There are visible problems associated with drugs and alcohol.

These issues can’t be ignored, but Armley should not be defined by them.

There is a lot of good stuff happening; thankfully Armley is not short of proactive, community minded people, starting with our very own Lady Majoress; Emma Bearman. Self-appointed in 2005, Emma was and still is a driving force in community life in Armley. Emma’s enterprise Playful Leeds has its roots firmly here, with the first PlayBox being developed on Charlie Cake Park.

Emma started the Armley Good Stuff Facebook page as a platform for people to share positive things about the area, and a glance at that confirms there is so much going on to get involved in: Armley Walkies, Friends of Armley and Gotts Park Group, Armley Common Rights Trust, Singing Group, The Real Junk Food Project, All Together Armley, Armley Mills and a WI Group forming; the encouraging list goes on.

Armley is lucky to have an abundance of green and public spaces, which is something its people care about preserving; Armley Moor, Armley Park, Gott’s Park, Charlie Cake Park, Moor Top... Armley Common Rights Trust is a well established group in this field, and last year I was part of setting up The Friends of group for Armley and Gott’s Park. We want to make the parks more welcoming and community

minded, with safe and fun places to play, establishing community gardening and volunteering projects to bring people together and feel invested within their community.

Food and drink are an important part of community life, and Armley has rarely boasted enough quality cafes, pubs and restaurants. We don’t have any chain coffee shops or cool independents. But the situation is slowly changing with The Crypt café, Love and Light Tearoom and Lainey’s Teashop at Gotts Mansion.

Still we need more.

When the Co-op closed its doors last year, it brought about an awareness of the need to shop locally and support independent stores. Skelton’s Butchers has been trading on Town Street for over 30 years and we have a new addition of a Kurdish supermarket that has a great selection fresh fruit and veg, baklava, jars and halal. But many would rather travel into Town or nearby Kirkstall for a drink or meal, when there is the opportunity to create a hub to remain here.

Independentleeds.co.uk

Through working locally within the Third Sector, I understand the importance of cohesion and public pride within a community. I think one of the most successful ways of doing this is through creativity and art. I very much enjoy walking past Modes of Expressions mural on the chip shop at the top of Armley Moor, which always brightens my day.

Apparently 1 in every 20 adults is a creative Arts type person; this is a massive asset in all communities, and one which needs nurturing.

Positive change comes about through people taking action and ensuring as much social inclusion as possible. Thankfully in Armley there is a desire to do this; people are thinking outside of the box and I am hopeful for positive change. However almost all of the groups mentioned are volunteer run and the speed of change has been slow. Communities need people who are prepared to invest some time in their local area.

As members of the public we get out what we put in.

Invest some time in your local area.

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Words: David Nelmes Illustrations: Laura Crompton  @laura.crompton

RUN FREE

When I started training Parkour and Freerunning around 5 years ago there was a huge community in Leeds.

Some 50 or so people would be out training on a typical weekend in the centre, and always plenty during the week too. Most of us were young, in our late teens and early twenties, and we had a lot of free time to practice together. It was great fun; we all became good friends in no time. Some days we’d just wander around or go exploring, and we found ourselves hanging around outside of training and going to parties together.

During this first year, there was always also a bit of a divide between the large amount of practitioners.

There was a worldwide known group of Freerunners, most commonly known as ‘Leeds Boys’. The name began when Dan Bridge made a video titled ‘Leeds Boys Aren’t Scared’. People started thinking they were a ‘Team’ under that name, when really it was just a group of boys from Leeds who trained together often.

It wasn’t long before I ended up in a Leeds Boys video myself; I was in 2 clips of one of Dan’s videos, which meant a great deal as he would only ever film the best stuff. After another year, Dan brought out his biggest video project yet, titled ‘Don’t Just Say It’. The 2 main features of this video were of me & Wayne. After that I made a solo video from the clips of me used in Dan’s video, which did pretty well on Youtube and began rapidly growing my Channel. I posted more videos and started also doing group Leeds Boys videos, and my name soon became quite well known in the Freerunning community worldwide.

Once I started making group videos, we grew even more in the community. I started travelling often and would attend a lot of events and competitions, so I got to know a lot of people and a lot of people got to know me; this was great exposure for the Leeds Boys and our community. I even began to get invited to events, either as a special guest or to film a video for them.

Nowadays it is a lot harder to make group videos with the Leeds Boys because a lot of us are too busy to train as often as we’d like. The majority of us work or are in education, and some now have babies; there are plenty of other priorities and consumed time, so it is hard to spare. Nevertheless, we all still do train when we can and we all stay close and great friends.

Since there has been a large increase in facilities and Freerunning gyms, newcomers often start in there and don’t train outside until they’re confident, so there are less opportunities to film outside today than years ago. But this also means there are a lot of new people who have started; there will always be people to film and videos to be made to continue the Leeds Community. Leeds Boys will always continue making videos!

Nevertheless, they were always seen as ‘the pros’, above us new guys and those who weren’t quite as good or well known. They would usually do much bigger jumps and moves, and would travel a lot more often around UK cities. We’d usually see them in the morning at Leeds Art Gallery meeting point, and then they’d go off to do their thing. Sometimes we’d train with them if they stayed in Leeds or were at a spot where we could also do the same jumps and moves for our skill level. During this time I joined a Team who called themselves ‘PKM’, which stood for ‘Parkour Movement’. Wayne Beer was also part of this Team, and we would try to travel occasionally to nearby cities such as Bradford, Wakefield and Sheffield to visit their spots and train with the communities there.

I quickly improved, and got to a level that people in the community considered ‘good’ at that time. Mine and Wayne's videos started to get noticed, and so we found ourselves training more often with the Leeds Boys. We'd join them on trips, which was a big thing back then, and usually there were no free car seats!

As there was no official Team, and we were really just a group of lads who trained together, there was no official entry or joining method for Leeds Boys, but Wayne and I had become a part of it; we even got added to the group chat on Facebook!

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Words: Mairi Forman  @airestworkshops_ Photography: Tom Pitts  @handdrawnpixels, Benjamin Craven  @benjamincraven

Airey Sharey

You would think in an innovative, vibrant city like Leeds that there would be no more hidden gems left to find... but there is.

And believe it or not, this place has been on one of the busiest streets in the city centre, the main thoroughfare to Leeds train station, for 36 years!

Aire Street Workshops is a quirky co-working space that has nurtured start-up businesses since 1981. It has survived two serious recessions and was set up before the dawn of mobile phones or the internet; so, no websites, google, or any kind of social media.

In the beginning….. on the 6th March 1981 Leeds Council for Voluntary Services set about establishing a Community Workshop project. It was to be one of the first such spaces of its kind outside London, where old, often derelict buildings had new life breathed into them in the form of small business units.

Funding was obtained from the Department of the

Environment via Leeds City Council, and the whole idea of the workspaces was so successful that they wrote a handbook to encourage such developments in other cities: 'MANAGING WORKSPACES – Good Practice in Urban Regeneration'. In this book, you will find a whole chapter dedicated to Aire Street Workshops. From day one, all of Aire Street’s 22 units have remained full, with a waiting list of starters ready to take over a vacated space in an instant. In the age of technology and birth of digital companies, many now share units, meaning there are now 31 businesses within the building. Aire Street is continuing to buck the trend by providing employment for over 150 people, with 60% under the age of 25, and 11 of the companies are female led.

Many of the businesses that have passed through Aire street have gone on to bigger things; Blueberry Marketing Solutions started with one of the smallest units and three people. They moved though the building, increasing unit size, and when having to leave to move into larger premises, they took with them approximately 60 employees. Managing Director Faresh Maisuria spoke as just one of the businesses who have found great value from these shared workshops; “we’d encourage that there is the same opportunity available for other small businesses, especially with the view to job creation and the platform it has given us, not just as a business, but for the individuals who work within them too.”

There are now many other spaces with a similar ethos

springing up, not only in Leeds, but in towns and cities across the UK, all of which are invaluable with regards to the impact that they have on the economy, locally, regionally and nationally. Every council and the Government need to be acutely aware that this is an extremely valuable asset that helps underpin business growth in the UK. Despite the move towards digital companies, Aire Street Workshops maintain a very diverse mix of businesses, and is one of only a handful of co-working spaces in a city centre that provides a suitable space for ‘makers'. Makers are often pushed to the fringes of cities and towns, drowned out by larger corporations moving into the city centre, but they are very much making a comeback, and Aire Street Workshops is alive with them. Artist Benjamin Craven is a newcomer, along with alternative and award winning couture dress designer, Berenice Gilmour. It also houses photographers, interior designers, several different types of clothing manufacturers, jewellers, a sculptor, a music studio for up and coming bands, printers, screen-printers, student events organiser and The GC Foundation, a charity organisation that promotes equality and diversity in the arts.

Alongside these are a variety of different digital companies. Although all small business, there is a mix of new and more established companies. This gives the building some stability, and the more established can provide in-house mentoring for the new, should they wish it. The tenants are a galvanized bunch and much of their work is cross pollenated within the building, where have formed their own Aire Street Committee to drive forward new ideas to keep the workshops ahead of its game, and plans are afoot to transform a front unit into an interactive space for all Leeds people. Whatever goes on in Leeds, in shared work spaces, and in Aire Street Workshops, it will keep moving apace with the 21st century and continue to be a strong heartbeat in Leeds Small Business Community. Still run within a building owned by Leeds City Council, it shines as a jewel in their crown!

We want your memories! If you’ve a story or two to tell about Air Street Workshops please get in touch as we’d love to share them hello@independentleeds.co.uk.

Independentleeds.co.uk

47

Find out more at leedscitycollege.ac.uk/snapshot

at Leeds City College

A snapshot of your possibilities Take creative risks, explore abstract ideas and learn to speak out in the visual world with our photography course.

Delivering the course in studios, workspaces, darkrooms and on location allows you scope to explore the medium. You will have opportunities to use different formats of camera, both analogue and digital.

The course modules will help you gain a sound understanding of the historical and contextual landscape, which has influenced photographers and underpins the discipline now.

During the course you will have the opportunity to exhibit your own work, develop a professional network and build your own creative identity.

Annual trips to cities such as New York and Paris will immerse you in other cultures and their stylistic motivations.

Now you can decide on your photographic career path, whether documentary, fashion, portraiture, fine art or commercial avenues.

Study at the top university in Yorkshire for student satisfaction and employability* Leeds Trinity University has been providing outstanding, student-centred higher education for over 50 years. We have a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation degrees.

Our subject areas include: • • • • • • •

Business Childhood and Education Criminology and Sociology English Health and Nutrition Humanities Journalism

• • • • • •

Law Media and Film Primary Education Psychology Secondary Education Sport and Physical Education

For more information visit leedstrinity.ac.uk or email enquiries@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Photo credit: BA (Hons) Photography student Curtis Young

*Mainstream university in the National Student Survey 2017; and Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016

Words and title illustration: Words:Ben Lauren Whittington Entwistle @ben_whittington Illustration: Main illustration: Hana Henry SkarrattMakin  @hanaskillustration  @henrymakin Photography:  @shotbysodium  @thetomogram

I would never have imagined when I bought my first Homebrew kit at Abbey Beer & Wine in Kirkstall a few years back that I would be reading a review about one of my beers.

Nor did I think when I moved to Leeds swilling lager in the millennium that the review would call my own ale ‘very good indeed’. It is unfathomable when I started out drinking cider in my teens that this descriptive sentence could be about my own alcoholic creation: ‘The malting is thick and chewy and round, full of coffee and honey, dark chocolate, brown bread toast and a hint of coal tar soap’.

The beer was a Black IPA that my brother and I brewed for a dark beer competition organized by Leeds Homebrew Collective and judged by CAMRGB. I had got into interesting beer after a friend introduced me to North Bar; we spent a lot of time (and money!) there, drinking mainly German and Belgian beers.

Christian, the bar manager back then, turned me on to US beers, and I got into real ales on the back of that.

Leeds' Homebrew Collective was set up a few years back by Adam Lyle, a former employee of Brewdog by the Corn Exchange, which remains our regular meeting space. He's since moved on to Northern Monk and is one of the brewing team there. All the members now keep the club ticking over as a collective.

There is a competitive element, most recently collaborating with a London based homebrew club and pitting our New England IPAs against each other. But in the main we share ideas and experiences and help each other out. Whilst we take the brewing seriously, it's also a very sociable scene and we are here to have a few laughs.

The Collective is open to brewers of all levels, so whether you've been brewing all-grain for years or have just started out with a fermenting bin, it's a great way to get involved with the discussion and the drinking. There are plenty of online forums and articles where you can find advice, but you can't beat talking it through in person over a pint or two. The quality of my beers these days owes a lot to brewers such as Matthew Fawcett, who's one of the longest serving members of the group and always places favourably in competitions both at the club and in national competitions.

We've had the pleasure of brewers from ATOM, Liverpool Craft Beer Co, ShinDigger, Northern Monk and North Brew Co. join us on a meet and judge our beers. The latter seems to bring my journey with craft beer full circle, after my initial introduction to the hoppy delights of Anchor in North 15 years ago!

Back then I could never have imagined that we'd have two craft breweries in Leeds City Centre serving awesome beer onsite. Or that a local corner shop would be dedicating huge space to beer and have some available on tap. The beer scene now is awesome compared to when I started drinking!

The home brewing element began shortly after having kids. I wasn't going out as much and was also becoming a lot more money conscious. Most breweries were producing middle of the road stuff, so the more interesting beers came at a premium. I figured home brewing could be a pretty rewarding hobby to get into on multiple levels!

A start up out kit basically involves fermenting some pre hopped malt extract, but you can quickly move on to half mash and your own recipes. My set up is still fairly simple, but I brew all grain now, and do lust after a bigger kit with a dedicated space; home brewing can fit neatly in around your life, but left untempered I could easily become obsessed with it.

Independentleeds.co.uk

51

Words: Jayne Ford Photography: ď…­ @onlyopticempire

For the Love of Leeds

I've worked in Leeds Kirkgate Market since I was 13 years old, in the floristry trade, with only a small break in the middle.

The market has so much to offer; from the fresh produce to its many characters, it is always an experience to enter the spectacular building that is the largest indoor market in Europe.

For customers, you have everything under one roof, especially if you're looking for dinner; there's fresh meat and funny banter from the guys at Malcom Micheal's, who also have a great deli counter; there are all sorts of seafood on fish row, where I go to Sue at T E Bethells for a great selection of traditional cod and haddock to marlin and sea bass. There is always a deal on at Neil's fruit and veg, and if you're baking a cake go see Jo and Nigel at the nut shop, they even have a fruit cake all weighed out for you to just add the eggs and butter. Oh! And you must visit the spice shop for all your finishing touches, they have everything under the sun...

I have regular customers who we provide flowers for which lead me to some great places to eat and drink.

My first recommendation would be Arts Cafe on Call Lane; the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and Eva who comes to us for flowers is so lovely and always lets us know when there is a new menu on. The food is high quality with a great vegetarian selection, and you can also view artwork by up and coming local artists. Just opposite Arts is another favourite of mine, Roland's; great atmosphere, quirky and with drinks to suit everyone's needs, from pale ales to cocktails.

Charlie and the staff are exceptionally friendly and make for a great night out.

To finish up if it's a sunny day, or maybe even better if it's not, is a place down by the river; myself and a few friends spent the perfect sunny Sunday afternoon at Water Lane Boathouse, where they have the most tasty stone baked pizzas. They also have a hut outside for the gin lovers! Goblets of gin with a twist of watermelon, grapefruit, or my personal favourite, pomegranate.

So, whether you're new to Leeds or know it well, go do the unconventional; it's much more fun!

Moving away from the Calls area, I have to tell you about an amazing find, new to me, Tharavadu.

It's Kerala cuisine, where there is a strong fishing industry, so I recommend those dishes; my favourite is meenkootta, as recommended by the waiter. There is a wide range of wines but I prefer a Cobra beer with this food.

The Michelin restaurant guide recommends here as the best Indian restaurant in Leeds, and whilst there is stiff competition, I agree 100%.

Independentleeds.co.uk

53

Words: John Barran Photography: Abbey Aaron  @abbeyaaron17

Middle schools and Social clubs

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Many years ago, aged 9, I left my primary school and headed towards a now extinct institution; the middle school.

For the next four years, we were to hang aimlessly here, neither young enough to know what to do with or old enough to know what to do, waiting to step out into the big wide world of high school. Whilst this childhood stop-gap may appear insignificant, for me it represents the possibilities of life; vague memories of distant names, known and lost when still a child, now adulted off in diverse directions of opportunity.

Who and where are they now?

For some, I have heard, this meant escaping Leeds to wider successes; for others, so I'm told, prison. But most, I imagine, remained in this city and built a life for themselves; passing one another on Briggate, unrecognisable and unbeknown; occasionally crossing unavoidable paths of recognition that lead to nostalgia and disbelief.

Independentleeds.co.uk

One such middle schooler who has travelled both the furthest and the least far is living in his family home less than a mile from the Hyde Park land where our middle school once stood. Yet this isn't a tale of a boy too scared to step out into the unknown, for here he has brought the mountain to Mohammed, and created a community, a reputation, and a life that nobody could have predicted when parting 12 year old ways.

"I was playing football in America when my dad became ill," says Nathan Clark of a journey which had already taken him from Burley back streets to professional 'soccer' player and back. "So I returned home and started helping out here." 'Here' being the Brudenell Social Club, at the time owned by his parents and a standard working men's pub in a seemingly standard working class area. Nathan quickly saw otherwise; "I'd studied a Business Masters and looked at what we had and what the surrounding demographic wanted.

It's a lot of 18-30 year olds, which is unique for a place like this." With pubs reportedly closing at a rapid rate, Brudenell began work to avoid a similar fate by making itself attractive to the nearby students and younger locals. "We had to either evolve or die," he confirms.

55

Years later and the (r)evolution abounds. The traditional social club concert room now hosts cool and cult music every night, and the bar is filled regularly with a contrasting mix of Leeds; old regulars remain alongside visiting gig-goers and students finding their new local. It's an oddly clashing mix that unites through Nathan's simple ethos: "I treat everybody equal, and try to instil in the staff to do the same."

Looking outwardly at Leeds' music scene, its importance, and that of this area in particular, was recently highlighted by American band Mountain Goats. Playing Brudenell, they discovered the city's musical heritage and resonated with the history of the sounds that came out of the surrounding streets so much that their new album, Goths, was inspired by the subject. "The birth of goth, bands like Sisters of Mercy,” explains Nathan. "In fact there's so much creativity, art and music from Leeds that was made within this 3 mile radius."

This is evident in Brudenell's current renovation into a new second concert room. Having increasingly frequently converted the games room into a stage, the decision to expand was as much about those who wouldn't use it as those who would. "It's nice to give people a new room, a new PA, new toilets..." Nathan says. "But it's also about not pissing off the people who like to have a pint and play pool." The outcome of such thinking is what Nathan calls "that Cheers thing." He goes on; "It grows organically, we're receptive and welcome everybody in; people feel an ownership of belonging"

Of the current Leeds scene, Nathan enthuses over much of the happenings, as diverse and vibrant as ever before, but equally would like to see more inclusivity. "There are events which are great and claim to be inclusive, yet people and places from less fashionable areas are not part of it,” he says, describing Brudenell's ability to stand alone, away from cliques and outside of the centre, yet friends with and involved in anything that seems right.

These bonds made with others across the city appear to be the driving factor behind Brudenell. Those on the way up often return to play later, as evidenced by The Cribs and their legendary Cribsmas shows. "The friendships you form over the years is what keeps us doing this,” he says. Older friends too have crossed his path, and I'm not the only middle schooler to reunite.

"Quite a few people have come down. Some have been in bands, some are into really intense music, one tried being a rapper, one was Bruce Springsteen!" he laughs. "They're not always like you remember them!"

Indeed; I certainly don't remember the child Nathan Clark making quite the positive impact on Leeds that the adult Nathan Clark surely has.

The demand to play Brudenell, which led to the installation, runs right through the music industry.

As well as local bands and unknown artists, the 400 capacity concert hall regularly hosts household names and acts who could easily fill a venue with an extra nought at the end of its holding; from Fleet Foxes and Kaiser Chiefs, through Kate Tempest and Charlotte Church, to Martha Reeves and Jonathan Richman. It is the latter who Nathan cites as an example of how surreal his work can be; "When you listen to The Modern Lovers and The Smiths and then Jonathan Richman and Johnny Marr are playing a show in your home..."

It's times like that which keep Nathan going; "Of course you can't have the same passion for every gig,” he says. "But any that I'm not as into, someone else on the team who is will work on." Amongst the continuous stream of music blasting through the Brudenell, there is one that stands out as a favourite; "I always say Thee Oh Sees,” he says. "Just the energy they bring, and the energy in the room that night, is something special."

Independentleeds.co.uk

57

Words and Photography: Carry Franklin  @leedslittlefreelibrary

A garden in your pocket

There is a Chinese proverb that says 'a book is a garden in your pocket'. It is also, I have recently discovered, a way of tying invisible threads between a community.

The idea of the little free library is simple; a painted weather-proof cabinet in a public place that works as a book exchange. Anyone who passes by can just take a book – or if they want, leave a book. There is no need to return them and no monetary transaction involved. The system is totally fluid. There is a little notebook in the library for people to write comments – share a recommendation for the book they have left or just a note for other passers-by.

The idea isn’t an original one. There are little libraries all over the world – I first saw one in London and fell in love with the idea. What I didn’t anticipate was how our little library would impact on our own community of Headingley and Meanwood. The first week was incredible. I kept wishing that I had set up a camera to capture the faces of passers-by as they first came across it by the side of the road – the curiosity, followed by slight apprehension at approaching something so public, and then the joy of opening the box and the revelation; the treasure of books to share.

The comments in our little notebook have reflected the collective feelings of delight and something deeper. 'Thank you, what a wonderful thing. It has restored my faith in humanity' wrote Tom. And then there was the note from the postman that simply said 'Great idea, love it! The Postman’. I’ve lived in our house for several years and we have always had the same postman. The following week when he rang the doorbell to deliver a parcel, he told me about his two daughters and the books he had taken for them from the little library and the ones he had brought back the following day. And for the first time, the postman became a real person – a connection was made.

Recently, we have gratefully accepted a grant from Leeds Inspired to build three more libraries in Bramley, Farsley and Belle Isle. We have also received commissions for Little Free Libraries in school playgrounds to encourage parents and children to share the fun and possibility of books together. We plan to decorate these by blending the children’s artwork with our own. Eventually we would like to create workshops to enable communities to build their own Leeds Little Free Library. Everyone can be part of our story.

It was the overwhelming response from the community that made me think that I wanted to make more – in fact, I want there to be Little Free Libraries in every community in Leeds. I want them to be a feature of our city – beautifully painted cabinets of joy that encourage the best part of us all to not only read, but to share with each other, to respect and take pride in the neighbourhood and city we live in.

Independentleeds.co.uk

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Photography: Nigel Allison ď…­ @unevenedits

nighttime play time A photographic journey of Leeds playing out at night.

Independentleeds.co.uk

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Words: John Barran Words: Rebecca Levick  @rebeccalevick Illustration: Charlie O’Neil SebandCharlie Illustration: Charlie O’Neil  @sebandcharlie

The Holiday The expression on your face says it all Fed up of this wasted vacation Another wet weekend where all we can do is “just embrace it” Coats fastened up to our faces Hoods pulled tight so there’s minimal space We look like we’re ready for a trip to the moon When it’s just another Autumn in Yorkshire

Work & Play

At this time of year when thousands of students arrive We’re stood around a table talking tactics in Leeds to work hard and play harder, the importance Map laid flat and there’s a spat brewing of how toFingers balance two apparent opposites tracethese different ways to move across a page is as route lacks shelter and we have a pensioner relevant asThe ever before.

But the rain’s stopped and the journey’s short So we step out the door Jonathan Huie suggested We’ve got Lockwood British spirit and a tally-ho attitude

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In 1944, “a time for everything: a time to relax and a time to be busy, a Soon we’re along a flat, grey beach time to frolic andouta there, time walking to labor.”

Wind-whipped cheeks, bracing smiles and blue beaten hands We make castles in the sand because the kids don’t care 2017 remainjusttrue, yet today the boundaries Theirthese smileswords and enthusiasm the same as any other

In merge, as Arnold J Toynbee claimed 20 years later; We march onwards “The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line Bags on each arm packed with snacks between work and play.”

What a way to relax!

But at the halfway point, someone says it.

Someonelies, finally says it. day Leeds is Wherever the distinction modern “Shall we go home now?” catering for all definitions of work and play, and in So we give up, retreat this issue we discover the toarray the city Can’t wait warmof ouroptions feet Pleased we facedand the adverse provides for newcomers localsconditions alike to make their For alllife; of 20 minutes, living and make their for if allat least work and no play makesLater Jackweastand dull on boy, the balcony, watching rain fall like clay Heavy needles drum the floor over and over again

lightningcity. flashes in front of our eyes, Leeds is one As exciting You turn to me and smile The others make a collective sigh I think we’ll be here a while

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