First Direct Arena
Johnny James, Managing Editor
The First Direct Arena is a 14,000 capacity entertainment-focused arena located in the Arena Quarter of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
What's on near First Direct Arena
Until
Sound Out Leeds 2024/25
Leeds International Concert Season is on a mission to push boundaries, expand horizons, and ask the question: ‘What haven’t we heard?’ as it presents its city-spanning Sound Out Leeds series.
From £10.00
Until
Sarah Casey: Negative Mass Balance at the Henry Moore Institute
This new display by artist Sarah Casey, explores the fragile state of glacial archaeology through delicate, atmospheric work inspired by objects emerging from ice in the Swiss Alps. Taking its title
Free entry
Until
SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling at the Henry Moore Institute
See Roger Ackling’s sun-marked wooden artefacts in the artist’s more comprehensive exhibition to date, at Leeds’ Henry Moore Institute.
Free entry
Out Loud: Poetry and LGBTQ+ Workshop
Join Natalie McKiddie for a Out Loud, a relaxed and informative poetry workshop focused on queer narratives and writing.
From £5.00
Until
Sarah Roberts: SICK at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Sarah Roberts: SICK explores environments of care in her signature style of brightly coloured installations, spread across two galleries.
Free entry
Burlesque Workshop with Hattie Go Lucky
Join Hattie Go Lucky for a burlesque workshop where you’ll explore the enticing, hilarious and seductive medium of striptease.
From £30.00
Chemistry at The Chemic
Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners are Helen Ivory and Luke Samuel Yates.
Free entry
Until
Blood: Ties and Tensions at Thackray Museum of Medicine
Thackray Museum of Medicine’s new exhibition explores the medical uses and symbolic meanings of blood in science, culture and wider society.
From £8.95Where to go near First Direct Arena
Leeds
Blue Pavilion & K-Cube
Oriental dining, live music and private karaoke, the upmarket Chinese restaurant Blue Pavilion is bringing the party to Leeds.
Leeds
Ibis Styles Leeds City Centre Arena
ibis Leeds City Centre Arena is a hotel that’s Yorkshire through and through. Brewed with the very best of Leeds and Yorkshire, this hotel’s bustling and modern like the city.
Leeds
The Bookish Type
An independent bookshop specialising in literature across the LGBTIQA+ spectrum.
Leeds
Belgrave Music Hall
This music hall and canteen recently opened in the former site of Leeds Children’s Palace – a three-storey recreation hall and nursery school.
Leeds
Jumbo Records
Jumbo Records is Leeds’ number one independent record store, with these large premises occasionally featuring in-store events with a bountiful record collection and coffee.
St John’s Centre, Leeds
With a great mix of retailers over two levels including fashion, gifts and food, plus its own secure car park, St Johns Centre makes shopping in Leeds easy
Leeds
The Brunswick
Explore beer at this avant-garde pub.
Leeds
The Reliance
Surfing the nouvelle vague.
Manchester
O2 Academy Leeds
The Leeds branch of the O2 Academy chain.
Leeds
Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom, Grand Arcade
Vintage Tearoom’s customers are treated to a diverse range of speciality teas and cold refreshments, all served with fresh-baked scones and cakes.
Leeds
Stuzzi Leeds
Stuzzi is a stylish restaurant in Leeds offering high-end Italian cuisine, including pasta and seafood plates.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions in the North
From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.
Music in the North
Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss (unless you’re paying attention).
Theatre in the North
Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.
Family things to do in the North
With these lighter, brighter days and warmer temperatures, it's really starting to feel like summer here in the North West!
Tours and Activities in the North
Books, beer and burlesque. Dive into a glorious tangle of joyful happenings.
Food and Drink in the North
The sun is shining in the North, so use our guide to get out there and eat, drink and be merry in it.
Literature Events in the North
We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.
Classical Music in the North
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.