A pint with Parkinson
by CliffClaven
When young Cliffie joined the newspaper in South Yorkshire all those years ago, he took over from a young reporter who had gone off to London in search of fame and fortune. Well, he seems to have made a reasonable job of it, since after an early career in national journalism he switched to television, where he became one of British TV's more intelligent and most highly paid chat-show hosts: Michael Parkinson. Young Cliffie met him, and shared a couple of pints in the beer tent, at the Cudworth Festival Show back in the 1960s.
People watching for grown ups
by BlueBeth about Park Plaza
The hotel bar of the Park Plaza is directly opposite the train station, the gateway to a great night out. We started our most receent night out there, sat at the bar with a large glass of rose watching the whole of Leeds pass by (or so it seemed). The hotel was also holding a local school prom so all the girls looked great and the boys looked cute in black tie.
There's no dress code here (I was in jeans) but it feels really grown up. One of our favourite pastimes is people watching and you can't get anywhere in Leeds better to do that than here.
Very special Gujarati Indian veggie
by largerama about Hansa's
A mix of Indian food like you would get in India and vegetarian specialities, this is Indian like youve never had.
The restaurant is set on a street with a couple of cool bars and easy accessible to Leeds city centre and student areas. Cool, homely decor and you will often Hansa herself working as a hostess or waitress. She clearly has a massive passion for this and has been there for years. Just ask some questions about the food.
You dont need meat with these dishes, trust me. Im not a veggie so I know. The dishes are clearly thought about and well presented with great flavours and spices. Try the Masala Dhosa
Arcades Galore
by northeast80
Eight arcades were built in Leeds up to 1900 and four survive intact, and what prime examples they are!
THORNTON'S ARCADE was the first to be built, designed by George Smith 1877-8, for Charles Thornton. The elaborate main front faces Briggate. With a clock made by Potts and Sons of Leeds. Its bell is struck by a group of cast-iron figures by J.W.Appleyard.
Parallel to Thornton's Arcade is the QUEEN'S ARCADE of 1889 by Edward Clark of London. Restored in 1991-2, has modern shop fronts (we ate lunch in a bagel shop here)
The GRAND ARCADE in Vicar Lane, by Smith & Tweedale 1897, is in an ornate Renaissance style with plenty of balusters and finials. It has two parallel arcades between Vicar Lane and New Briggate.
The VICTORIA QUARTER, between Briggate and Vicar Lane was a spectacular redevelopment of the meat market slum area in 1898-1904 by Frank Matcham, for the Leeds Estates Company. The first block contains COUNTY ARCADE, 120m long. Mahogany shop fronts with curved glass display cases. The painted cast-iron roof has three glazed domes with richly-coloured and gilded mosaics. The arcade was restored by Derek Latham and Co. 1988-90 who rescued the arcade and streets from a decline which had left only six of the original fifty shop fronts intact.
At the same time of the restoration of the County Arcade, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET was enclosed as a new arcade beneath a splendid stained glass roof (by Brian Clarke,1990), with a bright abstract pattern like woven fabric - blue with yellow, red and green.
The block south of Queen Victoria Street contained the CROSS ARCADE. The shops on either side of its entrance were occupied by the first 'Penny Bazaar' operated by Marks & Spencer Ltd, 1904. This is where you can find Harvey Nichols.
The glorious Matcham style continues in the third and final part of the scheme, the block along KING EDWARD STREET. This served several purposes.
LEEDS CIVIC HALL
by alyf1961
The hall was designed by E. Vincent Harris, after he won a competition in 1926, and was opened in 1933.
Work began on the building in 1931 and was opened by King George V on the 23rd August 1933. It cost £360,000 to build, at the time there was a great depression so the building work created a lot of jobs at a very difficult time.
The hall is where Leeds city council offices are situated. The offices include the Lord Mayor's office, council chambers and a banqueting hall. It overlooks Millennium square and is a Grade II listed building.
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Tiled Hall Cafe
AKBARS
View from Centenary Bridge
BIRDCAGE LEEDS
