THE LEEDS BRIEF ⏰ Monday, 2 November 2026
Freedom Quarter bar's 4am bid faces objections, six crashes at the York Road junction, 120 homes for Farsley, and tiny ghosts in Roundhay Park.
Morning, Leeds! 🌈 The big one: the Bridge Inn in the Freedom Quarter wants to stay open until 4am at weekends, and the police, the council and two neighbouring hotels have all lined up against it. Also today: six crashes in a day at the York Road junction on the Outer Ring Road, 120 homes for the old Lloyds site in Farsley, a hand-pulled noodle bar for the Merrion Centre, and a lot of very small ghosts in Roundhay Park.
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🌈 Freedom Quarter bar's 4am bid faces police and council objections
The Bridge Inn on Bridge End, also known as Bridge Bar, has applied to Leeds City Council to extend its closing time by two hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so it could serve until 4am. West Yorkshire Police and the council's own licensing team have both challenged the application. The pub sits in the city centre's cumulative impact area, and in its "red zone", where the strictest licensing controls apply. A council licensing report says the area has "the highest levels of alcohol-related crime, disorder and nuisance within Leeds city centre", and that late-hours applications there can expect the police and the licensing authority to recommend refusal. Neighbouring hotels Hotel Indigo and Malmaison have objected too, with Hotel Indigo saying loud music after midnight is already leaving guests unable to sleep. The applicant, Star Pubs Trading Ltd, says the bar is run by an experienced team, with CCTV and plans for getting customers away safely at closing time, and that the change "is intended to support the responsible operation and improvement of an existing LGBTQ+ venue". The pub found new management after facing closure last year. Councillors will decide at a licensing sub-committee hearing at Leeds Civic Hall on Tuesday 10 November.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds Live
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📰 NEWS
🚗 Six crashes in a day at the York Road junction
Drivers have been sharing their worries about the junction where the Leeds Outer Ring Road (A6120) crosses the A64 York Road, after a motorist posting in a Crossgates community group said there had been "six separate collisions" there on Saturday after the traffic signals failed. He reminded drivers that traffic on the A6120 through the middle of the junction must stop and only cross York Road when it's clear. Others criticised the layout, and one asked when the council would deal with what they called regular signal failures. If you're heading that way this morning, take it slowly and check the lights are working.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds Live
🏘️ 120 homes confirmed for old Lloyds site in Farsley
Bank of Scotland and Breck Homes can now build 120 homes on the former Lloyds Banking Group call centre site on Cote Lane, near Dawson's Corner, after signing a £330,000 legal agreement with the council. More than £260,000 of that goes towards green space and transport improvements. The plans, scaled back from 133 homes last year, include a block of 27 flats and 93 houses. Final permission was issued on 23 October.
👉 Read the full story at West Leeds Dispatch
🔧 More than 2,000 tool thefts in West Yorkshire last year
West Yorkshire Police recorded 2,194 tool thefts in 2025, just under 183 a month, according to figures obtained by Aviva and shared with the BBC Shared Data Unit. The average insurance claim for stolen tools was £4,206, says Direct Line for Business. Organised crime groups are blamed for a large share, with stolen tools being moved around the UK and abroad for resale. Tradespeople are being urged to check their cover and mark their tools, for example with an invisible UV-traceable liquid.
👉 Read the full story at the YEP
📶 20-metre phone mast plan for Stanningley Bypass
MBNL, on behalf of EE and Three, has applied for a 20-metre mast with nine antennae beside a Stanningley Bypass slip road in Pudsey, at the edge of Grangefield Industrial Estate. It would replace their shared site at nearby Kingswood House on Richardshaw Lane, which is earmarked for housing. The plans are on the council's planning portal.
👉 Read the full story at West Leeds Dispatch
☕ Calverley cafe overwhelmed by support after storm
The Little Leaf Cafe at Palmer Plants on Calverley Lane lost the covers on the polytunnels that house it during Storm Boelo, and had to cancel its busiest craft market of the year. A customer started a crowdfunder that had raised more than £1,600 by Wednesday, and local firms have been donating materials. The family-run cafe says it's been "completely blown away".
👉 Read the full story at West Leeds Dispatch
🏙️ AROUND THE CITY
🍜 Hand-pulled noodles coming to the Merrion Centre
Lano Noodles is opening its first restaurant on Merrion Way, opposite the first direct bank arena, serving freshly made hand-pulled noodles, Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup and Chinese snacks. It'll take about 2,150 sq ft over two floors and create seven to 10 jobs. No opening date yet.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds Live
🍕 Pizza Express heading to The Springs
The Springs retail park near the M1 says a Pizza Express is moving in. No date yet.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds Live
🏛️ What's next for Abbey House Museum?
Two years after it was saved from closure, Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall is holding a free open briefing on Sunday 8 November at 1pm. The keeper will share the first ideas and plans for the museum, with time for your questions. It's ticketed, and museum entry isn't included.
👉 Read the full story at West Leeds Dispatch
🎄 Christmas Market opens on 19 November
Leeds Christmas Market opens at 10.30am on Thursday 19 November, with around 60 independent and artisan traders across City Square, Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens, where the 110ft Ferris wheel goes. The stalls close on 23 December, while the Ice Cube rink and rides stay until New Year's Eve. Cookridge Street will be closed for the carousel.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds Live
📚 Horsforth Community Hub closed until 26 November
Horsforth Community Hub, including the library, is closed from today until 25 November for a refurbishment, reopening on Thursday 26 November with a new library area. The banking hub in the building isn't affected and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
👉 Read the full story at West Leeds Dispatch
🚦 GETTING ABOUT
🚧 Roadworks and bus diversions this week
Kingsway in Garforth has roadworks from today until Friday, with the 174 and 175 diverting via Westbourne Drive both ways. The Inner Ring Road keeps closing overnight for bridge inspections (7pm to 6am, Monday to Friday) until 26 November, and the number 7 diverts via Marsh Lane and York Street, missing the Vicar Lane stop. Pepper Road Bridge in Hunslet stays shut until the end of November (74, 75 and 86 diverted), the Ridge Road and Austhorpe Lane bridges stay closed until December, and the Merrion Centre stop on Woodhouse Lane is still out of use. Good news in Pudsey and Woodlesford: the Cemetery Road and Station Lane works have finished.
👉 Read the full story at the YEP
📸 Mobile speed cameras this week
Among this week's mobile camera sites: King Lane near the Ring Road, Queenswood Drive, Dewsbury Road, Tong Road, Harewood Road in Collingham, Otley Road in Guiseley and Wakefield Road in Rothwell. Sites can change.
👉 Full list at Leeds Live
⚽ SPORT
Leeds beaten 2-0 at Bournemouth
Leeds fell to only their second Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had an early goal ruled out for handball, then Justin Kluivert pounced on a loose ball and set up Evanilson to score on 31 minutes, and Amine Adli added a second in added time. Noah Okafor missed the game with an adductor problem picked up in Friday's training, and Leeds will see how he is this week. Next up: Tottenham at Elland Road on Saturday, 12.30pm.
👉 Read more: Leeds United · Leeds Live
Leeds United Women into FA Cup second round
Leeds United Women beat Rotherham United Women 2-0 in the first round of the Women's FA Cup, with a goal in each half from Spencer-Smith and Legge.
👉 Read the full story at Leeds United
🎭 CULTURE
🎸 Brudenell midweek
Tomorrow (Tuesday 3 November) the Brudenell has Nick Hakim (£22.50), Tom Rowley (£17.50) and Cootie Catcher (£14). On Wednesday, Dave Lofts plays (£15) and Saccades' gig is free entry. Doors 7.30pm. Also from tomorrow, Six is at the Grand until Saturday.
👉 More at Brudenell Social Club
📅 THIS WEEK IN LEEDS
🚧 Today to Friday: Kingsway roadworks in Garforth, with the 174 and 175 diverted.
👑 Tuesday 3 November: Six opens at the Grand, until Saturday.
🎆 Thursday 5 November: Bonfire Night.
⚽ Saturday 7 November, 12.30pm: Leeds United v Tottenham at Elland Road.
🏛️ Sunday 8 November, 1pm: Abbey House Museum open briefing.
🎖️ Sunday 8 November: Remembrance Sunday.
🍸 Tuesday 10 November: Bridge Inn licensing hearing at Civic Hall.
Sources: Leeds Live · Leeds United · West Leeds Dispatch · YEP
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👻 AND FINALLY...
Roundhay Park was taken over by tiny ghosts, ghouls and superheroes for a Halloween Toddle. Dozens of toddlers and their families met at the top bandstand near the Upper Lake and did a sponsored walk around the park, raising money for Leeds Children's Hospital, including its Play Appeal, which pays for specialist play equipment and therapeutic play for children in hospital. Small legs, big effort.
👉 Read the full story at the YEP
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