Newsletter: Friday 7th March 2025

Welcome to Yorkshire

Inspiration • March 7th, 2025

As March unfolds, Yorkshire welcomes a season of renewal, reflection, and celebration. With Lent and Ramadan well underway, communities across the region are taking time for contemplation, marked beautifully by the Lent Cross installation at Bradford Cathedral and the striking bright pink Ramadan Pavilion in Centenary Square, Bradford.

Soon, the area will also be celebrating the arrival of spring—longer days, blooming landscapes, and a fresh energy in the air. And of course, Mother’s Day is just around the corner, offering the perfect opportunity for afternoon tea, fish & chips or a day at the races.

The image above is courtesy of Bradford Cathedral, the lent cross being put up.

Yorkshire News

HuddLitFest25 returns this May with its beloved Tipi at the Lawrence Batley Theatre courtyard, kicking off with a dazzling Great Gatsby-themed launch party and offering a vibrant mix of storytelling, music, workshops, and star-studded literary events.

Yorkshire’s curry scene shone at the Nation’s Curry Awards 2025, with Bengal Lounge in Wetherby crowned Best of Yorkshire, alongside winners from Leeds, Bradford, York, and beyond—celebrating the region’s finest Indian, Bangladeshi, and Punjabi cuisine.

A team of dedicated volunteers has been hard at work cleaning Tuel Lane Lock in Sowerby Bridge, the UK’s deepest canal lock, ensuring it’s ready for the busy boating season and supporting the Canal & River Trust’s mission to preserve Yorkshire’s historic waterways.

Renowned Yorkshire-born artist Harland Miller has donated a collection of his witty, text-based paintings to York Art Gallery, celebrating his hometown with works inspired by York, Whitby, and Scarborough, now part of the gallery’s permanent collection.

Andrew McMillan’s novel Pity, deeply rooted in his South Yorkshire upbringing, explores three generations of a Yorkshire mining family, capturing the area's history, resilience, and unique voices, while reflecting on how local stories hold universal significance.

Captain Richard Pearson, the British naval officer who defended a vital merchant convoy against John Paul Jones during the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779, is being honored through Yorkshire Coast 1779’s efforts, now supported by his descendant, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, as their new Patron.

The historic Beverley House in York has been transformed from an ageing office space into 21 luxury apartments, after a £5 million redevelopment led by Dudleys Consulting Engineers, blending Victorian charm with modern living.

First-time buyers in North Yorkshire have a new opportunity to step onto the property ladder with affordable homes at Harclay Park, Boroughbridge, where Barratt Homes is offering stylish new-builds, green spaces, and support schemes for key workers.

York’s LNER Community Stadium will host its first-ever Women’s Six Nations match on March 23, 2025, as the Red Roses face Italy, offering fans an affordable chance to see the world’s top women’s rugby team in action ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

The smash-hit musical & Juliet is bringing its high-energy, pop-fueled reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic to Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre (March 24-29, 2025)—expect chart-topping hits, a bold new story, and a whole lot of fun as Juliet takes control of her own destiny.

Wakefield’s first-ever Festival of Learning (March 3-8) offers a week of free events, workshops, and career advice—helping locals gain new skills and boost job prospects.

The Harrogate Coin Fair 2025, taking place on April 4th-5th at The Old Swan Hotel, will bring together numismatic experts, collectors, and exhibitors.

Experience an action-packed Easter at Stump Cross Caverns from April 5–27, 2025, with gem panning, fossil digs, cosmic adventures, and a thrilling dinosaur egg hunt deep underground.

The East Riding Artists Open Exhibition, "Art in the Aisles," will transform Selby Abbey into an art gallery from April 5-18, 2025, showcasing a diverse range of paintings and 3D artworks from local Yorkshire artists, with most pieces available for purchase.

Nurture, a powerful new exhibition at Woodend Gallery in Scarborough (March 21 – May 24, 2025), shines a spotlight on motherhood and caregiving through art, featuring works by caregiving artists, interactive installations, and thought-provoking events that celebrate the often-overlooked realities of parenting.

The Breakthrough T1D Yorkshire Three Peaks trek on May 3rd, 2025, challenges participants to hike three iconic peaks in 12 hours while raising funds for type 1 diabetes research.

Join Walk For A Cure with Alzheimer’s Research UK on May 18, 2025, for a scenic 5km walk at Harewood House, Leeds, to support life-changing dementia research while enjoying beautiful landscapes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

The World Championship Boxing event at Eco-Power Stadium on May 23, 2025, will feature Terri Harper defending her WBO lightweight title alongside several Doncaster-based fighters, with priority ticket access opening on March 7 for registered fans.

Award-winning comedian Elf Lyons brings her critically acclaimed, delightfully bizarre show Horses to venues across the UK in 2025—expect a hilarious mix of clowning, mime, and pure playful chaos that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

The Great Ouseburn Garden Festival on June 1st, 2025, offers a delightful day out with 15 open gardens, plant stalls, live music, classic cars, an art show, and local treats, all in support of village causes.

The Trumpets Shall Sound on June 7th, 2025, at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley, promises a grand evening of music featuring up to eight trumpets, organ, voice, and timpani, with works by Altenburg, Biber, Wilson, and Wagner, all in support of the church.

Tramlines Festival 2025, taking place in Sheffield from July 25-27, will feature a stellar comedy lineup including Russell Howard, Lucy Beaumont, and John Shuttleworth alongside top musical acts like Pulp and Kasabian, with Sunday tickets still available.

The 2025 Live at The Piece Hall series just got even bigger, with rock legends Extreme and the iconic Nile Rodgers & CHIC joining the star-studded summer line-up, promising electrifying guitar solos, disco anthems, and unforgettable live performances in Halifax’s historic open-air venue.

York is getting ready for Demons Wake, Europe’s biggest social deduction gaming convention, coming to York St John University from August 8th-10th, 2025—offering a thrilling weekend of strategy, deception, and immersive gameplay with special guests, tournaments, and community events.

The Ormesby Hall Food and Drink Festival 2025 on September 6th–7th promises a vibrant weekend of live music, top chef demos, artisan markets, street food, bars, family entertainment, and more, set in the stunning grounds of the historic National Trust mansion.

What's on in Yorkshire this week?

This week’s lineup is packed with exciting events, from comedy and musicals to top flight netball. Whether you’re looking for a cultural experience, a family-friendly outing, or a celebration of St Patrick's Day, there’s something for everyone across Yorkshire!

Netball Super Cup at Utilita Arena Sheffield on March 8th, 2025 11:30am
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby on March 9th, 2025 5:00pm
Hamilton at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, on March 10th, 2025 7:30pm
Micky Overman at Leadmill, Sheffield on March 11th, 2025 8:00pm
The Darkness 2025 – Dreams on Toast at Connexin Live, Hull on March 12th, 2025 7:00pm
Luther Live – A Luther Vandross Celebration at Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall on March 13th, 2025 7:30pm
One Night in Dublin at Doncaster Dome on March 14th, 2025 7:30pm
Tom Stade: Risky Business at Helmsley Arts Centre, York on March 15th, 2025 8:00pm
The Mary Wallopers at O2 Academy Leeds on March 16th, 2025 7:00pm

A look at the history of Battle Cross, Aldborough, with Dr Emma Wells

Step back in time with historian Dr. Emma Wells as she unravels the fascinating story of The Battle Cross in Aldborough—a monument steeped in medieval conflict and political intrigue.