HIGHLIGHTS
Leeds Pride is the UK’s friendliest Pride! Taking place every August, it is also Yorkshire’s biggest celebration of LGBT+ life and is free to attend.
The Angels of Freedom is a community based initiative organised by volunteers and supported by Leeds City Council, British Transport Police and West Yorkshire Police. Their aim is to provide visible support for the LGBTQ+ community based in the Freedom Quarter area of the city every Friday evening. Their volunteers provide conversations on support & social groups, activities and events in Leeds, along with just being a friendly approachable face on the bar scene for anyone wanting a chat. Their regular LGBTQ+ Coffee and Cake Cafe is a great opportunity to meet others, play board games, enjoy cake and refreshments or just for a friendly chatter with attendees.
Leeds is a welcoming and inclusive city that can be enjoyed by all. The list below gives you a flavour of some of the wonderful places that you can visit and some of things you can do whilst in Leeds.
LEEDS LGBTQ+ SCENE
BARS AND CLUBS
The Calls and Lower Briggate is the main hub of LGBTQ+ nightlife in Leeds. Queens Court, the biggest gay club in Leeds, has DJs and themed nights throughout the week across two floors. The New Penny is one of the UK’s longest running LGBTQ+ venues, and Leeds oldest gay bar, and is still going strong. The award-winning Viaduct Showbar will entertain you seven days a week with cabaret, live shows and DJs while Fibre will have you dancing until the small hours.
For a welcoming atmosphere and spectacular array of entertainment be sure to check out Blayds Bar. Wharf Chambers is a bar and multi-use venue in the centre of Leeds run by a workers’ co-op in partnership with a members’ club. They regularly host queer nights such as club nights and karaoke.
PLACES TO GO
Flamingos Coffee House Leeds Is Leeds’ only dry, late night LGBTQ+ friendly Coffee House. Holding events such as speed dating nights, poetry readings and queer performances. They donate a portion of their profits to different LGBTQ+ charities each month! Find them at the Central Arcade in the city centre
The Bookish Type is Leeds’ queer indie bookshop. They sell a range of inspiring queer literature and run some incredible events such as queer history tours (partnered with hold it up collective) and second hand Sunday where donated books are sold to support grassroot LGBTQ+ charities.
Aire Place Studios are a predominantly LGBTQ+ community that provide low cost exhibition and workspace opportunities. They regularly hold exhibitions celebrating underrepresented creatives.
All Hallows Leeds welcomes all to their inner-city Church if you’re looking for a safe space to pray whilst you’re visiting. Rainbow Junktion, a sub section of this community, also offers a food share on Fridays between 11.30am and 4pm in a mission to tackle food poverty and fight food waste.
SPORTS
The Bad Mittens are an inclusive badminton group that run free badminton beginners sessions, which are sponsored by TouchStoneSupport. They also fund free badminton sessions for LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants. Travel costs are included and no booking, experience or equipment is required.
Leeds Hunters Rugby is Yorkshire’s oldest inclusive rugby club. So if you fancy a quick game whilst you’re here check out when they have training on.
Yorkshire Terriers FC is Yorkshire’s only LGBTQ+ football club. They have weekly kickabouts on Sunday afternoons when there aren’t any matches and training sessions every Thursday.
Strike Back Kickboxing is an LGBTQ+ initiative open to all ages where you can work on your fitness, self defense, coordination, confidence and competition fighting.
LEEDS PRIDE
Leeds Pride takes place every year and is known as the UK’s friendliest Pride. The parade sets off from the iconic Millennium Square and finishes at Lower Briggate where you can find a host of LGBTQ+ bars, clubs and events. On top of this you’ll usually be able to find a main stage that boasts some great acts throughout the day. This years Pride saw the likes of Gok Wan, Aston Merrygold and Drag Race UK’s Danny Beard.