Monday, October 6, 2025
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Police hunt man over attempted burglaries in Farsley and Rodley

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Police would like to speak to this man in connection with the incidents in Farsley and Rodley. Photo: WYP

Police investigating a series of attempted burglaries in the Rodley and Farsley areas have issued an image of a man they would like to identify.

Officers would like to speak to this man in connection with these incidents which occurred overnight on Wednesday, 27 August.  

If you can assist with identifying him then please contact the Leeds District Crime Team on 101, or by using the livechat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website. The crime reference is 13250490402.  

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.  

Baton of Hope to launch in Bramley on World Suicide Prevention Day 

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By Helen Fay

This Wednesday (September 10) sees the launch of the Leeds leg of the national Baton of Hope 2025 tour.

The Baton of Hope is a powerful symbol to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Its purpose is to promote a message of hope, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking and to bring communities together to remember those who lost their lives to suicide. 

84 baton bearers will be taking part, all of whom have been affected by or bereaved by suicide. Further information about the Baton of Hope can be found here.

The route stretches across from West to East Leeds, via the city centre. The walk launch event starts at 8.30am from BARCA-Leeds at Manor House, 259 Upper Town Street in Bramley.

There will be live music, a speech by Councillor Adele Rae (Lab, Bramley) and the opportunity to support and cheer on the baton bearers.

The West Leeds part of the route takes in Bramley centre, Raynville Road, Wyther Lane and along the canal towpath, through Armley Park, beside Armley Moor, then along Armley Town Street and past New Wortley Community Centre before heading towards Holbeck and onwards.

There is an interactive map to enable observers to follow the whole route live. A list of approximate timings and locations of where the baton will process, can be found here.

The Leeds leg of the Baton of Hope tour takes place on World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and there will be a number of events taking place along the route. More information can be found here.

The event finale will take place in the evening at the Old Fire Station in Gipton, East Leeds.

The BARCA Being You Leeds men’s group will be performing an original song written by it’s members.

Group leader Jonathan Parker said: “The Being You Leeds Music Group have been hard at work writing and recording a song for the Baton of Hope.

“We’ll be performing the song at the end of walk event and would love to welcome as many people up as possible to sing it with us. There will be lyric cards provided. It’s a song of resilience and hope at our darkest times. The song is called Here I’m Staying.” The song is available as a free download and can be accessed here.

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Crowds attend opening of mum and daughter’s new Horsforth restaurant

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Mum and daughter team Tracy and Ria Wale celebrate the opening of Big Scoffs Diner, their new restaurant in Horsforth. Photo: Jan Calvert

By Jan Calvert

Crowd funders and supporters of Big Scoffs Diner – Horsforth’s newest restaurant – gathered to celebrate the much-anticipated opening at 79 New Road Side.

The event, on Saturday 6 September, drew a large crowd who came to wish the local mum and daughter team, Tracy and Ria Wale, congratulations and ‘good luck’ on their latest endeavour. 

Local families were excited to help cut the ribbon, including Octavia and Orla McKniff who attended with their mum Abigail. Photo: Jan Calvert

The family run restaurant serves home cooked, plant based meals and is the sister restaurant of Little Scoffs ‘Feel Good Food’, their cafe serving vegan breakfasts, including the famous Scoffs Macscoffin burger, on Horsforth’s New Road Side. 

Crowd funders who had supported the fundraising – Jane Squire, Julie Matthews, Eleanor Lilley and Sid Cramp – took their first view of the new diner and sampled the canopies on offer. 

Sid Cramp and his wife Rose were delighted, Sid said: “It’s amazing in here! We can’t wait to book.” And Jane Squire has already ‘bought a table’ as part of the crowd funding promotion. 

From left: Julie Matthews, Eleanor Lilley, Sid Cramp and Jane Squire, supporters of the crowd funding initiative.

Local mum, Molly Hall brought her three children, twins Aamaiyah and Eden, aged nine, and Leiana, aged 5, who have all grown up eating plant-based food. 

Molly said: “It didn’t seem ethical to raise children eating meat when our values are based around kindness to animals.

“We’re really happy Horsforth has a plant-based diner where we can eat such healthy food which the children love.”  

Molly Hall with her three children, Aamaiyah, Eden and Leiana.

The restaurant is open Thursday to Sunday and serves a full vegan roast dinner on Sundays. 

Restaurateur, Tracy Wale, said: “Everyone is welcome, we are all about good food and friendly vibes.”

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Everything you need to know about Armley Festival 2025

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Armley festival returns. Photo: Clancy Walker

Armley Festival will draw the crowds to Armley Moor at the weekend, with a mix of community, music, stalls and other activities.

Organised by Armley Action Team, the popular family friendly event is being held on Armley Moor on Saturday, 13 September 2024, 12pm–6pm

The day will feature:

  • Live music from local bands including Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival, Cowtown, Hot Squash, Lonan,  The Bops and Bramley Ukulele Group, and Man About Town.
  • Food & drink from Suefa Jerk Centre, Bagaara, Nero’s Ices, Super Whip Leeds, North Star Coffee, the much-loved Tea Tent, and a Beer Bar from Kirkstall Brewery.
  • Market stalls from local makers and traders such as Bellas Enchanted Crafts, Gothica UK, Crafty lil Hands, Sweet Treatz to You, Animou, Glitter Girl UK, and many more.
  • Community groups, including YUM, Bundles, New Wortley Community Centre, Leeds Youth Service, and others showcasing their fantastic work.
  • Family activities like the PlayTent (sponsored by North Star Coffee Roasters), Climbing Wall, and Armley CommUNITY Games (organised by Dixons Academy & Christchurch).
  • Entertainment from Piff Paff Theatre and Cusan Theatre with street theatre and walkabout performances.

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Swinnow Community Centre diversifies with new evening events programme

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Swinnow Community Centre is broadening its offer with a series of high-quality evening events, designed to bring new cultural and social opportunities to Swinnow, Pudsey and the surrounding areas.

The initiative aims to reach those who are unable to attend the centre’s popular daytime activities, offering engaging experiences outside of traditional hours.

The first event in the series will be a Spanish Night on 27 September, celebrating the food, music, and dance of Spain.

Guests will enjoy a rustic two-course menu featuring albondigas (Spanish meatballs in a rich tomato reduction), pollo con chorizo (chicken baked with authentic chorizo), patatas bravas, and escalivada (roasted red pepper and aubergine in a slow-cooked tomato sauce). The evening will also feature a live DJ set with Latin rhythms and a salsa taster session.

Future events will continue to explore different cultures, with themes such as Greek nights and pop-up restaurants, developed in collaboration with local professional chefs and DJs. Each evening will be volunteer-led but delivered to a high standard, ensuring a memorable experience that combines community spirit with cultural excellence.

Director Will Munton said: “We want to create vibrant and atmospheric, events that are local, affordable and fun, We are excited to work with local catering and entertainment professionals to create something very special for the area.

“By diversifying its programme in this way, Swinnow Community Centre is reaffirming its role as a vibrant hub for the community, bringing people together through shared experiences, and ensuring that more residents have access to what their local centre has to offer.”

Tickets are available via their Facebook site: Swinnow Community Centre CIC.

E-mail: SwinnowcommunitycentreCIC@gmail.com.

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First tenants to move in at Armley affordable housing development

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A 2020 view of a new housing scheme currently taking shape at a site off Moorfield Road in Armley, Leeds. Credit: Termrim Construction

A new housing development in Armley is set to welcome its first residents.

The development of 27 houses and 23 apartments – all of which are being made available for affordable or social rent – has been taking shape on the former Tower Works factory site off Moorfield Road in Armley since the middle of last year.

The first five homes are now finished and ready for local residents to move in.

The development as a whole – which is being delivered by Yorkshire Housing and Termrim Construction with support from Leeds City Council and Homes England – is due for completion by the end of this year.

The new homes will range in size from one to four bedrooms and are being built to exacting energy efficiency standards, with features including solar panels. Each apartment will also benefit from smart hot water tanks that can – by ‘learning’ how much hot water people use and when – help reduce energy bills.

All initial tenancies – and 60 per cent of future lets – will go to people on the council’s housing register. Eighteen of the homes will be available for social rent, the most affordable tenure.

In addition to providing much-needed additional housing options, the scheme is also benefiting the Armley community by breathing new life into a site that stood vacant and derelict for a number of years following the demolition of the old Tower Works factory.

Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “Schemes like the one taking shape at Moorfield Road can have a transformative effect on people’s lives, so it’s really good news that its first homes have been completed and tenants can now start moving in.

“The development is a brilliant example of what can be achieved through partnership working, and also underlines our determination as a council to support the delivery of high-quality, energy efficient and affordable housing in areas across the city.

“I’m particularly pleased that so many of the homes at Moorfield Road will be available for social rent, which will give a helping hand to those on lower incomes.”

The council is committing an affordable housing grant of £750,000 to the Moorfield Road project.

Around 2,900 affordable homes have been delivered in Leeds over the last five years, more than in any other large city in the country outside London.

That figure includes 788 homes that were directly delivered by the council. It also includes around 400 homes that were built by registered providers such as housing associations but facilitated by the use of council land and funding.

A combination of council, registered provider and private sector activity, meanwhile, is projected to deliver an average of more than 800 affordable homes in the city over each of the next three years.

The term ‘affordable housing’ refers to homes that are available for rent at below market value or low-cost ownership. When affordable housing is made available for rent, potential tenures include ‘affordable’ and ‘social’. Affordable rent is discounted by at least 20 per cent from the prevailing local market rate. Social rent is lower than affordable rent and set by a formula tied to local incomes, property size and property value.

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West Leeds planning applications: 7 September 2025

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Each week we publish a list of the latest planning applications related to the seven council wards in West Leeds.

The following applications were published on the Leeds City Council website in the past seven days.

Armley Ward

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

  • None submitted.

Calverley & Farsley Ward

Farnley & Wortley Ward

Horsforth Ward

Kirkstall Ward

  • None submitted.

Pudsey Ward

Decided applications

Here are the planning applications decided by Leeds City Council this week:

Armley Ward

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

Calverley & Farsley Ward

Farnley & Wortley Ward

  • None decided.

Horsforth Ward

Kirkstall Ward

Pudsey Ward

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Community comes together to celebrate Burley Park’s 125th anniversary

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Mia, eight, and Irene, nine, take part in the treasure hunt in Burley Park. Photo: Angela Harrison

By Angela Harrison

On a sunny and warm late summer Saturday afternoon, the Friends of Burley Park celebrated the 125th anniversary since the park was opened on 8 September, 1900.  

Families and friends of all ages were gathered on the lawns with their picnics and taking in the live bands who were performing in the ‘bandstand’ (which is not really a bandstand, but more on that later!). 

Vijay Parmar (left) with Malcolm Zielinski, who was born in Burley after his father moved to England from Poland after WW2. Photo: Angela Harrison

Local bands at the event included:

  • The King & I – a jazz-tinged style from swing to blues, latin and ska. 
  • The Peace Artistes – folk, jazz, world music.
  • Hands Across Ceilidh Band – a range of British, Irish and European dances. 

A treasure hunt had been laid out around the park and proved very popular with the children.

The Friends of Burley Park had set up several stalls, each selling homemade jams and baked goods to raise funds to help cover the cost of running the anniversary event. 

A picnic at the park. Photo: Angela Harrison

John Preston, the funding officer of the group, said it was a lovely turnout of the community attending the event. There were hundreds of people coming and going throughout the afternoon. 

The park is very much loved by those who use it and is taken care of by volunteers from the Friends of Burley Park, who created orchards around 11 years ago. The orchards line the bottom end of the park and provide the community with free apples, damsons and pears. 

Volunteers meet every second Sunday of the month to tend to the orchards and flower beds. 

When the park was created in 1900, it provided a much needed recreational space for all, and it still does, as originally intended.

It offers a tennis and basketball court, space to play football, a bowling green, outdoor gym equipment, a running circuit, playground, and is also a great place for walking your dogs! 

David and Shirley from Headingley. They came to Leeds as students 50 years ago and settled here. Photo: Angela Harrison

History of Burley Park

The area of land – spanning 14.5 acres – was purchased in 1899 by the Leeds Corporation, and opened the following year as a recreational ground on 8 September, 1900. 

Prior to this, the area was farmland and owned by the Earl of Cardigan and divided into plots which were occupied by soon-to-be prominent figures in Leeds: Thomas Backhouse, William Cockerham, and Edwin Birchall Esq. 

The gardeners cottage from 1952. Photo Leodis/Leeds Libraries and the cottage today.

From 1845 the upper half of the land was a cricket ground before the land was all purchased by Leeds Corporation. 

At a deputation for the Corporation it was heard that a park was needed for the ever-growing population of Burley, and the land was ideally situated between three schools. The children of Burley had nowhere to play except on the streets, and a park would be a great benefit to children and adults. 

When it was opened to the public on 8 September 1900, there was a sandpit, play equipment, a bowling green, and a cricket pitch. 

There was a bandstand but 50 years later it was gone. 

Today, there is a former shelter that looks like a bandstand, and is used as one. 

John Preston, of the Friends of Burley Park, said that it was an “old man’s shelter” and 35 years ago it had roller shutters around it, with a stove in the centre to keep warm! 

Main gates from the early 1900s – credit Leodis/Leeds Civic Trust and today.

Back in the days when the park was first opened, there were urinals dotted around the land for men to use, and thankfully women had a toilet block, which is located next door to the old Head Gardener’s House (now a house). 

The Victorians created a lovely space which is still well looked after today, 125 years later. 

The people of Leeds will continue to enjoy it for generations to come. 

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Wortley: Community comes together for TV Harrison blue plaque

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Pictured at the blue plaque unveiling (from left) are former Leeds United stars Noel Whelen, Paul Reaney and Stuart McCall. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispoatch.com

By John Baron. Additional reporting: Katherine Turner

The ‘dedication and persistence’ of a West Leeds community who ‘dug in’ to save a historic sports pitch from housing has been celebrated at a special ceremony.

A blue plaque was today (Saturday, 6 September) unveiled at the TV Harrison Sports Ground in Wortley by former Leeds United stars Paul Reaney, Stuart McCall and Noel Whelan. All three started their careers playing at the ground as youngsters.

Some of the attendees at Wortley’s Wembley today. Photo: John Baron

Generations of young players from the city started at the TV Harrison Sports Ground, which is also known as ‘Wortley’s Wembley’. The ground is named after teacher Tom Vernon Harrison, who led a fundraising campaign in 1928 for it to be purchased for the benefit of children in the city.

It was saved from being developed for local authority housing thanks to a concerted community campaign which ran for over six years.

The ground was this year bought by Leeds United, who today pledged to honour and create ‘the most incredible football facility’.

More than 150 people attended the unveiling of a blue plaque to mark both the history on the community efforts to maintain the facility.

Leeds Civic Trust’s Martin Hamilton opened proceedings. Photo: John Baron

Leeds Civic Trust Director Martin Hamilton said the blue plaque not only marked the significance of place, but also the ‘persistence and dedication’ of ‘local people who through their hard work have ensured that this piece of land has not has not be lost for sport’.

He said organised sport has been played at the location since the 1850s, and added: “Sports facilities like this have often been lost for housing development. The story of this plaque shows that local sports facilities are hard to establish and even harder to retain.

“Hats off to Mr Harrison who saved this long established facility in the 1920s and to campaigners more recently who have secured its long-term future,” Mr Hamilton added.

Former Leeds West MP Michael Meadowcroft. Photo: John Baron

Chair of the TV Harrison Sports Ground Association, Michael Meadowcroft, paid tribute to the ‘solidarity of the community’ for saving the facility.

He said: “This ceremony marks a key point in the six and a half years of local campaigning to prevent the charity charged with protecting the ground and Leeds City Council building on an historic sports ground. It demonstrates the power of united community action.

“Quite apart from the heavy task of clearing the football pitch and maintaining it for regular matches, it also took four successful actions in the High Court at great financial risk to this voluntary body.

“The key involvement of Leeds United in taking over the ground has been crucial and has
saved us from a potential fifth legal action. The blue plaque not only pays tribute to Tom Vernon Harrison and the history of the ground but also demonstrates the power of united community action.

“Our association now looks forward to working with LUFC in making the ground a vibrant successful sports facility for local children and youths.”

Leeds Civic Trust’s Martin Hamilton, Noel Whelan, Paul Reaney, Stuart McCall, Mark Sewards MP and Michael Meadowcroft with the plaque

Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards said the unveiling signified ‘a victory for the local community’

“Without the action of the community, we would not be standing here today,” he said. “It wasn’t just the essential legal action, it was all the work you have done to maintain the ground, to find teams to play on it and restore it in the way that you have. I want to congratulate everyone for their work.”

Former players unveil the plaque. Photo: John Baron

Mr Sewards had been been part of negotiations with Leeds United to buy the land. He added: “I have had many a sleepless night over the past three years and I am very very pleased to see us in this position, where a Premier League football club is investing in a facility for the community of Wortley and the whole city. I’m excited for the future.”

Francis Milner, Leeds United Foundation chief executive, said: “The community have really fought to keep the site for local children.

“I feel really excited that we are going to be taking forward the incredible legacy of Tom Harrison and the people who have worked so hard over the years to keep that legacy alive. As a foundation we are passionate about getting every Leeds child to be able to access football.”

Ms Milner said the Foundation will be working to tidy the ground in the next few months. The second phase of work will include the creation of ‘the most incredible football facility’, featuring a pitch and wider facilities which could be used by the community.

“We want so many boys and girls playing in this facility. We want kids in every day of the week and we can create something which is really wonderful for our community and the people of Leeds.

“Because of you we can take forward the wonderful legacy of Tom Harrison.”

Paul Reaney speaks at the unveiling. Photo: Katherine Turner

Leeds United legend Paul Reaney played at the TV Harrison ground for Leeds City Boys in the late 1950s and said itv played a major part in his football education.

“It was an amazing feeling to play here,” the former Leeds defender told the crowd. A year later he joined Leeds United to continue his footballing journey with the likes of John Charles, Bobby Collins and ‘the gaffer’, Don Revie.

“I ended up playing for England because I played for Leeds United. And before that I played for Leeds City Boys at the TV Harrison ground.”

Community joy. Photo: Clare Pollard

Attending the blue plaque unveiling was Councillor Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley). He told WLD: “Today showed what the community of Wortley can do together.

“This not only recognises all those children who played on the ground,  some of whom went on to play at a professional level, such as Paul Reaney, Noel Whelan and Stuart McCall, but those in our community who dug in to save the ground from housing development.

“But the is not just about the past, it’s also about the future and what is about to be developed by Leeds Utd. This will be a major investment and attraction for the people of Wortley and across our city.”

The three former professional footballers with the plaque. Photo: Clare Pollard

Plaque wording

A place for organised sport since the 1850s. The ground is named after local teacher Tom Vernon Harrison who led a successful appeal in 1928 for its purchase by public subscription for the children of Leeds. Following a local campaign against redevelopment, the Leeds United Foundation bought the ground in 2025, thus securing its future for community sport.

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West Leeds licensing applications: 5 September 2025

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Black Bull, Horsforth. Photo: Google

Every fortnight we publish a list of the latest licensing applications related to the seven council wards in the West Leeds Dispatch patch.

The council’s licensing department regulates activities that require a licence, such as selling alcohol, providing entertainment, event notices and taxi licence applications. They also ensure that licensed premises and individuals comply with the law and protect the public

The following licensing application was published on the Leeds City Council website in the past 14 days:

Calverley & Farsley Ward

  • Temporary Event Notice, Cafe Within Garden Centre, Palmer Plants And Palmer Landscapes, John Palmer Nursery, Calverley Lane, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5QQ.

Horsforth ward

Kirkstall ward

Pudsey ward

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Bramley rehearsals bring ‘Bake Off’ to life

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by Noelle Williamson

The Great British Bake-Off is back on our screens on Tuesday evenings, but there’s one
group of fans who will have to watch it on catch-up.

They are the cast of The Great British Bake-Off Musical! The show has its regional premiere next Thursday, September 11 at the Carriageworks Theatre in Millennium Square.

Led by Musical Director Wil Jones and Director and Choreographer Dean Patrick, these talented, dedicated Bake-Off fans have spent many an evening and weekend in rehearsal rooms in Bramley or Holbeck, working on their all singing, all dancing version of the nation’s favourite baking show.

If you’ve seen them out and about at the Trinity Centre or The Light, or heard them on BBC
Leeds, you know that Leeds is in for a treat.

At a rehearsal at St Peter’s Church, it was a case of snatching a few words with whoever was free. In a brief gap between singing practice with Wil and a tap number with Dean, ensemble members Holly and Kaly described how they combine singing, dancing and moving props between scenes.

If you love a stage musical, you know such slick switches are part of the pleasure of a live show!

Emma Smith and Dan Lord play Francesca and Ben, two of the bakers, and their characters’ back stories and particular hopes made me want to know more.

I also look forward to Kazia Gamble’s ‘Babs’, a grandmother to be reckoned with, though not a tap dancer – to Kazia’s disappointment. No spoilers though: if you want to know more about Francesca, Ben and Babs, or ‘back-up contestant’ Gemma, played by Katie Mitchell, and the rest of the Bakers, you’ll need to get down to The Carriageworks next weekend!

The other grandmother in this show is front and centre in the tap number. Angela Fisher is
really enjoying Prue Pam because she gets to act, sing and dance. “And she’s got some really cracking lines as well.”

She also needs a cracking wardrobe: six changes, some of them very quick, and all in that signature style. While it’s been straightforward for most of the cast to source their own costumes for this contemporary show, Angela has spent hours studying photos, and searching in shops and online for costumes and jewellery.

In fact, Angela and best mate Dan Ford, who plays Ben, have, resorted to a spreadsheet to co-ordinate ‘Pam’ ensembles, “Does that go with that? Does that go with that?” Angela smiles broadly. “It will be great fun,” she declares, over the song belting out behind us.

Opposite Angela’s ‘Pam’, of course, there’s Scouse baking legend ‘Phil’, played by Otley
Bellman Terry Ford. How was Terry finding the role? He answers with a wry smile: “Well, it’s
quite a surprise for a Geordie, trying to do a Liverpudlian accent. I’m getting there.”

The other challenge is that Phil is written for a tenor, and Terry is a bass but, fortunately, he has the range and training to adapt.

Unlike Angela, who was on stage at the Bradford Alhambra at the age of nine, Terry got no musical encouragement as a child. He was 40 before he discovered the fun of musical
theatre through a local group, and started developing his fine voice with a teacher.

Until then, “I didn’t think it was any good. I knew it was loud.” Loud enough to win Eisteddfods, become a champion town crier, and played leading musical theatre roles for decades. We should all be able to hear Phil at the back.

The Great British Bake-Off Musical brings the beloved baking competition to life, blending
the charm and humour of the TV show with catchy tunes and recognisable characters.

It’s an entertaining and heartwarming celebration of baking, self-discovery, and the joy of
community. Whether you’re a fan of the show or simply love a good musical, this is a
theatrical treat that promises to rise to the occasion.

You can still book tickets for this regional premiere at the Carriageworks Theatre.
But be quick! Limited tickets remain on Thursday 11 September at 7.15pm, Friday 12 September at 7.15pm and Saturday 13 September at 1pm and 5pm.

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From Bramley to Bake-Off Musical – Dean Patrick is putting culture on the map

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Dean Patrick. Photo: Noelle Williamson

by Noelle Williamson

The Great British Bake-Off Musical will be live on stage at the Carriageworks Theatre, Millennium Square next week, September 11-13.

This will be the Regional Community Premiere – for the whole middle of the country from Middlesbrough to Nottingham – directed by Dean Patrick. 

Many will know Dean from Leeds 2023, when he curated Bramley’s Cultural Collective, whose success he translated into the independent annual Bramley Community Arts Festival.

The festival packed out St Peter’s Church, Bramley Villagers and Bramley Baths last July, and returns on September 20-21 this year. Dean has actually come full circle, from doing his first panto with Bramley Parish Theatre Players at St Margaret’s Church before he was ten, to directing and choreographing BPTP’s annual pantos. (Look out for news of the next one: Puss in Boots!)

Also, having worked his way through LAMDA grades (London Academy of Dramatic Arts) as a boy, then trained in London and worked professionally up and down the country, he now leads Class Act Youth Theatre at Trinity Methodist Church, mentoring the next generation of performers. 

But why community theatre rather than professional theatre? And why Leeds?

“What drew me to Leeds 2023 was the Bramley/Stanningley thing. When you work with communities, with people who come from all walks of life to be part of a show, there’s a different dynamic. 

“A lot of professionals will work on similar arts projects from Birmingham to Leeds to Bradford. Quite a lot of people I worked with in Leeds went straight on to Bradford but I thought, if we’re doing something, it should be made by the people from here, for all the people from here. 

“And, you know, I identify with Leeds, and being from Leeds, and champion everything that happens in Leeds. The whole point of the Year of Culture – particularly the projects I worked on – was to try to connect with people from the area, and happen in the area, and I kind of take that with me wherever I go.”

And why The Great British Bake-Off Musical?  

“Because it’s about trying to put Leeds on the map. This is the conversation I had with the Carriageworks and Leeds City Council. Everyone knows the Bake-Off, so putting Bake-Off on in the city centre has the potential to attract people who aren’t from the area. And those people may return because they think, well, I only went for the Bake-Off, but they do all these other things. 

“It also puts the theatre on the map. The Carriageworks is a bit of a hidden gem. You talk to a lot of people and they don’t know it’s there (in the Electric Press building on Millennium Square). And I’m like, it’s a council-owned facility, that’s for the Leeds community – primarily for community theatre.” 

He had hoped to stage the national community (amateur) premiere, but the dates would not work.

“It was a chicken and egg situation: I needed to secure the performance rights to book the theatre but I needed to have the theatre booked to get the rights.”

However, this is the first production of the musical outside of London in a very large radius of the country – and at the heart of Yorkshire!

It’s taken four years of effort and patience to get to this point, and Dean is funding the show himself. He has gathered a cast of very talented and experienced actors – amateurs in the best sense of the word – and Musical Director Wil Jones has brought in professional musicians. 

“The production has just got to pay for itself. That’s what we’re trying to do here. The thing is, it’s never been about me. It’s about everybody else. It all comes down to the cast on the night! I’m never going to be rich. It’s a passion. People and theatre.  

“Coming back to where you’re asking me about Bramley – if I’m gonna do it, it’s about, you know, hiring spaces like this (The Bede Room in St Peter’s) and keeping them in existence and making and creating in Bramley. That’s why we pay to hire The Villagers, to benefit locals, you know? Whatever I do … Bramley’s just a part of me and, fundamentally, it would always be my starting point, really.

Tickets can booked here.

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