It’s time to ditch the gifted socks and give your dad an experience he won’t forget this Father’s Day (21st June).
Born to be wild
For the dad who already has everything, join an outdoor adventure with Elliot Nicholls and Yorkshire Mushroom Emporium (YME) for a day of discovery into the world of edible fungi and flora on one of its foraging workshops in and around Leeds.
The duration of the course is typically 3.5 hours, starting with an introduction to foraging and a run-through of the day’s itinerary. The main activity will be a three- to four-mile walk through the area searching for and collecting edible species. This will involve walking on well-established paths to slightly less trodden routes with regular breaks to discuss any species found on the walk. You’ll then wrap the session up with a good cup of tea made either from herbs that you have foraged or some YME lion’s mane extract. Each person will be able to take home some freshly cultivated YME mushrooms as well as anything they find!
Yorkshiremushroomemporium.co.uk/products/leeds-foraging-workshops
Game time
At Gameshow Allstars in Central Arcade in the city centre, you don’t just watch the game – you ARE the game! Step into the venue’s immersive environment where you and your dad can become the contestants in a series of thrilling, TV-style gameshows. From pulse-pounding challenges to laugh-out-loud moments, every experience is a chance to shine.
Take a trip down memory lane with games inspired by classic shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Play Your Cards Right, and Supermarket Sweep, or challenge each other at the contemporary Tipping Point and Catchphrase-themed experiences. There are battles of skill, luck, and strategy, so there’ll be something for everyone to excel at. Each game is a chance to showcase your talents and most importantly, have fun!
Drink it In
Rather than buying your dad some of his favourite beer, get booked in for The Leeds Heritage Pub Tour. Enjoy an exploration of over 300 years of pub and brewing history in the city, led by local expert and passionate independent tour guide Mike. This 3.5-hour tour brings to life stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the city’s incredible pub heritage, with drinks included to keep everyone refreshed along the way.
You’ll stop off at iconic boozers such as The Tetley, Lamb and Flag, White Swan, Whitelocks, and more as Mike tells you stories from old local newspapers and books and uses old maps and images to bring the history to life. Mike is the Secretary of the British Guild of Beer Writers and has a background that has seen him operate a micro-brewery, run a pub, organise beer festivals, and serve as Chair for the Leeds branch of the Campaign for Real Ale – there’s no one better for the job!
Leedsinspired.co.uk/events/leeds-heritage-pub-tour
Cocoa loco
On Father’s Day weekend, Chocolate Collective is hosting a workshop perfect for any dad that loves chocolate. Ideal for those who have yet to try their hand at the art of chocolate making, the beginner-friendly workshop will take you through everything from the history of chocolate to the production process from bean to bar, all before teaching you step-by-step how to make your own handcrafted truffles.
Using raw ingredients, you’ll get hands-on as you learn from an expert chocolatier how to mix, pipe, cut, shape, coat, and sprinkle some magic onto your Belgian truffles. At the end of the class, you’ll be taught how to package up your handmade goodies, so they look like they’ve come straight out of a high-end chocolate shop! Head home with 15 to 20 truffles in tow alongside the skills to make more.
