Chapel Allerton celebrates local, homegrown culture with another fantastic arts festival.
Chapel Allerton, or ‘Chapel A’, as it’s affectionately known by its residents, remains a buzzing, eclectic North Leeds enclave with a cohesive community vibe. Known for its charming streets, independent shops, and lush green spaces, this thriving and diverse neighbourhood has become one of our city’s most sought-after places to live and visit.
There have been a few changes to the place since we last shone a spotlight on the village, so we thought it high time we checked in. The area’s charm is undiminished with its popular independents, coffee shops, and bars happily humming away and doing a brisk trade.
Fitting for an area with such a creative community, art lovers are well catered for and now have several galleries to explore, with stalwarts like Smart Gallery and Glasshouse being joined by event space and arts venue, Northlight, showcasing contemporary works and scrappy upstart Mr Bragshaw’s array of alternative and outsider art arriving soon.
Those bolstering their art collections may want to avail themselves of the expertise of Yorks Framing further up Harrogate Road.
The food and drink scene has evolved too, with Beer + Bao now serving up a varied selection of ales with Asian-inspired flavours in the old Black Sheep site. Café culture remains well represented; newcomer bike-themed café, Paria, sells cycling clothing and accessories as well as delicious Hard Lines coffee. Paria has recently become home to Nøt Bakehouse which serves Scandinavian style pastries and breads – even more reason to pay a visit.
A highlight of the neighbourhood’s cultural calendar, Chapel Allerton Arts Festival was founded in 1998 and has blossomed into an annual celebration of local art, music, and community. Organised by volunteers and run as a charity, this inclusive festival brings together local performers, artists, businesses, and families.
The Chapel Allerton Festival Picnic, a family-friendly event held in Chapel Allerton Park, marked the start of festival week.
This year, the festival organisers were delighted to introduce new events including a poetry workshop at the Little Book Shop, poetry reading by Chemistry’s Joe Williams at Beer + Bao, and even willow weaving, together with folk and jazz fringe events at Seven Arts.
Over the main three-day street festival weekend, Regent Street and Well Lane transformed into a buzzing hub. Friday night was ‘Tea on the Street’ and locals visited the wide range of food stalls and the festival bar while enjoying music on the Main Stage where community school bands were followed by a range of local acts such as Wedgy conjuring atmospheric art-rock and the edgy post-punk stylings of Mince.
Saturday on the Main Stage had a diverse line-up spanning folk, jazz, funk, Afro fusion, and the Festival Choir, while side streets hosted food vendors, craft stalls, and local makers. Families enjoyed crafts, parades, circus workshops, and a designated quiet zone, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for all. The festival’s Café Run brought live acoustic music into local cafés and courtyards, creating an intimate contrast to the big-stage buzz. As the sun set, upbeat bands like the Late Arrivals Club and The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience got the crowd moving and grooving.
Jazz and Blues Sunday is always a musical feast, and this year was no exception. Featuring Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra, the electrifying sounds of John Taylor’s Blues Spectrum, calypso rhythms from Dudley Nesbit and Pan Jumby, and the theatrical big-band spectacle of Fergus Quill’s Imaginary Big Band. A mingling of local bands and fresh acts brought both tradition and innovation to the stage and, for the first time this year, also to the Willow Tree Stage in the Chapel Allerton Square.
The festival parade this year was led by disco queens, Decodance, who gave a free dance masterclass beforehand to help people get their groove on, and was pedal powered by the amazing Roadblock Soundsystem, with their PA on a tricycle.
This year’s festival was a terrific celebration of creativity and community. Local artists, designers, musicians, dancers, circus performers, and more filled the streets, bringing people together to experience incredible art and culture on their doorstep.
One of Chapel Allerton’s most remarkable features is its strong sense of community. The residents take pride in their neighbourhood, fostering a feeling of camaraderie that’s hard to find elsewhere. This sense of belonging was on full display during the festival, where locals and visitors alike came together to celebrate the area.
The community relies on donations to make the event possible – with costs running to £70,000 annually – and it continues to thrive, sustained by local passion and audience generosity.
Chapel A’s artistic spirit doesn’t diminish just because the festival is over. The monthly market, held on the first Sunday of every month, features around 40 local makers selling everything from homeware to jewellery, art, clothing, and food.
While the local galleries provide opportunities to discover local talent, Seven Arts continues to host JazzLeeds events and theatrical performances throughout the year.
Chapel Allerton Village is a truly special place to live, work, and visit, where the spirit of togetherness continues to flourish.
