Hooray For May! Everything You'll Want to Do This Bank Holiday Weekend
Here's how to enjoy the long bank holiday weekend
Fiesta time…
This Sunday is Cinco de Mayo and a great chance to celebrate all things Mexican, from delicious food to fabulous drinks. Sandinista, the street food bar in Leeds, is hosting its own celebration of the holiday on Sunday with an exclusive offer of two tacos and a margarita for only £10. El Guapo (a recent addition to the North East food scene) will be dressing the bar up, adding extra margarita specials and blasting Latin House music all weekend. Victors in Newcastle is also putting on a special event on Sunday. Victor’s After Dark promises live music, dancers, DJs and a few surprises that are yet to be revealed. If you don’t feel like going out this weekend, take a crack at this recipe for Mexican beef tenderstem fajitas instead.
Game, set, match…
You’ll be hard pressed to avoid all the hype around the new smash hit film Challengers which, it seems, has inspired everyone to get their game face on this year. Why not take up tennis with a friend and see if you could have what it takes to go head-to-head with Zendaya’s sporting star Tashi Duncan? Some tennis courts do require a membership, but there are also plenty of places right across the North East and Yorkshire to play for free or with just a small booking fee, so check in with your local parks to see where to play this weekend.
Head in a book…
Don’t miss the fantastic talks and events taking place at the Hexham Book Festival this weekend. Although some events are now sold out, there’s still plenty to get stuck into including author Adam Sharp (on Saturday 4th at Hexham Library) who explores the world’s idioms, proverbs and insults with hilarious insight. Also on Saturday, you can catch Alan Johnson talking about his latest thriller Death on The Thames. For those who love a scandal, make sure to book tickets for Sunday (5th) to see Alex Grant’s Sex, Spies and Scandal: The John Vassal Affair, the true story of a civil servant turned Soviet spy.
Read all about it…
Calling all comic book fans, this Saturday (4th) is Free Comic Book Day and what better way to mark it than with a trip to your local comic book store. Forbidden Planet is the go-to spot in Newcastle, although there are other spots along Grainger Street to visit too including Travelling Man only a few doors down (which also has stores in York on Goodramgate and in Leeds on Central Road). Robin’s Nest Comics in Sheffield is a great independent option too, as is Darlington’s The Darl Knight.
Get the party started…
Mint Festival in Leeds is back this Saturday and Sunday (4th and 5th) at Newsam Green Farm with an impressive 10 stages that will be playing the very best of house, techno and everything in between. Guests this year include Joseph Capriati, Girls Don’t Sync and K Motionz. In the North East, this weekend will see music legends including Rag ’n’ Bone Man and Tom Grennan play at In The Park Festival at Leazes Park on Friday (3rd) and Sunday (5th).
A tipple or two…
No bank holiday weekend would be complete without a cheeky drink or two and the North East and Yorkshire are full of some of the best bars around. Tin of Sardines in Durham is a great spot (though it may be a squeeze to get in) and The Nuthatch in Middlesbrough is another popular option. Electric Shuffle in Leeds is the place to be for drinks, fun and games and Brain Jar in Hull is a solid choice to the south of the region, with an innovative cocktail menu and great street food to go with it. If you don’t feel like going out but still want to indulge, here’s a round up of six simple cocktail recipes to try at home.
Take a walk…
Take advantage of any good weather you might get this weekend by taking your pooch on a countryside walk. At Raby Castle on Sunday (5th) hundreds of dog walkers are gathering to raise money for Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. Tickets can be bought online and walkers have the choice of either a three-kilometre or eight-kilometre walk through the picturesque parklands of Raby Castle.
