Weekender: Summer in the City brings Leeds to life

Leeds Business Improvement District (LeedsBID) has been helping workers make the most of the summer sun through a series of events and activities which aims to boost health and wellbeing.

Now in its third year, Summer In The City is an initiative that encourages workers to take advantage of the warmer summer months, get outside on their lunchbreaks and after work, and to enjoy working in the city centre.

Across the city centre, more than 130 LeedsBID deckchairs are in situ at hotspots including Platform, Wellington Place, Central Square and Dortmund Square for people to take a seat, have their lunch or meet with friends.

To coincide with these hotspots, giant screens were on display for people to watch the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament.

More than 20 pop-up music events from artists at Leeds College of Music have been brightening people’s mornings as they arrive into the city at rush hour or take lunch al fresco at Sovereign Square or Wellington Place.

A recent addition to the programme has been the outside ‘LeedsBID Does Yoga’ sessions in partnership with Firehouse Fitness, which have been attended by over 120 people at Central Square and Park Square.

With increasing participation in these activities, the Summer In The City programme will now also include Tai Chi classes, further yoga sessions and more musical performances throughout August and into September.

Andrew Cooper, chief executive at LeedsBID, said: “The Summer In The City Programme is all about supporting workers in Leeds city centre to strike a balance between working hard and having a good quality of life.

“Companies are more committed than ever to supporting their staff with health and wellbeing and by enhancing our green spaces and public realm across the city, LeedsBID is playing a part in enticing people to take a break from their desks, relax and enjoy some fresh air in their down time.

“Making our city a better place to live, work and enjoy is at the heart of what LeedsBID does and there is no better time than summer to get outside and enjoy our city’s fantastic assets. This year’s programme is proving to be the most popular, partly down to more people understanding the work of the BID and the support available to businesses in the BID District, and also due to the glorious sunshine we have been fortunate to have this summer.”