Chow Down Leeds to open for extra day due to huge surge in demand
Chow Down Leeds is set to open for an extra day due to a huge surge in demand, it has been announced.
Leeds food and drink festival Chow Down returned to the city on Monday with the launch of its ‘bigger and better than before’ series of summer events.
New seating areas will allow those with tickets for the Temple Arches outdoor space to listen to DJs and live music all summer long while sipping on drinks from local indie brewers and picking from a selection of street food traders.
Chow Down co-founder Simon Fogal told the Yorkshire Evening Post the popular food and drink venue will now take booking for the next two Wednesdays - due to being sold out amid a huge surge in bookings.
Mr Fogal said: "We are sold out now but have just opened up the next two Wednesday for bookings, opening an extra day due to popular demand."
Dubbing the creation of the outdoor space within just four weeks last summer as one of the "proudest moments" of his career, co-founder Stu Butterworth said this year at Chow Down would be an "evolution" of everything offered before.
He said: “Everything from Monday onwards has been uplifted a level, it’s going to be bigger and better than before.
“We’ve always been keen to support the local scene and lockdown has accelerated the shift of how keen people are to support Leeds locals, which is a positive we can take from the past year.
“I can’t wait for people to see the hard work we’ve put into the site, the artists we’ve got lined up, and to offer something to Leeds people and get them back out there.
“It’s a comfortable and informal environment for people to eat, drink and listen to music and will refresh Leeds city centre as lockdown eases.”
The team has invested in a new outdoor sun terrace which has heaters and shelter so that Chow Down events can go ahead even if the sunshine gives way to a colder snap as predicted.
Mr Butterworth added: “Leeds was lacking in outdoor spaces to an extent so even without a pandemic, this is a popular product.
“We’re already tracking massively ahead of last summer which just goes to show how much people want to enjoy life, and that’s what we’re allowing people to do safely at Chow Down.”
To book for the new dates, visit the Chow Down website.