5 Ways to celebrate post-graduation
Whilst your graduation itself is a big celebration, it can often be the time you spend celebrating afterwards with friends and family that makes the day extra special.
Your graduation celebrations provide you with the chance to share some of your favourite places with friends/family who may never have visited Leeds before. Or, you can finally go to the place you’ve curiously wandered past but never had chance to visit!
We’ve compiled a list of 5 ways you can celebrate post-graduation, breaking it down into restaurants, bars, cafes, picnic spots and celebrations on campus.
1. Restaurants
Booking a sit-down meal with friends/family is always a great way to debrief about the day and your time as a student whilst enjoying some of the fine food Leeds has to offer.
A lot of restaurants will book up fast, so make sure you call them to reserve a table as soon as possible! Here are a few independent restaurants not far from campus:
Location: Minerva, 29 E Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 11.30pm
Location: 24 Central Rd, Leeds LS1 6DE
Open every day from 12pm — 10pm
Location: 115 Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3PX
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 2pm and 5pm — 9pm
2. Bars
Again, these will book up very quickly with everyone having the same idea so don’t hesitate to start planning numbers for tables now before it’s too late.
Whether you’re looking for cocktail bars or more indie bars, we’ve got you covered:
Old Bar and Terrace (of course!)
Location: Leeds University Union, Lower Ground East, Leeds LS2 9JZ (Old Bar)
Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds LS2 9JS (Terrace)
Both open most days, typically from 11am — 12am
Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen
Location: Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP
Open most days, typically from 12pm — 1am
Location: 26–27 Cookridge St, Leeds LS2 3AG
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 11pm
Location: Canal Wharf, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5PS
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 11pm
Location: 19a The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 12am
Location: 39 Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7BT
Open every day, typically from 4pm — 1am
Location: 25 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3AL
Open every day, typically from 4pm — 1am
3. Looking for something quiet? Cafés, brunch spots and afternoon tea
These are always great options if you have an early graduation, say around 9am — 12pm.
Leeds has an amazing array of local coffee shops so you’ll never be short of choice. Here are just a few places for a coffee or afternoon tea:
Location: 16 New Station St, Leeds LS1 5DL
Open every day, typically from 7.30am — 3pm
Location: Queens Arcade, 18–20 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LF
Open every day, typically from 9.30am — 4.30pm
Location: 43 Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7BT
Open every day, typicall from 8am — 5pm
Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom (Afternoon tea)
Location: 8–9 Grand Arcade, New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6PG
Open every day except Tuesdays, typically from 10am — 4pm
Crafthouse (Afternoon tea)
Location: Level 5, Trinity, 70 Boar Ln, Leeds LS1 6HW
Open every day, typically from 12pm — 2.30pm and 5pm — 9.30pm
Location: The Light, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8TL
Open every day, typically from 11am — 9pm
4. Picnic in the park
If you’re lucky to be graduating on a sunny day and would rather avoid the stress of booking on at a venue, whilst saving some money, why not treat yourself to a picnic?
Nip down to the local supermarket, grab some picnic treats and drinks, and enjoy the rays — just be careful not to ruin your suits and dresses on the grass!
Woodhouse Moor
Location: Woodhouse Ln., Woodhouse, Leeds LS6 1SJ
Golden Acre Park
Location: Otley Rd, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 8BQ
Roundhay Park
Location: Mansion Ln, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2HH
5. Celebrate on campus
Last, but by no means least, is the option of staying around campus to catch some of the new activities being put on for graduation this year.
A lot of your family and friends may never have been on campus before, so this is a great chance for them to really soak in the Leeds atmosphere!
All of the below activities are taking place during the duration of graduation, dotted around different locations on campus:
School of Design — Degree show
Final year School of Design students will be showcasing their art and fashion items in an exhibition in Parkinson Court.
Live music performances
In the Refectory foyer and steps of Clothworkers’, current students from the School of Music will be playing live music — covering everything from Classical to Indie and Pop!
360 photo platform
Want to get that perfect graduation snap for your Instagram? We’ve got a 360 photo platform, big enough to fit you and your family/friends on, located on the lawn in front of Great Hall. You’ve got one free snap on us, and can purchase any additional ones should you need them.
Flower wall
If the 360 platform wasn’t enough, LUU have got a ‘flower wall’ for all of graduation to give you another stunning backdrop for your graduation pics!
Live graduation streams
For anyone not able to enjoy your graduation in the Great Hall, live streams are running on campus.
