Tour Diary: Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester

LEEDS

Its probably not very rock and roll, but the first thing we did when we got to Leeds was walk through the park to Leeds campus and go for a swim. When you’re festering on a tour bus there’s nothing nicer than going for a few lengths in a pool. The wholesome feeling of exercise with the refreshing feeling of being in water. It’s like being reborn. After my swim I walked through to the town centre, I never really knew how lovely Leeds was until I went there for a wedding last year, but I really like it.

This former industrial hub is a town with a real structure, like Sheffield. Lovely, large, slightly dark, majestic buildings, with a sense of history wherever you walk. When you’re walking around on your own, you end up fixated on buildings and architectural details. I didn’t realise how much of a legal centre Leeds is, I walked through it as people in suits went on their lunch breaks and felt like I was watching Silk, one of my fave programmes FYI. The venue that night was the Brudenell Social Club, a lovely little place that I’ve heard of many a time but never been to. If we could get a little social club like that in London I’d be most chuffed.

GLASGOW

We woke up under some dank arches in Glasgow, I pulled open the bunk’s hatch and it was just as dark outside as inside. Glittering and grey is how I’d describe Glasgow, sort of magical and drab at the same time. It definitely has more of a spark than cosy Edinburgh. I had a very quick shower in the venue, which wasn’t quite the Trainspotting toilet but had shades of grim nonetheless. My boyfriend had recommended the lovely Café Gandolfi, where I had a beautiful swiss cheese, mushroom and pastrami sandwich. They were so lovely in there I wanted to take refuge and never leave! I jumped on the Clockwork Orange -the colourful subway line that runs in a ring round the city- to Kelvinbridge and walked the long way up to the Art University, past streets with lovely huge brick houses. The art university was deigned by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, high up on a hill with amazing views. Oh and also this happened which was obviously the best thing ever.

MANCHESTER

Manchester was another swim day, at the Aquatic centre, a -now slightly shabby- pool built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, before eating a totally delicious stew at 8th Day vegetarian restaurant. This was the day that I met up with ALL THE PALS. Mof took me round all the cool places in the Northern Quarter and showed me the Frank Sidebottom stencil (RIP). The lovely Ellie treated me to a slap up meal at Almost Famous, where I burgered my face off and Eliza came to check out the Albert Hall, the awesome venue. I met up with Rob, who told me about the history of the Free Trade Hall an amazing building where the Sex Pistols played their legendary gig in 1977, where Christabel Pankhurst knocked off a policemen’s hat, where Bob Dylan played his ‘Judas’ gig and where Nye Bevan started a campaign that would lead to the formation of the NHS. It’s now a Radisson Hotel which is equally brilliant and note-worthy.