City Buzz: Quirky new Weather Café brews up a storm

For us poor, soggy Brits, it’s pretty much in our DNA.

But brace yourselves, as a new café in Leeds is about to bring the outdoors indoors.

The Weather Café on The Headrow is a major new public artwork that offers an ‘immersive experience’ complete with wind, rain and cloud through clever design, sound composition and digital technology. It also incorporates the voices of over 100 people in Leeds as well and aims to offer a space for people to contemplate and reflect.

Set just opposite the Leeds Art Gallery, it has been put together by award-winning artist David Shearing.

It’s the first in a series of imaginative creations by the artist, who plans to come up with more interesting concepts like this over the next few years.

It’s free to pop in and you can even enjoy a free cuppa.

David said: “This project offers an insight into the lives of the people all around us, and asks whether we can build a deeper sense of compassion.”

Amy Letman, producer, said: “This extraordinary public artwork offers a unique moment for the city and sets a precedent for future projects.”

The Weather Café runs from March 1 to March 20.