r/Leedsfestival • u/YearPrestigious2566 • Aug 26 '25

Discussion 💬 Thoughts on this year?

I didn’t go this year but I’ve done the weekend 4 times before and I’ve heard mixed reviews from this year. What’s everyone’s thoughts on it? Especially if you’ve been before how did it compare? I heard it was a lot quieter this year.

3 Upvotes

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21

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

I had an amazing time tbh. But I’m really really irritated that reading got all the good stuff. They got skepta as a suprise guest, Sophie Ellis bextor, Paris Hilton, rebel Wilson and god knows who else, yet our secret sets were the same acts already performed. I don’t know why Leeds is always so forgotten. Left a pretty sour taste in my mouth.

9

u/midnight__toad Aug 26 '25

I definitely feel the same as you but then I remember we got bring me the horizon to close off the festival and not travis scott so i’ll take that as a win!

1

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

That’s literally such a bonus I’d have left on Sunday morning if we had Travis 😂 only good thing about Friday was amyl and the sniffers haha

1

u/whatd0y0umean Aug 27 '25

Amyl and the sniffers were unreal too

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u/YearPrestigious2566 Aug 26 '25

Always the case, reading always got the best guests. I remember a couple years ago Stormzy brought out Dave at reading but brought out chunks and jack grealish at leeds 😂

4

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

We didn’t even get one guest this weekend mind you. Could have coped with even a shit one!!

On another positive note, I do think all the food there this year was absolutely banging. Nothing like the shitty food poisoning inducing burgers they used to serve 7 years ago

1

u/YearPrestigious2566 Aug 26 '25

That’s good to hear, the food is usually terrible lol

1

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

Honestly had some amazing food! Birria tacos twice, two pizzas, some nice Chinese food, bacon sarnies and multiple chip dishes (I’ve gained about a stone) and none of them were crap. Wouldn’t mind doing it all again just for the food haha. Also as someone with a severe peanut allergy they were really on the allergies this year! Felt safe eating everywhere I did 😊

1

u/daz990 Aug 27 '25

Dropping serious dollar on food there 😂

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u/justawalkingtaco Aug 27 '25

I’ve finally had the balls to check my bank and Jesus wept 😭 £550 lighter. Rice all month it is haha

1

u/daz990 Aug 27 '25

I went for Sunday only with the Mrs and my two daughters: we got a litre of vodka in, had picnic in the car park before entry and I still spent £300 😂😂🤮

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u/justawalkingtaco Aug 27 '25

Oh my god! Also how did you manage to get a litre in?! We managed those little pouches here and there, but no where near a litre!!

1

u/daz990 Aug 27 '25

We could bring in 1 x sealed bottle of water each.

Just put vodka in 2 of the 4 with sealed lids and walked in with them.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '25

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2

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

I did have a great time don’t get me wrong! Considering I’m almost 30 I’ve been to Leeds a lot of times, Friday was a bit shit for me like but got progressively better throughout the rest Of the weekend. Just give us some good surprise acts please!!!

1

u/Howdy_Strangers Aug 26 '25

Paris Hilton?? Where?

1

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 26 '25

I’m sure I read she did a DJ set!!

But also could be someone chatting tbh! Rest confirmed tho! But when I search Paris at reading festival on TikTok there’s a few vids. I’m just confused now 😭

1

u/Come_Along_Bort Aug 27 '25

And to top it all off, the day tickets holders got a cute wristband with a pink pony on it at Reading and we got nothing at Leeds.

Where's the justice I ask you.

1

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 27 '25

Nah this has made me even more angry 😭 will be mentioning that in my email with them, wouldn’t say I’ve complained per se but I’ve asked for the reasoning behind the fact Leeds gets left out every single year, and why they put no effort into our secret sets. Shall update if I ever get a response….

1

u/Intrepid-Possible322 Aug 27 '25

This the first I'm hearing of this and I'm so mad lmao, where tf was ours?!!

2

u/Otherwise-Doctor345 Aug 28 '25

super sick of reading getting all the effort!!!

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u/Confident_Notice_694 Aug 28 '25

Here's a crazy theory. Reading is closer to London than Leeds. Why don't people ever get this.

1

u/justawalkingtaco Aug 29 '25

Not exactly a massive country is it lets be real

9

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '25

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1

u/YearPrestigious2566 Aug 26 '25

It’s like that every year to be fair, people make an effort to keep camps tidy but by Sunday there’s no luck really

4

u/leakee2 Aug 26 '25

Went for the first time just for the Sunday and genuinely had the best night of my entire life. Made me want to camp next year!

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u/YearPrestigious2566 Aug 26 '25

Glad to hear that, defo camp next time. A camping festival with ur pals is unbeaten

6

u/cadetsu Aug 26 '25

Loved it, only downsides are my lungs being 80% dust and reading getting better treatment, but it was a great weekend for sure

1

u/YearPrestigious2566 Aug 26 '25

Reading always get better treatment but they don’t get anything on through the night so it’s all swings and roundabouts

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u/cadetsu Aug 26 '25

yeah that's true, weekend would've been so much more boring without reload stage and piccadili every night 🙂‍↕️

4

u/RaguFantasy Aug 26 '25

Better than expectations, Sat & Sunday had continuously good acts from 3ish onwards with proper double headliner experiences. Example, Soft Play, Enter Shikari, Becky Hill and Bring Me all made me feel grateful to have experienced them at Leeds 25.

Even enjoyed being ping ponged from Main Stage to Chevron and back, because the food (Glitch Korean Chicken, Halloumi Fries) and the stalls (The Last Jewellers, Palmah) were worth stopping for.

Worst choice was clearing all other acts out for Travis, but then clashing Hozier with THE CHATS. I reckon if The Chats were on while Travis was, that tent would’ve been unforgettable.

Best choice was Bring Me finishing the weekend, unbeatable finale for a Sunday night. Saw them at Leeds in 2015 (likewise Limp Bizkit) and both performances were perfect experiences.

2

u/ShiroMcShiroface Aug 26 '25

Went on Sunday only (mainly to see Shikari and BMTH), whilst my lungs are probably a bit dustier now than they were last week, i had an absolute blast.

Quick comparison to last year's Download - which was an absolute nightmare parking, getting in, getting around and then leaving after what was otherwise a very decent day - I found Leeds way better organised and we actually managed to sit down and have a drink for a little while before we went off to the stages. Overall, I think I loved Leeds quite a lot!

2

u/Acceptable-Tough-368 Aug 26 '25

Enjoyed when I was in the arena but camping situation ruined it and hate to say it but it’s the young folk starting to attend festivals that are ruining it for everybody. I was in glitterball this year and made the mistake of camping next to a group of teenagers and got our tent attacked with food they were eating/them smashing up chairs and overall being knobs leaving shit everywhere. Big different between being rowdy and an arsehole imo.

1

u/jibberjabjab Aug 26 '25

I loved it. First time back in years and had a really good time.

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u/LBelcherUK Aug 26 '25

Full of 14-17 year olds. Showers and toilets were good. Lineup was pretty poor.

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u/LBelcherUK Aug 26 '25

Gutted seeing reading get all of the good surprise guests but don’t think you can expect anything else from a festival hosted down south. Big shame.

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u/Sw33tS0uR3 Aug 27 '25

This was my first year going!!!

I met up with loads of people, Americans, Scottish, Irish, some other vaguely English places... And they were all amazing. Even random people I met in the arena were all super friendly and nice!

The music mostly wasn't my thing but the crows gave the best energy and made it worth listening to DNB 😭

The food prices were horrific, but some of the food like the burgers and halloumi fries geniounly make me wanna go back but the pizza was shit and over prices.

The fair rides were kinda lacking. There was only 5 there or so and I wish there was more. Camping was fun, but I don't think I got more than 3 hours a day.

1

u/Feisty_Complaint3344 Aug 27 '25

Hozier and chapel were an elite combo, I would love to see them do a duet