Everything Leeds students do which is actually really, really odd

Leeds, home to over 60,000 students, who despite all their differences, share the following 14 things in common. To the rest of the world however, the things we do in Leeds just seem completely weird.

Drinking Red Stripe in Hyde Park

Or drinking Red Stripe in general. If Leeds was a beverage it would undoubtably be Red Stripe. When the sun makes a rare appearance in Leeds, you will find the entire student population in one certain place, drinking that one certain drink.

Wearing glitter with EVERYTHING

The excessive use of glitter is not just limited to Wire. Leeds students wear glitter all day and all night, this even includes to lectures. The obsession with glitter is so strong that on occasion, the Models Own store offers glitter makeovers for free.

Putting gravy on 99 per cent of food

Gravy is even more treasured than glitter and Red Stripe put together, but rightly so. Gravy on chips, gravy on Yorkshire puddings (obviously), gravy just makes everything so much better. It is a genuine surprise that a gravy café has not opened up in Leeds yet, but there is still hope.

Wearing fancy dress on the Otley Run

The Otley Run has seen its fair share of cowboy costumes, but it is the coordinated fancy dress which really stands out and every course or society has some way of dressing for the occasion.

Cancelling everything to go to vintage sales to buy some new wavey garms

Keeping up your edgy appearance is a big deal in Leeds, so when a vintage sale is announced, you cancel your trip home and make it your number one priority. You may have missed a dentist appointment, but at least you have another kilo of wavey garms to wear next semester.

Becoming interested in sport for one day when it is Varsity

Rivalry across Leeds is not just limited to Varsity, but it is the day when suddenly everyone becomes passionately interested in rugby. The rivalry becomes the most important thing in your life. You also buy a Varsity sweater and wear your colours with pride for the next month as you walk along Woodhouse Lane, even if you lost.

Always going to the same Greggs, even though there are 12 others to choose from

Everybody in Leeds has their favourite Greggs and that is the one they go to, every single time. Possibly the worst situation that could ever happen is that your favourite Greggs has run out of sausage rolls so you need to venture out to another one. Truly the thing of nightmares.

Using the walk from the train station to uni as a workout

It’s only when you come back from Leeds after a month in your flat hometown that you realise how hilly Leeds actually is. Then your friends come to visit you and the walk up the hill practically kills them, but you put on a fake front and pretend you are used to it.

Actually wanting to get your white trainers dirty

Who is edgier?

The dirtiness of your white trainers ultimately depend on how edgy you are, so you never see anyone with pure white trainers in Leeds. In fact, I would even say that people go straight from Footlocker to Hyde Park to find some mud to stand in. It’s just the price you have to pay for being edgy.

Wondering how you coped before Crispy’s was in your life

How did you ever survive a night out before uni when Crispy’s was an insignificant name in your life? Now, even the comforts of home in summer is darkened by withdrawal symptoms for a Crispy burger.

Planning to explore the beautiful places just outside Leeds, but never actually going

The Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley and Saltaire are so close to Leeds, but you will be in your third year (at least) before you venture away from the familiar territory of the city and actually see them.

Fully believing that if you left Leeds, Canal Mills would go out of business

Canal Mills has being running through your blood since freshers, but vibe is your middle name, so it’s really the only place to be.

Comparing every slice of pizza you eat to Belgrave pizza

You can go anywhere for pizza in Leeds, but it will never be as good as Belgrave’s. The only downside is that most nights it closes at midnight, so you can’t a slice after Thursdays at Space.

Making sure you work your way through every colour VK at Fruity’s

Everybody’s favourite is orange and passionfruit, but that doesn’t stop you drinking every other colour at Fruity Friday’s.