An iconic venue, a different look
Huddersfield Town Hall turned into a buzzing alt-culture hub as Huddersfield Tattoo Festival returned for year two — and the grand concert hall made one seriously photogenic backdrop. From the pews to the stage, Hudd Show Live hosts Grant Saunders and Alan took viewers on a walk-through of the action.
“It’s a completely different type of event to our last visit, and the Town Hall looks incredible today.”
The central floor hosted live tattooing bays, with piercings tucked backstage and rows of indie makers selling everything from hand-painted jewellery to graphic tees.
Not just ink: alt-market energy
Beyond the machines and stencil paper, the festival leaned into creative culture:
- Hand-painted jewellery and statement earrings
- Art prints, tees and curios (yes, even gothic-leaning décor)
- Tarot readings and pop-up services
- Local bakes (shout to OMG Bakes) to keep the energy up
Styles on show ran the spectrum: Japanese irezumi, bold neo-trad, fine-line illustrative work, old-school sailor flash, and even gaming icons — GTA, Street Fighter, Sonic — inked right on the day.
“There are literally loads of people getting tattoos — the talent level is incredible.”
Meet the organisers: Tom & Liam
Catching their breath on stage, organisers Tom and Liam shared how the festival grew:
- Home turf: “Huddersfield’s the heart of it. The town’s full of creativity, we wanted to give artists a platform.”
- Bigger venue: After a packed debut at Smile Bar, the event outgrew its original space and upgraded to the Town Hall.
- Travel-worthy line-up: Artists came from Huddersfield, Suffolk, Cumbria — even Gran Canaria — so locals could book distinctive work without travelling.
Estimated attendance:
~900–1,000 on the day (≈700 presold + ~200 door, plus friends/family with artists).
“Huddersfield’s a bit of a tattoo town — why not celebrate that?”
First-timers to lifers: tattoos then and now
From “Chinese symbols in a caravan” to conventional pieces by visiting international artists, the chats captured how tattoo culture has shifted from taboo to mainstream — and how cover-ups and refinements have become an art form in their own right.
Merch, memories & what’s next
Festival merch moved fast (“head to the stall and support the event”), and with the Town Hall buzzing most of the day, Tom and Liam confirmed plans to return next year — details TBC once the team has debriefed.
How to follow/ book:
Instagram: @huddersfieldtattoofest (primary channel)
Also on: Facebook and via Town Hall event listings.
“We’re cutting out the travel — bringing top artists to Huddersfield, on your doorstep.”
If you go next year: quick tips
- Arrive early: popular artists book up quickly; some take day-of flash.
- Do your homework: bring inspo, know your style, ask about aftercare.
- Bring cash/card: for deposits, piercings, and that one-off print you’ll regret leaving behind.
- Check Instagram first: last-minute availability and flash updates often post to @huddersfieldtattoofest and artist profiles.
