Quiz question: what do the fabled protectors of the Holy Grail have in common with the Anglo-Burmese War, Leeds Town Hall, 144 Test wickets, and the hero of the battle of Camperdown? The answer – which I’m sure you’ll have guessed – is that they’re all commemorated in the names of Leeds pubs.

The Duncan

At Camperdown in 1797, the Dutch fleet was defeated by the Royal Navy under the command of Admiral Duncan; Duncan now has not only a pub but a whole street named after him (for those of you who aren’t too quick on the uptake, or are reading this after chucking-out time, the pub is The Duncan, on Duncan Street).

The General Elliott

The Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, meanwhile, was the career highlight of Ripon-born William Henry Elliott. Elliott’s army career took him from fighting Napoleon in Europe to serving the Empire in Australia, India and Burma; eventually, in 1871, he was made a general, and is remembered as General Elliott in the name of a Boar Lane boozer.

Templar Hotel

And the Holy Grail? According to myth, the Grail was in the care of the Knights Templar, an order of religious knights founded at the time of the Crusades to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. Over time, the Templars became immensely powerful throughout much of Europe – Yorkshire not excepted.

Temple Newsam takes its name from the chivalrous grail-guardians, who maintained a community there. They owned a lot of property in Leeds; any building owned by the Templars was marked with a cross – a shorthand way of telling visiting tax-collectors where they could stick their Final Demands, because the Templars were exempt.

The Templars – whose rules did not allow them to get drunk – might not have appreciated the tribute, but yes, they, too, have a pub named after them: the Templar (note to older readers: no, it’s nothing to do with The Saint), on Vicar Lane.

It’s an unfortunate pub-goers’ truism that pubs with historical names tend to be the ones that are at best old-fashioned and at worst quite frightening (and at very worst owned by JD Wetherspoon’s). But the Templar has a lot going for it – not least the fact that it’s evidently steeped in more recent history.

The Templar has been a pub since the early 19th century. First owned by Leeds & Wakefield Breweries, it later passed to the venerable Leeds brewer Melbourne’s; the beautiful tiled exterior, complete with signs for ‘Lounge’ and ‘Vaults’, date from the Melbourne’s era.

It’s been a Tetley pub since 1964, and retains plenty of characterful old-style touches, including leaded windows and seating booths separated off by stained-glass screens.

Whitelocks (Turks Head)

But the granddaddy of Leeds pubs is unquestionably Whitelocks – or the Turk’s Head, as it was known when it was established in 1715.

This pub, just off Briggate, was serving beer before George Washington was born; when it first opened its doors to a crowd of hungry Leeds merchants and shoppers, Queen Victoria’s great-great-great-grandfather, George I, was on the throne.

The Turk’s Head really came into its own in 1867, when John Lupton Whitelock took over. Much of the ornate decor that gives the pub its unique character today – including an abundance of etched mirrors and polished brass – dates from JL Whitelock’s day. He was also responsible for installing some new-fangled nonsense called ‘electricity’.

Whitelock’s First City Luncheon Bar was handed on to John Lupton’s son, and then to his son’s sons. Theatre stars and even royalty (George, Duke of Kent, younger brother of stammering monarch George VI) dined there; the poet John Betjeman described it as ‘the very heart of Leeds’.

You’re unlikely to see Angelina Jolie or Kate Middleton supping there now, it’s true – but still, ‘the heart of Leeds’ sounds just about right.

Pubs named after Leeds’ historic past

Hedley Verity’s fame rests on the 144 Test wickets he took as a slow left-arm bowler for England. The Headingley-born Verity also took nearly 2,000 first-class wickets, served with distinction in the second world war – and has a Wetherspoon’s named after him on Woodhouse Lane.

Another Wetherspoon’s, the Cuthbert Brodrick on Millennium Square, commemorates the architect of Leeds Town Hall, the Corn Exchange, and the Mechanics’ Institute (now Leeds City Museum).

Leeds: home to war-hero’s, and tax evading knights

Pubs – even ones with sticky carpets and stale beer – are symbols of continuity within communities. The old pubs of of Leeds bear this out: where else can you so conveniently and comfortably be made aware of your town’s links with a long-dead general, a war-hero cricketer, or even a legendary band of tax-evading knights?

Even something as unremarkable as learning that your local boozer was a miner’s pub or an Irish pub in your granddad’s day, or that the pub you walk past every morning has stood there for more than two centuries, can trigger an evocative moment of connection – of belonging, even.

Of course, it helps if they can pull a decent pint, too…

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Walk around the best historic pubs in Leeds

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The pubs of Leeds – or, at least, the good pubs of Leeds – are strewn haphazardly about the city, some here, some there, others in the backside of nowhere, leaving the uninitiated drinker in grave danger of stumbling unaware into a JD Wetherspoon’s. Clearly, some sort of helpful and informative guide is needed. This guide is that guide.

My definition of a pub

But first we need to define our terms. By ‘pub’, I mean something that could never be described as a ‘bar’ – which means that I’m not going to talk about such genuinely marvellous watering-holes as North Bar, Sela, the Reliance, or – most marvellous of all – the Nation of Shopkeepers.

No, I’m talking about boozers. Another qualification: I’m not one of those pub-goers who judge by beer alone – the sort that will tolerate overflowing toilets, hallucinogenic decor and a jukebox that features nothing but the works of Collins-era Genesis as long as there’s cask-conditioned Arkwright’s Old Coldsore on the hand-pump.

I do demand decent beer, but I’d also like good atmosphere, nice surroundings, a good range of snacks and spirits, and, if it’s not too much trouble, wine that doesn’t take the enamel off your teeth.

Grove Inn

So where should we start? How about the Grove Inn, an incongruously old-school pub nestled at the foot of the looming Bridgewater Plant tower-block complex. It’s widely known for two things: good beer and good music (as you might expect, we’re not talking the latest in dubstep or electro here, but if the prospect of jazz bands and folk-singing doesn’t scare you off then there are few better venues in West Yorkshire).

There are also more eclectic attractions. For instance, you have the choice of a number of rooms in which to drink and talk, which makes for good atmosphere and avoids that undesirable Wetherspoony airport-lounge feel. There’s also often an elderly terrier to be found wandering about the place: a treat for the old-school pub aficionado.

The Cross Keys

At the same end of town, just a shortish stroll down Water Lane, is, for my money, the best pub in town. The Cross Keys belongs to the stable of venues that includes North Bar, Further North in Chapel Allerton and Alfred’s in Meanwood (as well as, brilliantly, the Mr Frothy mobile bar).

It’s stylish without being cold, and classy without being snooty; the range of ales is fantastic (there’s a pump dedicated to beers from Knaresborough’s Roosters brewery, always one cask stout or porter on tap, and two pumps’ worth of guest ale), and it’s obvious that this is a place that cares about the quality of its wines and spirits.

It’s also a gastro-pub in the proper sense of the term: not uninspired Thai fishcakes and sauce-slathered barbecue chicken, but traditional British food made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients; the acclaimed Sunday roasts are a match for your mum’s, and there’s a kids’ menu, too. And if the weather permits, there’s loads of room to sit, drink and eat outside in the courtyard. Caveat: it’s not cheap. But there’re few better places to spend your Sunday.

The Victoria Hotel

Saunteringly slightly downmarket, we find ourselves considering the venues managed by the increasingly ubiquitous Nicholson’s chain, which, by maintaining an admirable focus on real ale and sausages, seems to have gathered most of Leeds’ historic pubs in its embrace. You can be sniffy about chain pubs, if you want – but if do, you’ll be missing out.

The Victoria Hotel on Great George Street, behind the Town Hall, is a striking chunk of Victoriana in the heart of the city. Many of the pub’s original nineteenth-century features remain (it was built in 1865): it’s not the most stylish venue you’ll ever see, but it’s steeped in history and retains a bustling charm.

It’s spacious and split into several rooms, so it’s seldom too hard to find a seat (if you’re lucky, you might be able to grab a berth in one of the handsome windowed booths by the bar). This being a Nicholson’s, the range of ales is generous bordering on the bewildering, the prices are none-too-painful, and the food will do. It’s handily situated, too: northwards is the run of lovably scruffy pubs up to the university and beyond, while on the other side of the Town Hall are ale-fanciers’ favourites Mr Foley’s and the Town Hall Tavern.

The Adelphi

Lovers of pub Victoriana should also be sure to stop by another of Leeds’ crowning glories: the Adelphi Hotel on Hunslet Rd, just across the bridge on the way out of town. Like any great institution, the Adelphi has its chunterers and hecklers who mutter that it’s not as good as it used to be – which may be true, but doesn’t really detract from the pub’s excellence.

It’s a huge place, quartered into four downstairs and also boasting an upstairs bar and sheltered (if not hugely sheltered) beer garden/smokers’ huddling-place.

The beer is always varied and well-chosen, the food is very good, the bar snacks are impressively unusual, and the staff are simply great. When the post-work crowd are out in force, even the Adelphi’s seating resources can be stretched, but the service always remains friendly and efficient (or at least as efficient as can be expected in the face of a four-deep bar-scrum).

The pub prides itself on being a Sunday-afternoon specialist, laying out newspapers and offering top-notch Sunday roasts and potent Bloody Marys. The only problem with that is, after a big Saturday night out, you might be reluctant to inflict further damage on your pocket by stumping up for the Adelphi’s on-the-steep-side prices.

But never mind that: the Adelphi is a real all-rounder, daytime or night-time, schoolnight or weekend, real-ale or craft Euro-lager, suit-and-shoes or beard-and-check-shirt.

Additional recommended Leeds pubs

This is only a small selection, of course, of the praiseworthy pubs to be found in Leeds city centre. I haven’t mentioned the distinctly raffish and budget-friendly Angel in its just-off-Briggate yard, or, a few doors down, the historic Whitelocks. And that’s only in LS1 – once you venture into the suburbs, a whole new world of pub-opportunity opens up. But that will have to wait for another day. For now – that’s time, gentlemen, please.

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Favourite real ale pubs in Leeds city centre

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The festive revelry is over for another year, but never fear! The upcoming months of health and austerity needn’t be dull. Leeds is full to bursting with great live music over the next two months, with a range of exciting touring bands as well as a host of local talent to light up your winter nights.

In fact, now there’s no boring office parties getting in the way of proceedings there’s no excuse to not be on the front row nursing a healthy orange juice… or a beer, if you please.

The Cockpit

First off the blocks is the Cockpit, and it‘s a strong start for 2012 under the arches. We’ve got explosive lady-rock from Wild Flag (featuring former members of Sleater-Kinney) who are pimping their brilliant debut album around Europe – they’ll be dropping in on Leeds on the 29th January to put some spark into Sunday night.

February sees lo-fi genius from the critically lauded tUnEyArDs on the 13th and atmospheric Swedish future-pop from Little Dragon on the 23rd. Dubstep (ish) producer SBTRKT stops off on the 24th February – he’s remixed everyone from MIA to Basement Jaxx and is now taking the stage to push his own brand of catchy wub-wub. There’s also Mancunian electro-indie from The Whip on the 25th February, following up on their knockout performance at last year’s Live At Leeds.

Leeds University Union

Student haunts will be getting busy again from mid January, so expect crowds for Lee Scratch Perry on the 2nd February and the ever-reliable Mr Scruff on the 25th, both at LUU. Also at Stylus on the 20th January is europhic chillwave sensation Anthony Gonzalez, aka m83, currently riding a fresh wave of interest following the success of 2011’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

Brudenell Social Club

Local favourite the Brudenell Social hosts Scottish indie-poppets Veronica Falls on the 28th January and percussive folkisms from Slow Club on the 8th February.

The Wardrobe

On a similarly woozy indie tip you might want to check out the lush harmonies of the startlingly talented First Aid Kit at the Wardrobe on February 28th. These Swedish sisters have drawn comparisons to Fleet Foxes and Joni Mitchell, but their heart-melting balladry stands alone.

City Varieties

The recently re-opened City Varieties is starting 2012 with some suitably big acts – re-live Britpop’s greatest anthems with the Lightning Seeds on the 10th February, and catch music legends Elkie Brooks and Fairport Convention on the 22nd and 25th February respectively. King Creosote and collaborator John Hopkins also grace the stage on the 9th February, with music from their Mercury nominated album Diamond Mines.

Leeds 02 Academy

The O2 Academy welcomes more household names – James Morrison on the 17th February is now sold out, but at the time of writing there are still tickets for MTV2 sensations Panic! At The Disco on January 26th and the NME Awards Tour on February 15th which this year features the hotly tipped Metronomy and the seriously profane Azealia Banks.

If you’re looking for something with a little less hype and a lot more heart, the sublime instrumental dream-rock of Explosions In The Sky is also at the O2 on the 24th January and promises to be the best of the bunch.

The Well

Over at The Well, veteran local label Bombed Out hosts its annual New Year New Start all-dayer on the 28th January, featuring gruff punks the Dauntless Elite, feel-good choruses from Caves and all-round awesomeness from Pontefract powerhouse Above Them, among many others. If this sort of scuzzy basement rock is your thing, you’d also do well to catch noisy Cornish 3 piece Bangers at the Royal Park Cellars on February 13th.

Mint Warehouse

Finally, it’s time to dance Minimal tech prodigy Nicolas Jaar returns to Leeds on the 27th January for an eagerly anticipated live set at brand new Mint Warehouse. His self-described “blue-wave” takes electronic music to sparse, emotional places and will delight house music enthusiasts and IDM geeks alike.

Hi-Fi

If you love electronic music but that all sounds a bit serious, you may prefer the glitchy pop stylings of the fantastic Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs at the Hi-Fi on 10th February. Previous live shows have featured glittery canons and actual (sort of) dinosaurs, so get your dancing shoes on and check your chin-stroking at the door.

As ever, this is only the tip of what’s on offer over the next few months in our fair city. Make your new years resolution to take a chance on some new music – who knows, you might just find your next favourite band.

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Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Leeds gigs to kick off the New Year

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On one side of New Briggate stands a gaudy slew of fried-chicken and kebab outlets. On the other side, in stark contrast, stands the dramatic façade of the Grand Theatre, a fifty-metre-long array of Gothic arches and Romanesque flourishes – and beside the Grand can be found one of Leeds’ most beautiful and intimate performance venues.

The historic Howard Assembly Room

The Howard Assembly Room has quite a history. The venue opened in 1879, one year after the Grand itself, and sought to provide an upmarket alternative to the city’s beery, vulgar music halls; on offer at the Room in those early days were such classy entertainments as conjurers (one ‘Dr Lynn’ topped bill at the Rooms’ first show) and minstrel shows, as well as musical performances. In 1911, the Room was turned into a cinema; in 1923, a fire ripped through the building, gutting the lower floor.

Like many a theatrical celebrity, the Assembly Room went through a disreputable phase in the 70s and early 80s: for a number of years, the venue was known not as the Howard Assembly Room but as the Plaza, and the shows were not so much upmarket as X-rated. The Plaza was one of Leeds’ best known ‘adult’ cinemas.

Venue for the best live music and theatre

But now, after a major restoration project, the Room has put their seedy past behind them and once again offer some of the best live music and theatre to be found in the region. They take their current name from Dr Keith Howard, their most generous benefactor.

The programme of events is carefully co-ordinated, General Manager Richard Ashton told me on my visit. There’s no question of simply signing up whichever acts happen to be touring nearby. At the same time, the line-up is anything but predictable: forthcoming performances include music from the pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and the classical ensemble Endymion, talks by authors including Jon Ronson and Dorian Lynskey, and any number of acclaimed acts that – in the best possible way – can only be filed under ‘unclassifiable’.

Even when empty, the Assembly Room has an entrancing combination of intimacy and grandeur. Not to mention versatility: this is a space, Richard pointed out, that is at home hosting rehearsals for a full orchestra (Opera North are resident for 23 weeks of the year) as seats for a 300-capacity folk gig or the ‘Little Movers’ song and dance workshops for local toddlers.

Eye catching barrel-vaulted roof. Photo credit: Richard Moran

Eye catching Howard Assembly Room

Most eye-catching is the barrel-vaulted roof, a crowning glory that happily escaped the ravages of the 1923 fire. The leaded stained-glass windows – curtained during performances – and elegant pale-wood fittings suggest hush and harmony. Unlike many vintage venues, the Room is easy on the ear as well as on the eye; the acoustics, thanks to careful architectural management, are superb. The performers on the night of my visit offered contrasting responses to their hallowed surroundings.

Great acoustics for live music

Opening the show was Devonian John Smith, the UK’s latest folk-music star. He started with a murmured tribute to the beauty of the Room. Kitted out with requisite folkie beard and waistcoat, Smith spent the rest of his set doing utterly extraordinary things with his guitar and a voice that appears to be least forty years older than his body. The close-to-capacity crowd was grateful for the Rooms’ gloriously warm acoustics.

The main event, US folk-blues-jazz-whatever musician Jolie Holland, was less enamoured of the venerable venue. ‘I don’t like playing in theatres,’ she reported, apologetically, after botching a chord in her opening song.

Holland’s diverse set nevertheless made the most of the Steinway on stage (‘ten grand’s worth of piano,’ Richard Ashton had told me proudly during the sound-check). Annoyance at a persistent hum from her guitar amp (‘it’s communicating with aliens now’) didn’t keep her from wrapping up a great performance with an unplanned encore.

Close link between the Assembly Room and the Grand

Exiting via the plush stairways of the Grand’s opulent lobby is a reminder of the close link between the Assembly Rooms and its bigger next-door neighbour. It’s a link that takes many forms, from the event scheduling– which seeks to ensure that the two venues offer complementary programmes – to the decor, which is similarly co-ordinated, the Rooms’ carved-wood banisters and balustrades mirrored in darker timber next door.

The Howard Assembly Room has few rivals in the city when it comes to jazz, folk, classical and pretty much every kind of arts performance. What’s more, there are some great bars (North Bar, Sela, the Reliance) within a stone’s throw. And, of course, if you fancy a kebab afterwards, you only need to go across the road.

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Night out at the Howard Assembly Room

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With summer finally here, why not take the time to peruse some of Leeds’ finest riverside establishments. All the bars that have been chosen are within a short distance of each other. This is the perfect opportunity to wile away a lazy afternoon barhopping at various alehouses with little effort, whilst enjoying some fantastic views to boot.

Calls Landing

This cosy stew and oyster kitchen sits opposite brewery wharf, adjacent to Centenary Bridge, with clear views westward over the River Aire towards Bridge End. The inviting beer garden overlooks the river, offering excellent table service for both food and drinks. Yet the interior industrial furnishings encompass a stylish and warm atmosphere with welcoming staff and clientele from both in and out of town.

The bar boasts a good selection of beers and lagers on tap, including Bullmers, Guinness, Heineken, Sagres and Amstel, as well as a variety of real ales at reasonable prices. If you prefer a glass of wine the prices do veer towards the higher end of the scale.

This is made up for with the excellent value and quality of the food menu. Calls Landing has 3 daily stews, all served with greek yoghurt, toasted seeds, rocket salad, cheese and crusty bread. The stews are unique and interesting, for example, they have a 3-bean chilli con carne with smoked bacon. There are also vegetarian options, such as spiced butternut squash with cream corn, garden peas and mint. As well as eating in, the stew is available to take away if you want lunch on the go.

Calls Landing hosts a pub quiz every Monday evening. The quiz is free to enter, with a free stew offered to all participants and first place winning a £40 bar tab – an extremely generous offer in comparison to many other quiz nights. The pub also has an exciting range of champagne and oyster offers.

Oracle

Leaving Calls Landing, just a hop, skip and a jump over Centenary Bridge, you arrive at Oracle. The bar is central to a circular room with a spacious seating area and large windows overlooking the river. The exterior decking doubles Oracle’s seating capacity and credits itself as Leeds’ largest waterfront setting. The interior of Oracle is light and funky; it offers a relaxed haven away from the main hustle and bustle of the city whilst still maintaining that trendy atmosphere.

The menu consists of more conventional bar food, including sandwiches, wraps and burgers. There are a number of weekly offers, such as half price burgers every Monday. The bar has a substantial cocktail list with seasonal drinks menus and offers available.

Oracle hosts a club night on its first floor every Saturday from 10pm to 5am. There are four different nights each Saturday of the month – Mode, Candy Pants, Discretion and Vision – this club has something for everyone. The combination of relaxed afternoon drinking, food and club nights makes Oracle one of a kind; you can a grab a bite to eat, watch the sunset with a drink, and then head upstairs to dance the night away!

Aire Bar

Aire Bar is a basement establishment located next to Calls Landing. The stairs at the main entrance lead you down into a roomy lounge with vaulted ceilings and a homely atmosphere. The bar is partitioned into several rooms, with areas for eating and more casual sofa areas, giving it an intimate feel, yet still having space for a large amount of people.

This waterfront pub has a balcony that runs along the front rooms, and sits directly over the river, delivering that ultimate riverside experience. The lengthy bar is situated at the opposite side of the lounge, allowing for prompt service and reducing those after work/weekend drinks queues.

The Aire Bar menu contains your typical range of snacks including sandwiches, wraps and burgers, and also a small selection of mains such as scampi, all day breakfast, chicken, leek and ham pie and braised lamb shank. All are extremely reasonably priced considering the quantity of the food that you get on your plate. You can also get a cheap burger-and-a-pint deal every Monday. In addition to this, Aire Bar has several other attractive features; a pool table, free Wi-Fi and is available for private hire.

Pubs with river views in Leeds city centre

These riverside bars, and the tranquil ambience of the River Aire itself, are far removed from the commotion of Leeds city centre, whilst only ever being a short walk away from wherever you are. City-dwellers can find a certain escapism in these serene waterfront settings; whether it be for a quiet lunchtime break, or to relax with a group of friends on a summer evening.

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Bars with river views in Leeds

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As summer approaches many of us start to yearn for the great outdoors, so what could be better than a pleasant afternoon or evening spent in a beer garden? Needless to say, Leeds is not short of places to enjoy the outdoor life with a pint or two, and so I have picked out some of the best for you to try.

Midnight Bell

Owned by the independent Leeds Brewery, the Midnight Bell has a contemporary interior, balanced by old oak beams and brickwork, but come summer you may well prefer their spacious beer garden. The beer is good, with cask ales including some of Leeds Brewery’s own, along with a good selection of guest ales, lagers and ciders, both bottled and draught.

There is a good menu of seasonal food that includes pigeon breast, duck leg and Swaledale sausage.

The Original Oak

This is a lively pub, well-loved by both students and local revellers, and it boasts a beer garden of magnificent proportions which gets really popular on sunny afternoons. The Original Oak pub itself is sizeable inside, with different bars on both ground and the first floors.

Here you’ll find a reasonable variety of drinks at reasonable sorts of prices, and a value-for-money pub food menu of grills, burgers, and curries. Overall, the Original Oak is a great place to be if you enjoy a pub that’s heaving with life.

The Palace

The Palace doesn’t exactly have a beer garden, but the seats and tables outside at the front tend to draw a lively crowd. The Palace itself is an elegant old building that goes back to the 1700’s, and nowadays is a traditional pub with an impressive variety of real ales, and a good choice of lagers too.

There is an exciting pub food menu that includes salmon en croute and chicken pie with cider sauce. It is also the only pub I have come across that serves that lovely gooey mix of raspberries, meringue and cream known as Eton Mess.

The Calls Landing

Relaxed and stylish, Calls Landing has the loveliest of riverside gardens, where you can enjoy a quiet drink or meal with a fabulous vista out over the River Aire. The menu here is select and small, offering a few things that are done really well, and specialising particularly in stews and oysters.

You can also get salads, pasta dishes, freshly baked bread, bruschetta, and the yummiest of homemade cakes. There are plenty of drinks to go at as well, with real ales that include Theakston’s, a formidable selection of bottled ciders including strawberry and lime cider from Sweden, and also there are wines from across the globe.

The Bankhouse Inn

Just outside the market town of Pudsey is this lovely eighteenth century pub with a beer garden that enjoys a panoramic view over the Fulneck Valley. The Bankhouse serves real ales and has an extensive range of wines. There is a menu of traditional home cooked food that includes steak, Whitby scampi, lasagne and curry.

There is also a special Sunday menu that includes a full three course lunch. The Bankhouse has plenty of parking space, and you are even welcome to bring your dog along.

The Mustard Pot

This is an award winning pub housed in a charming Georgian building with an extensive paved patio area outside, which is wonderful for whiling away a summer afternoon. The Mustard Pot does a seasonal menu of home made dishes, and as well as finding such interesting delicacies as beef, mushroom and Guinness pie, rabbit lasagne, and squid salad, there are also lovely old favourites such as bangers and mash, and fish and chips.

Add to that a good selection of draught beers and lagers, that includes a proud array of cask ales, as well as an international variety of bottled beers, lagers and ciders, and, not surprisingly, plenty of wine to go at too.

Dry Dock

The Dry Dock is a pub of distinctive character – which it has to be really, given that it’s a boat that’s somehow incongruously wound up on a road in an inland city. It does not have a beer garden as such, but there’s plenty of space to sit out – you can choose from the grassed area around the pub, or the top deck of the boat.

Popular with students, this is a good hangout for drinks, burgers, games machines, and some games of pool. There are lots of cheap deals on drinks on various nights, with the emphasis definitely on lagers, alcopops, cocktails and a good time.

So from popular student hangouts to suburban gastropubs, there are some terrific places in Leeds to enjoy the sunny afternoons and the warm evenings, along with friends, a few drinks, and something good to eat.

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Relax in these Leeds pub beer gardens

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Leeds has a thriving musical scene, and has produced many artists. These include both national chart topping bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, but also smaller, more local bands that play small venues around the city. In this guide I’ve featured a few of the more popular live music venues in Leeds.

O2 Academy

Situated in the heart of the town centre the O2 Academy is the place to catch established artists touring the UK. The largest of Leeds live music venues also holding club regular club nights. Has some of the most professional and friendly staff around. You will find the 02 Academy near Millennium Square.

The Faversham

Restaurant by day, bar by night and club in the early hours, the Faversham has something to suit all types. It has an amazing list artists that have played there and is the place to go to find up and coming Leeds bands. There is a huge range of music on offer from pop, dance, indie, hip-hop, electro, new wave and rock. This place has a really laid-back attitude and great atmosphere day or night.

The Cockpit

Concealed under the railway arches the Cockpit has three rooms showcasing the best of Leeds bands as well as international acts. It is almost guaranteed to have a great act on each night and the place to go for those seeking out some musical delights and electrifying performances. Its stage has seen performances ranging from electro, acoustic, indie, rock, alt country, metal, skate-punk and ska.

Nation of Shopkeepers

With a capacity of around 850 with a courtyard and outdoor heaters, Nation of Shopkeepers is the place to go for lazy summer afternoons and to dance away the evening. When the weather is nice a dj plays outside getting people on the mood with tracks including alt country, electronic and light rock.

Live music comes most in the form of mostly indie bands as is for the young, hip and those with trendy haircuts, although it does have a friendly and unpretentious attitude. The food is great with a good selection of drinks and free entry most nights.

The Verve

One of the smallest of Leeds venues, the Verve has an extremely intimate and relaxed ambience. The music played comes mostly in the form of acoustic acts, as the stage is simply not big enough to hold a full band. The bands that do perform however are handpicked and breathtakingly good.

The Well

A venue with probably the best musical heritage of Leeds bands gracing the stage at the start of their careers. It seems that any successful Northern band has played at this venue at some time or another. The Well, holds a club night of loud and heavy rock and metal and has been furnished with comfort in mind.

The New Roscoe

With strong connections to Irish music it also hosts bands from a wide variety of genres. Folk, rock, stoner rock, ska, new wave, punk, psychedelic rock, as well as tribute bands covering the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s all set in an honest pub environment. The New Roscoe is situated less than 10 minutes walk from the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Hopefully this guide will give you a start to the places to check out for the latest gigs and live music events.

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Like most of my nights out with friends in the city centre we all agree which pub we are going to start off at and then see where our legs take us. When you are out of with friends you try and cater for everyone and the good thing about Leeds is that there’s a lot of choice, including cocktail bars to real ale pubs and rock bars. While my favourite places to drink in the city centre are North Bar and Midnight Bell, I thought I would share my experiences on a recent midweek night out in Leeds.

The Wrens

You will find the Wrens on the corner of New Briggate, and a short walk to the Grand Theatre. From the outside it looks a little run down, and inside, the decoration is a little dated, but who cares about that huh when good real ales are on offer including Timothy Taylors Landlord as well as a range of guest ales. The pub is split into three rooms, and upstairs are eight en-suite rooms in the hotel.

Mojo Bar

At £14 for 4 small bottles of beer, Mojo is certainly not the cheapest bar in Leeds but if you are a cocktail lover then this is the place for you. Before you all yell at me, I realise that it is a cocktail bar but for us beer lovers, they only had five bottled beers on offer. It was good to try something different though – I had a bottle of Blue Moon which was refreshing. On the walls are photos of music stars, and a huge colour image of the Beatles next to the seating area – it was different. We were the only people in the bar, but I am sure on a Friday and Saturday night the atmosphere is brilliant.

The Templar

Like most pubs that sell cheap beer, they can attract undesirables, but on a recent visit to The Templar I was pleasantly surprised. You will find the usual drinks; Tetley’s, Guinness, Carling, but it was good to see five guest beers which included Saltaire Blonde, Leeds Pale and some other beers that I forgot to make a mental note of. They were TV screens showing sport and the news; we sat and watched the cricket world cup. It cost £6 for 4 pints, and the pub was full of people which made for a friendly atmosphere.

Bier Keller

When Bier Keller opened I thought it was good idea to open a German themed bar, it offered something different to the Leeds nightlife, and I love wheat beer. I was really disappointed because the choice of beer is poor, and it was expensive. It seems to have attracted people who cannot take their beer and want to chant football songs. It lacked any of the atmosphere that I’ve witnessed at bars in Berlin and Munich. It was just another bar with benches instead of chairs and tables.

Ayra Persian restaurant

A no frills Persian restaurant that serves delicious Middle Eastern food. I’ve been three times now, and I have never been disappointed. A good choice of food on the menu and the service is always good. I had the Paneer starter which consisted of halloumi cheese, charcoal pepperoni and salad. For the main course I had chicken kebab, with rice, salad.

Obviously you cannot purchase alcohol inside the restaurant, but we were allowed to bring our own bottle, so we went next door for a bottle of wine. The restaurant is located opposite the Discovery Inn near the entrance to the dark arches.

Scarborough Taps

Our final stop was to Scarborough Taps which is always busy no matter what day of the week you visit. It has a good range of hand pulled beers and ales. The guest beers rotate regularly so a good place to try out beers you wouldn’t normally drink. Friendly atmosphere and well located to stagger back to the train station. My tip would be to avoid when Leeds United are playing at home because it is a popular stop-off for supporters, and gets incredibly very busy. You can sit outside but with the traffic noise I would head to the Palace if you want good beer and place to sit out in the sun.

Cheapest pub on this Leeds pub crawl

This Leeds pub crawl has a relatively short walk between each pub/bar. The cheapest round (4 of us) was (roughly) £6 at the Templar, the most expensive £17 at the Bier Keller. The meal at Ayra, for two courses cost around £12 which I thought was good value for money.

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Ideas for a good night out in Leeds

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With the nights now getting lighter, thoughts invariably begin to turn towards spring and summer and for those with children there is the relief of being able to spend more time outdoors with the dark winter weekends on the way out. There are plenty of activities for families to engage in in and around Leeds and one of the joys for many is being able to finish a day out with a visit to the pub.

Finding family friendly pubs

The past few years has seen an emergence of play-gym’s and other similar establishments that are specifically catered and tailored solely towards those with children. Whilst these can serve a purpose, they are not to everyone’s taste and in the main can lack the appeal and atmosphere that many pubs offer.

Fortunately, Leeds has a variety on offer in terms of pubs that have a family-friendly feel to them – be it beer gardens, activities or even just a welcoming staff and friendly environment. Below, we profile some of the best of them:

Roundhay Fox, Roundhay

The Roundhay Fox is located right on the edge of Roundhay Park, one of the largest city parks in Europe and opposite to Tropical World. This ideal location presents a real opportunity for a child-friendly establishment, and they don’t disappoint. Although quite a sizeable pub inside, it does have the feel of being a much smaller establishment. Outside, there’s a large seating area filled with solid-looking hardwood tables and chairs, some with umbrellas, some without.

The outdoor area can be a real sun trap (weather permitting of course!) and an ideal spot to enjoy a drink or a meal either pre or post walk around Roundhay Park. The staff are friendly and the service good, making it really good option overall when considering a family day out.

New Inn, Eccup

An excellent pub set amongst five acres of land. The pub has a great ambience; a roaring fire, great food and good selection of drinks (including four real ales). The Sunday lunches are popular and generous in their sizes, also offering a decent children’s menu. Not only is the New Inn child-friendly (with high chairs and changing facilities) but there is the added bonus of a dedicated area for children with various toys and activities available.

The New Inn features a restaurant area, lounge bar and tap room in addition to a large family room with pool table and french doors to outside beer garden, surrounded by privet hedges and with swings and slides to keep children entertained.

White Rose, Morley

The White Rose, as its name suggests is located close to the White Rose shopping centre. It is a fairly modern building, with plenty of parking available that is a popular choice for families given its welcoming nature. The staff are very friendly and the service good, with a wide choice of food available.

Although primarily a destination for those looking to eat, the pub though is sizeable and as a result is more than big enough to cater for those who may just be looking for a drink, and is most definitely a good destination for those looking for a stop off after a days shopping.

The New Inn, Scarcroft

Dating back to 1852, the New Inn (formally The Bracken Fox) was originally known as the New Inn and the present building is a 1930′s roadhouse which was built adjacent to the site of the older building. Located off the beaten track in Scarcroft, they offer a great selection of beers whilst the food menu has plenty to cater for all tastes.

Being close to Hetchell Crags, the grand looking pub is a popular stop off with walkers and climbers whilst the pub’s huge gardens are popular for those who love fresh air and are ideal for families with children who love to run about.

Myrtle Tavern, Meanwood

Situated on Parkside Road, a short distance to Meanwood Park, the Myrtle Tavern is another pub ideally located for a well earned visit following an afternoon or day out. The pub is well located, overlooking the green. The land belonging to the pub is sizeable, with a nice children’s play area and picnic benches perfect for a summer’s day out with the family.

We hope you enjoy these family friendly pubs in and around Leeds.

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Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Guide to family friendly pubs in Leeds

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We have had a few people request a guide on cosy pubs in Leeds and come winter there’s nothing like snuggling up somewhere that is warm, friendly and welcoming, so it’s nice to find a pub where you can thaw out round a warm, cosy fireplace. So here are a few pubs in Leeds that have just that.

Lounge Bar and Grill

With its huge open fire and charming vintage decor this cocktail bar provides a rather unique atmosphere where you can enjoy modern cocktails, crisp continental beers, and good wines. The Lounge Bar & Grill also have a highly rated restaurant that serves traditionally-inspired local food with a new twist, including lamb dishes, beef and Yorkshire Ale pie, Barnsley chops, black pudding, and beetroot salad.

The Fox and Hounds

This is a gastro pub with a good seasonal menu that currently includes such delightful dishes as crispy onion ring loaf, minted lamb, and even a carrot cake cheesecake. The Fox and Hounds has a good wine selection, and they are also proud of their cask ale – in fact you are welcome to taste ale before you decide which one to have.

At the moment there are plenty of drinks on offer specially chosen with winter in mind, including a wide range of whiskies, mulled wine, and other drinks to keep out the winter cold. Add to this the warming flames of an open fire, and really you have everything you need for a pub evening that will chase away the winter blues.

The Roundhay Fox

With a good reputation for its roast dinners, this pub also has a fine open fire which is just what you need in winter, and which fills the pub full of the pleasant smell of wood smoke. The Roundhay Fox is a good place to come and unwind after an energetic walk in Roundhay Park, particularly if you have worked up an appetite. The pub looks like a converted barn and has a traditional wooden interior. It does real ale, continental lagers and has a good wine selection too.

The Calverley Arms

With a huge roaring fire and the scent of wood smoke, the Calverley Arms does good food at reasonable prices and offers a good choice of real ales, continental lagers and wine. This is a large pub, housed in a beautiful building which is slightly off the beaten track and close to the countryside. If you go there in the summer they have a large enclosed beer garden which is great for children.

The Grove Inn

This fine Victorian pub on the outskirts of the city centre has not succumbed to the temptation to knock through all its lovely original rooms into an open plan area. If that sounds cosy, then what makes the Grove Inn even cosier is its warming open log fire in winter. The cellar is well-kept and you can get a good range of real ales here, served by friendly staff.

Fox and Grapes

A bit out of town, this is a traditional country pub and restaurant that goes back to the eighteenth century when it was a popular resting place for travellers on their way to York or Leeds. Walk in these days and you will feel just as rested as those travellers of yesteryear when you sit in front of the smouldering log fire and enjoy some real ale, or a selection from the excellent wine list.

The menu at the Fox and Grapes is rather exciting and includes Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and French inspired dishes, alongside English roasts and pub favourites. So if you feel the need to forget the icy cold for an evening, head for one of these pubs to enjoy a few drinks, some good food, and a hearty, warming fire that will remind you that winter is not all bad.

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Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

Read our guide to Leeds for ideas on the best places to visit, stay and eat in the city.

Great local pubs with open fires in Leeds

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