The Malt TravAle Podcast
Leeds Pub List
From railway station
There is a Spoons on Leeds Station – surprisingly no name just Wetherspoons Leeds – always seems busy all day but good place to meet up maybe grab breakfast before you head out
Leeds Brewery Tap - long thin pub with lots of seating – upstairs as well can get pretty busy at weekend
Friends of Ham - opening in 2012 this bar and charcuterie has supported brewers who are not afraid to use their skill to challenge taste buds. Good beer blackboard provides information (brewery, ABV and price) on the both the cask an. A three or six sampling tray of third pints is available. Scaffolded bar / modern shabby chic interior
Head west take in the Victoriana of Kirgate market Shouting butchers strange fish and the Corn Exchange mention of the Market Tavern:
Duck and Drake Ei pubs good example of a two-roomed Victorian corner pub retaining some original features. Some very old floorboards always feel like the seating is all around the edge Central bar with up to fifteen handpump offers - often music on and some large music themed murals
Then Market Halls – Longish walk to Adelphi then take in the Tetley and if you want/can trip out to Garden gate
Adelphi - M&B/innkeepers Remarkable Victorian exterior and interior. On CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Had a recent modernish refurb with some nice seating – rooms are quite different in character – usually 3 or 4 beers on
The Tetley former brewery HQ is now an arts centre in the remaining former Tetley Brewery buildings which includes a bar and restaurant. By the entrance is a mini beer museum - glass cabinets with many old bottles of beer from a variety of breweries including many from Tetley’s and Carlsberg.
Garden Gate – was Leeds Brewery now possibly Camerons but future unknown
Heritage pub of great character – a rose amongst a grotty area – was Leeds Brewery so had a rage of Leeds plus guests
Back to Wharf and pick up the water taxi by the Royal Armouries museum this used to be free think you have to pay £1 now but it takes you back to station
The Grove dwarfed by Bridgewater Place (the tallest building in Yorkshire) and lots of modern buildings
Classic example of a Victorian West Riding pub with rooms off a corridor. The front tap room is where the regulars tend to congregate. Reputedly the worlds 1st ever folk club met here and a number of other music myths about the place.
Head from station towards the main retail centre up Briggate
North Brewing Co. Tap - Modern bar with multiple keg taps which supply beer from North Brewing and various other breweries street food franchises also on site – quite a large outdoor seating area
Tapped Leeds - micro brewery on site GBG listed – normally a big Yorkshire focus on beer range n- Retro and modern with large windows that open onto the street when the sun shines and small seating area outside.
Head of Steam Large, spacious building similar to most in this brand – Beer hall as Nick calls them outside – useful screens inside and outside list the massive range of beers
The Passage pubs (could also try the Turks Head)
The Ship - Greene King Pubs Long narrow pub with a single room on two levels with the bar next to the main door. Decorated with nautical memorabilia in keeping with its name and has brass fittings - impressive wall clock
Whitelocks 5 points brewing unmissable. From what pub ‘Stepping out of the Tardis, you are back in Victorian England, stepping through heavy wooden doors, peering round the iron pillars to see the long, wide tiled and copper-topped bar, reading old hand-etched ads in the mirrors.
The bar staff will loom over you but offer a fantastic range of beer always a good hum in here – extensive seating area in the alleyway.
Head up past Harvey Nicks and turn left onto the Headrow and head towards the impressive City Hall and Millenium Square
Choice of :
Foleys Tap House (Now Black Sheep) was formerly Mr Foleys Cask Ale House – Blacksheep also brew/offer York brewery beers. Bar is situated in a Grade II listed Portland Stone building across from Leeds City Hall
Town Hall tavern Timothy Taylors (not many of these in Leeds) Small traditional inter-war pub dating from 1926 - copper topped tables and lots of old photographs of Leeds.
Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel Grade II Listed, was up until recently a Nicholson’s now possibly Black Rose pubs. Built by the Victoria Hotel Company in 1865 as hotel to accommodate visitors to the Assizes Court in Leeds Town Hall Impressive Victorian exterior and ornate interior with high ceilings. There is a long main bar area and two separate rooms all of which feature an array of polished wood and shiny brass
Could jump on a bus and put a foot on the Otley Road Run – Skyrack or 20 minute walk to Northern Monk brewery and refectory
Skyrack Greene King (traditional start Pub for the Otley Run avoid early evening!)
Tardis like and is likley to full of students in various forms of fancy dress– also busy on rugby and circket days. Although one room there are many distinct areas due to the building’s shape does cope well with the crowds though. Lots of black and white photos of the city and its sporting stars in the area beyond the left side of the bar.
If time the Original Oak just across the road is another legendary Otley Road M&B pub with lots of attractive dark leather seating - If yiu have time a far bit further up is Woodies Craft Ale House used to be my favourite on the run.
Northern Monk - The Refectory converted flax mill tap is on the floor above the Brewery. Industrial decor think exposed brickwork and pipes. Full Monk range available with usually a good few dark, sour and strong beers. Third pints are thankfully available
Head back towards Station – a little beyond the station the Grove - oldest folk club in the world, an old gem amongst modern developments or Scarborough Taps or Queens Bar
Queens Bar Q Hotels Hotel bar which is open to the public. In the Grade II listed Queens Hotel which backs on to Station, normally has at least one cask on offer – also do an impressive fish n chips
Scarbrough Hotel (locally the taps) Nicholson’s - benefits from a longstanding landlord busy ale house ideal spot while waiting for your train – Can't miss it with its impressive tiled frontage and usual lovely flower displays - dates from 1765, becoming a pub in 1826. Possibly the most misspelled pub in Leeds, it is named after its first owner, Henry Scarbrough, rather than the seaside town (I note even the Leeds CAMRA great mag ‘Full Measure’ gets the spelling wrong in their feature on the pub in edition 145)
The other pub of note in central Leeds (well one of many) :
The Templar Hotel Green King - regular award winning – fantastic façade with Melbourne Ales prominent – Grade II listed – proper traditional city boozer