Leeds Travel Guide - Drink

Leeds' two large universities means there is a vibrant, diverse and thumping nightlife scene including many clubs as well as a huge range of fine drinking establishments from traditional pubs to ultra chic concept bars. It is estimated that there are over 180 city centre bars and pubs, and around 29 nightclubs with late licenses. Railway arches are increasingly popular as homes for bars and clubs across the length of the city centre. Leeds City Guide is a good source of information, as is the comprehensive (and excellent) listings magazine the Leeds Guide. Leeds was voted Number one city for clubbing . All areas (indeed, most streets) of central Leeds offer something in the way of nightlife, but the main areas are:

• Call Lane in the Exchange Quarter (one of the city's main nightlife districts), offering a range of bars (which many would argue are the best in the city) from chic to bohemian. The area around the Calls and the Parish Church has overspill from Call Lane and some great waterfront bars and restaurants

• The 'yards' off Briggate are home to both traditional pubs and modern bars and clubs. Boar Lane is for the most part made up of standard chain bars and more downmarket drinking establishments, but a few buck the trend. Architecturally lovely Assembly Street has a select number of swanky bars, clubs and restaurants. Greek Street is expensive, but in between the high-end exclusivity are tackier bars attracting a less desirable crowd at weekends. New York Street is becoming increasingly popular. The Northern Quarter, centered on New Briggate and spreading north (and down Grand Arcade) is home to several older Leeds institutions but is now up-and-coming with many hot new venues.

• The Civic Quarter has everything: flashy bars in the Electric Press, traditional pubs, and loud, trendy bars and clubs above Millennium Square

• The financial district has a number of dispersed, chic watering holes. Park Row continues along the same lines as Greek Street

• Brewery Wharf on the south bank is growing as a drinking destination

• Lower Briggate is the centre of Leeds' gay community, and a variety of establishments in the area reflect this, though most are welcoming (and many are popular with) the straight population

Out of the city centre, the districts of Headingley and Chapel Allerton are extremely popular for bars and restaurants. Exclusive Street Lane in Roundhay is also becoming increasingly popular. (See their respective guides for details on specific drinking spots in these areas)

Pubs and bars

Leeds Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) offer free pub guides from their website. What follows is a selection of some of Leeds' highlights, but it is by no means definitive or all-inclusive!

• The Adelphi ✉ Dock Street, river area, Great selection of British beers, interesting decorative mix of Victorian pub architecture and 70s retro decor. A gem! Gay friendly. Good food too (including a few veggie options) at reasonable prices.

• Baby Jupiter ✉ York Place, Ultra-stylish bar which exudes class and has beautiful interiors to match.

• Boutique Fantastic range of cocktails.

• The Duck and Drake A 'locals' pub.

• Epernay ✉ Electric Press/The Carriggeworks, Great George Street, city center, High-quality champagne bar.

• Fab Café Great place to visit if you like your music away from the mainstream, and they actually have what seems to be an original 'Star Wars: The Trilogy' arcade cabinet!

• Further North Hidden gem owned by the people who brought you North Bar. excellent beer selection in a cosy Belgian style corner bar.

• Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen ✉ Millennium Square, city center, Gay-friendly, trendy - a place to meet your date.

• ✉ Call Lane, city center, Thought of by many as having the best drinks in the city, and is on one of the city's busiest bar strips.

• Norman ✉ Call Lane, city center, Sexy and stylish, has bucket-loads of atmosphere and great drinks.

• Milo ✉ Call Lane, city center, Bohemian, has bucket-loads of atmosphere and great drinks. DJs and often a bit of dancing too.

• Mojo Bar ✉ northern quarter, city center, Old favourite still going strong with a wonderful, friendly atmosphere and drinks to die for.

• North Bar ✉ 24 New Briggate, city center, Unrivalled beer selection! Recently named best place to drink in Britain by The Observer.

• The Oracle ✉ Brewery Wharf, river area, Swanky new waterfront bar has a glittering reputation founded on its outstanding cocktail and champagne menu, exclusive members bar, ultra-cool interior design, gourmet burgers, chauffeur service and lovely riverside setting.

• The Palace

• Prohibition ✉ Greek Street, city center, If you like to flash the cash, Greek Street is the place for you - and Prohibition one of its best bars.

• The Reliance ✉ North Street, city center, Laid back, loungy bar, also does great food.

• The Scarbrough Hotel Leeds CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003/4.

• Strawberryfields . Not your usual brewery owned pub.This family run and owned continental style bar is very popular with students, pre drinkers to Halo, otley runners. Located on the main road between met and uni.

• Victoria Family and Commercial Hotel ✉ city center, A refurbished Victorian gem.

• Whitelocks ✉ off Briggate, city center, A great historic pub, one of the most impressive (and oldest) in Leeds.

Leeds' thriving gay village (the city's first annual Pride festival launched in 2006) has a number of venues, including the ever-popular old stalwart Queen's Court, Lower Briggate housed in a fine 17th century building, amongst notable others including Fibre, The Bridge Inn, Blayds Bar, The New Penny, The Viaduct and Religion to name a few.

Clubs

Leeds was voted Best UK City for Clubbing, and certainly not for nothing! People flock to the city from all parts of the country for a bit of the action. It is not uncommon to meet clubbers from London on a night out. The city centre is packed to bursting with bars and clubs, ranging from cutting edge chic to indie and alternative to cheesy tunes for the drunken masses to small select places for people who really like their music (house is still very much in vogue in Leeds, but whatever your musical taste is, you are guaranteed to find something). Here is a short list of some of the best and/or most popular places in the city at the moment:

• Baja Beach Club If you are drunk and want to hear Chesney Hawkes, it’s the place for you.

• The Cockpit ✉ city center,

• Discotheque by Gatecrasher Very popular Saturday nights. £10-£15 entry Sat. Night.

• Halo ✉ city center, Student nightclub located near the university entrance, where you will find Voodoo and Skewed Circus events. Skewed Circus is the pan-Northern funky alternative cabaret event run by theatre, comedy and musical promotions company Komedy Kollective held monthly in Leeds, at the Halo nightclub. Similar high profile monthly events are held at Manchester and Bradford. Halo a mile from the city centre. Voodoo is also always packed and a great night. More mainstream dance.

• Hifi Good range of live music, particularly jazz. Regularly voted the best club in the city, has a range of quality nights out with quality music in easy-going yet chic surroundings...everything from jazz to reggae to hip hop.

• Mint Quality dance music nights. Much to eet.

• Mission Very trendy. Ranging nights, from Glasshouse to Purrfect Electro this has it. It also has some gay nights.

• My House (aka Stinky's Peephouse) - new home for one of the UK's biggest club nights: Back to Basics (Sa).

• Oceana Huge, has a million rooms, overpriced (like all other big nightclubs in Leeds), but it's still fun. 19+ Friday night, 21+ Saturday night. Upstairs can be hired out for private events until 10PM when it opens, but this is a cheap way to get friends ( people or under 21) in on a Saturday night.

• Rehab ✉ Assembly Street, city center, After a shaky period, this club is picking itself back up, having poached ever-popular nights Speedqueen and Fruity.

• The Space Great Thursday nights (Habit) and great weekends sometimes too! Although Fridays and Saturdays are to be avoided unless you know it will be busy, its not really a Friday or Saturday night place.

• Townhouse Very trendy bar (and pseudo-club) for the beautiful (and well-dressed) with a range of music and great drinks. Upstairs can be hired out for private events.

• Wire Quality indie, rock and alternative club.

There are several gay nights (and fully gay venues) in clubs on and around Lower Briggate, including Mission, Fibre and Queen's Court.

The West Indian Centre on Chapeltown Road has a reputation for great fun nights of a less-mainstream kind, including ever-popular monthly Subdub. Whilst the venue itself is friendly and safe (or as safe as can be expected from a club), Chapeltown is infamous in Leeds and to avoid trouble, go in fairly large groups and don't wonder around outside. There are regular buses from the city centre (two miles to the south) or call a cab. Don't walk.