The 18 best pubs in Leeds

In fine weather, there is surely no better Sunday than a walk through the Meanwood Valley trail to the Beck & Call. Dogs are welcome, as are children; there’s a great area out front where they can run off steam, and various programmed events throughout the year such as bingo, board games and craft nights which give the venue a warm, community feel. For cool parents who still don’t want to abandon their personality to the title of ‘mum’ or ‘dad’, the Beck & Call is a masterclass in family-friendly branding that still feels trend-led.

If you like live music (especially roc), the Duck & Drake will feel like a good place to sink a pint or two. With bands playing nearly every night of the week, its staff take clear pride in their historical and cultural resonance, happy to tell stories about the many artists and creative folk who have passed across the threshold. It’s a little scruffy around the edges, but for old-school pub lovers, that’s a big part of its charm.

No matter how many once-dingy bars get refurbished and grungy areas become gentrified, there will always be those who prefer to sequester themselves into the comforting and shabby embrace of a scuzzy boozer. With its cheap pints, live music and friendly welcome, The Fenton is one of the last establishments around the city centre not to have succumbed to the lure of the gastro-pub makeover, and has instead retained its rock ‘n’ roll attitude and favour among students for many years.

As the crowning jewel in the slightly grimy Hyde Park crown, Brudenell pulls a consistent crowd of gig goers and students. This spot is fun and unpretentious, decked out with pool tables, plenty of decent (and more importantly cheap) pints on tap and a massive outside seating area - but it’s also an amazing gig venue. In a separate room tucked away next to the main bar, the pub has hosted everyone from Kaiser Chiefs to Grimes, and is the place to see up and coming artists in Leeds.

Despite Leeds having undergone something of a foodie/craft beer revolution in the past couple of years, the Adelphi pub near Brewery Wharf has remained consistently popular. It falls squarely into the ‘proper pub with proper beer’ category, with its cosy Victorian architecture and interior, and many snug rooms with seating branching off from its narrow atrium. As well as the normal range of lagers, there are an impressive 17 speciality draught beers and ciders available at any one time, as well as six real ales. Food-wise, the Adelphi specialises in traditional pub meals, where the focus is very much on getting the basics right.

Built in 1802 as a watering hole for local engineers and factory workers, it is no overstatement to say that The Cross Keys played a pretty important part in Leeds’s industrial revolution. These days, it’s a pretty smart place, with a locally sourced food menu and good range of craft beers, tap ales, belgian bottles and even champagne. If you’re looking for a nice spot to eat a doorstop sandwich while catching up on the crossword, this gastropub is a happy fit.

Out in the cosmopolitan suburb of Chapel Allerton, The Mustard Pot is the sort of place you might pre-book to celebrate an occasion just as readily as you would to grab a quick pint. The bar is well stocked, decor is tasteful and staff are diligent and friendly, but the real jewel in The Mustard Pot’s crown is the food; hearty pub grub which feels refined yet crowd-pleasing. If you think you’ve got room for the fish pie, onion rings and the sticky toffee pudding on top of your casque ales, maybe try sharing the desert instead; the portions here are pretty generous.

A key calling point on the legendary ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl route, The Library on the corner of Woodhouse Moor has been a student haunt for years, combining the tried-and-tested formula of cheap drinks, lots of seating, occasional bands and the quintessential jukebox for loading up throwback tunes. There’s plenty of food to try out, which promises to remedy all manner of ills, from hangovers to long-haul dissertation slogs, with the standard burgers, chips and hot dogs substantial enough to slay the sudden carb cravings of varsity life.

The oldest pub in Leeds, this spectacular place has history going all the way back to 1715. The former marketman’s pub has a beautiful old wooden bar, and the stained glass windows really take you back in time. There are not many of these kinds of pubs around any more, so if you want to get a feel for the rich history of Leeds while drinking a delicious local ale, then Whitelock’s Ale House is the place for you.

If you're looking for a cosy old school boozer this might not be the place - but with 20 different Northern Monk beers on tap and guest beers from around the world, you’ll be sure to find something good to drink. This spacious refectory is a renovated flax mill, and it’s got the exposed brick and pipe warehouse vibe to prove it, furnished with school canteen-style benches and tables. Food is normally good here too - Northern Monk hosts rotating pop-up food vendors (currently it’s Jah Jyot, cooking up Punjabi inspired dishes) and you can even book a tour of the brewery (with tastings included).