please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I visited this Nicholson’s pub around 10pm on Friday night.
I went straight into the front bar, the place was busy but it was easier to get a seat.
11 pumps serving 9 ales & 1 cider. I choose an ale from Woodforde’s in Norfolk and it was perfect
Constant chatter amongst the regulars made this pub feel very much like a cosy little local instead of a pub in a major town, credit to the staff and locals, it’s a great trait for a pub like this.
Nice old signs around the pub.
Yet another very decent pub in Leeds.
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Now a Nicholsons pub with a good selection of ales. We called on a Wednesday evening and it was very busy. It was a free for all at the bar despite the under resourced staffs best efforts. Service was polite and efficent though, I presume the pub was far busier than anticipated.
Decent atmosphere and our pints were in condition.
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Nothing exceptional and grossly expensive for a northern town boozer. Won't be visiting again. There are better places in Leeds.
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Not too busy on Saturday morning, with most customers seemingly groups of young men eating breakfast, so I had no trouble getting served: indeed, the service was quick and cheerful and staff generally friendly. There was a good choice of ales and overall it was a pleasant place to sit in the window with a pint whilst waiting for the rain to stop.
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It doesn't seem to matter what time or day you turn up here nowadays is always seems to be rammed with hen parties, due to the proximity of a recently-constructed budget hotel. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is up to you but if you fancy a leisurely pint with your paper I'd try elsewhere.
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If you like a traditional setting this is a good place - I do like the feel of the place. If you like real ales it's worth checking out definitely - seems a wide choice. I only drink Carling and this pub has it so that's good for me. Anyway, my reason main for posting a comment is this (sorry it's a negative one) - seems like anytime I go to the bar here the barstaff (younger women) have no concept as to who is next in line! I think you'll agree that's very annoying, it just seems to happen a lot here, everytime prety much. Not sure if it's a 'I'll serve a local first' or what, either way I mention it, and they get a right face on about it - puts you in bad mood too then. How hard is it to say, 'who's next?' If they think they can serve next who they like then obviously they'll get told otherwise sooner or later. Essentially bad customer service! I fully agree with previous comment, never seen a Landlord behind the bar. Also, ok, it's not a sports bar but could upgrade the 2 portable tvs (one just showing semi picture and snow) in the main bar, don't have to be huge or anything. I've not tried the food so can't comment - probably wouldn't either after, '..actually I was next, in fact I was before that previous guy there you served too...' opening line!
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After being a regular for many years the sheer length of the wait everytime I needed to get to the bar finally took its toll last December and I haven't been back since nor shall I. The food went from fantastic homemade fayre to microwave meals by numbers and they cannot even get that right - I cannot remember the amount of meals I have seen returned........... A large selection of real ales yes but not served particularly well and priced at the very top end of the scale (nearing �3). With a landlord that is hardly ever present and a distinct change in clientele since the student flats and particularly the budget etap hotel was errected over the road in my view a pub best avioded - especially if you knew this in it's heyday.
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"I've always maintained that pint mugs with handles are for pooftahs and Southerners."
This pub seems to morph into a gay bar in the afternoons, depending on which bar staff are on. Can be slightly alarming if, like me, you'd rather it didn't... Hence I only come here occasionally in select company. To the great delight of my dearly beloved wife - fnarr, fnarr !
Apart from that, there are always plenty of guest ales to choose from. A few too many, though, given the lack of what our American cousins would call throughput.
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A relatively recent addition to the Nicholson's chain, the Palace is situated slightly off the main pub "circuit" and is virtually next door to St Peters Church. It's one of Nicholson's Classic Pubs.
The interior consists of a number of adjoining drinking areas around a central bar. There's an outside courtyard and some seats outside at the front. Note the large clock by the side of the bar.
Inside the pub, the normal Nicholson's information board tells us that the building dates back to 1741 and was first recorded as an inn in 1841. We also learn that originally the pub was outside the eastern boundary of Leeds. The boundary is shown by the East Bar Stone set into the churchyard wall of the Parish Church - look out for it as you walk past.
Externally, painted brickwork tells us that The Palace Hotel was formerly a Melbourne's house and, inside the pub, we can see some frosted leaded windows with a bowing courtier motif, which was originally the brewery logo, so I gather.
On the real ale side, there's 11 pumps, of which 1 was for cider. The normal Nicholson's "try before you buy" was on offer. Perhaps I should have taken them up on their offer as the Dark Star Hophead - � 2.90p - was a bit disappointing. Interestingly, the Jaipur IPA - 5.9% - was also on offer at the same price.
The Palace is only a shortish walk from the City Centre and is worthy of consideration for a visit. You might want to combine it with a visit to The Duck and Drake, which, I gather, has improved quite a lot over the last few months.
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"Still doing great pints here, and best of all you get served in a pint mug with a handle, when as the last time you got one of those? On the outskirts of town so you need to know this place is here.
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LeedsStew - 23 May 2010 17:46"
I've always maintained that pint mugs with handles are for pooftahs and Southerners.
Give me an old fashioned sleeve every time.
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A fairly recent addition to the Nicholson's stable, this pub has improved from my last visit (which to be fair was a good 3 years ago). It has a good, rotating range of ales as you'd expect, and my pint of Otter Mild was in good nick. Has a pleasant outside space but it is a little out of the way for the city centre so realistically you'd only come here if you were looking for it. Decent, but there are better, more central options (Foleys, The Hop, Brewery Tap, Adelphi)
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Still doing great pints here, and best of all you get served in a pint mug with a handle, when as the last time you got one of those? On the outskirts of town so you need to know this place is here.
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Since my last visit in November 2008, the Palace seems to have remained a solid, reliable, real ale option in the city centre. Enjoyed a good pint of Coach House Gunpowder Mild (there were about six ales on draught), and a swiftly served snack. The chalk board also advertised two upcoming "Meet the Brewer" type events. Definitely recommend.
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A reliable place to come to eat if in Leeds. The varied menu sells a variety of British classics all day at very reasonable prices. There is a good selection of beer too, one of the best ranges in the city centre, with several guests available. Layout is generally open plan but with a traditional, friendly feel. Located by the church on the edge of the city centre, just down the road from the Duck and Drake and 10 minutes walk from the station.
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Late review from November. It was our last of the day and was getting crowded, but enjoyed the Everards beer here.
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A traditional pub which was our last pub before football on Saturday. I did not take any notes here so unsure how many different ales were on offer. There was certainly a good selection as remember having the dark one on offer Beartown Bear Ass. The pub seemed pretty large and most of our group managed to get round a large table near the door. The pub seemed to specialise in sausage dishes. It seemed to be various different sorts of sausages and various ways of having them. I ended up having a Cumberland sausage sandwich. It came pretty quick after ordering with some chips and a little bit of salad. Great beer and good food here and the cab firm they recommended were spot on. Amazingly all three cabs ordered turned up pretty close to each other. Sometimes it�s a problem getting one cab willing to take you to a football ground near kick off.
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In my top few pubs in Leeds. Always a tasty pint and it seems to be a babe magnet for some reason, can't be the real ale surely?? This pub has been here for decades and I'm sure for decades to come with its current regime. Not a complaint about this place at all. It's up there in Leeds with the Grove and Scarbrough.
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Went to this pub on Saturday night having been recommended it by two friends. Must confess to having a difficult choice, my favourite cider, Old Rosie, and some excellent ales. The bar man recommended a pint for me, it was terrific my friend drank mild also an excellent pint. We ordered food and the service was great and the food good value for money but more than that it was delicious. I can thoroughly recommend the Cumberland Sausage toad.
Enjoyable evening.
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I go to the Palace on a regular basis. You can't knock the quality of the beer it has always been on form. However the service does leave a lot to be desired and I have walked out on several occasions. The problem seems to be that nobody is really "in charge". The licence holder only works behind the bar a few shifts a week and the bar staff seem to please themselves when he is not there.
ddtom - 15 Aug 2008 11:08 |
I was in last Friday and yet again, the service was crap. The male bar staff in particular seem to take a perverse pleasure in ignoring you. The standard of the lager was dreadful too. I tried three different brands and they were all terrible.
It's such a shame as it's a fine looking pub with a good atmosphere and the smoking area out the back is very pretty, what with the fairy lights.
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A good selection of ales were on last night when i found myself there on a local's recommendation. I had some food which had been micro-waved to within a few degrees of the temperature of the edge of a volcano I swear but overall I enjoyed my evening here.I have noted the earlier comments about poor bar service and I suppose being part of a chain this place suffers from too few staff because accountants at HQ dictate the way things are run.The bar staff on last night did try their best. On the plus side, it was good to see a busy pub in these days of high prices, "credit crunch" etc, and on a Tuesday too.
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I think that the last comment about the sevice is a little harsh. Not contenders for best bar staff in Yorkshire, but whenever I go service doesn't seem to be a any more of a problem than at any other busy bar.
Good ales, but dont bother with the food as bar aire down the road has it licked. Well lit outdoorseating area but the gents look like my old victrian school bogs. More a drinkers pub and not therefore a sausage factory as my mate puts it so well.
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The Palace is undoubtedly one of the best real ale venues in the city, offering a great selection of beer across the real ale spectrum. But what has happened to the service?
I know several of my CAMRA colleagues who love the pub, but will not go in it because of the sometimes appalling service. The last straw was last night ( 27/7) when several of my colleagues, who have persevered with the service over the years, upped and left simply because they could not get served. The bottom bar particularly, appears to be a "no go" area for bar staff, which is peculiar given that it houses around 50 or so drinkers when full. You try and catch their eye, and they look away. Whats that all about?
So who is to blame, poor bar staff, management? Any good bar person will try at least to ensure that customers waiting to be served take their turn. This does not appear to happen at the Palace these days. I have to say that the lack of any management on the floor, the usual manager was not on duty last night, did not help. At least when she is working, she ensures that a level of focus is put on the bottom bar, but even then waiting times are long. This to me at least is not "rocket science". Allocate one bar person to "own" the bottom bar and thus ensure that drinkers are properly attended to.
This rant is borne of frustration and disappointment. As someone who works in the service industry, I expect to be properly treated as a paying customer. I like the Palace, its beer, it ambience and its location. The service however is poor. A small walk up to the Duck and Drake last night was well worth enduring the rain for. Professional bar staff, good beer and a cracking band, prompted us all to think why we dont spend our Friday nights there.
Its a shame really, and I guess nobody at The Palace including M & B will be particularly bothered about our absence!! Or maybe they just dont like the look of us.
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Large old detatched building on a main jucntion at the edge of the city centre. Relatively young and trendy clientele, superb range of ales, only had time for one (Leeds Brewery Bitter) and it was excellent.
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High quality ex-Tetley Festival Ale house with a choice of up to 12 real ales. Mixed clientele attracting visitors to the West Yorkshire Playhouse and staff from the new BBC studios.
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Largish pub for the City centre, not quite as crowded as some of the others. Excellent choice of beer and not too smoky or noisy.
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Great selection of real ales
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The best pub in Leeds by a mile!
The staff are extremely friendly and only too happy to change the barrel if it runs out while pulling your pint. Ale drinkers will appreciate that this pub usually has at least 5 cask beers on, with Ind Coope Burton Ale on as standard. The food is top-notch and so too is the atmosphere!
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Gents WC very clean and useable at 10:30 on a Friday night - I should know!
Seriously, that's quite a recommendation, isn't it?
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Good pub, easy parking and great beer. Get's a bit crowded though!
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Great Leeds pub. A favourite of Leeds mod scene. Great beer, great food, great regulars, friendly staff and a nice pool table.
Scouse Neil - 15 Nov 2004 15:49 |
A fine pub for the beer drinker of Leeds. There is always a good range of ales on catering for most tastes.
The twice weekly quiz gives an excuse to meet up with freinds and drink some decent beer.
However this pub lets itself down with it's poor service usually in the shape of fighting to be served by rude bar staff.
Oh and when you do get served don't expect what is listed on the board to still be on.
CAPER - 29 Oct 2004 16:07 |
Visited last month. Can't wait to come again on 11/09/04 hoping the Bass is still as good. Pity you are not residential!
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Beer drinkers' pub.
Johnno - 13 Jul 2004 15:28 |
