Sheffield Tap, Sheffield

Great range of Thornbridge beers in here, including the amazingly hoppy Kipling. Lots of different styles and plenty of bottles. Had a good atmosphere on Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime. Yorkshire can certainly do station bars very well!

17 Oct 2010 10:24

The North Bar, Leeds

Widest selection of beer in Leeds. Pricey though with some of the stronger brews going over �5. Always find it hard to decide between the draughts when in here so usually end up plumping for one of the Trappist bottles. A classy start or end to a crawl down or up Briggate.

29 Jul 2010 16:35

The Garden Gate, Leeds

Not sure where to start on this. Clearly still finding its feet just a few weeks after changing hands. The one beer I had (Leeds Best) was in good nick although a little cold. Fairly quiet at 2:30pm, with maybe around 6 or 7 people in. It seemed the pub closes from 3pm-5pm so I had the one and left, which I was a little disappointed about, as I'd have liked to stay for longer and relax, and chat to the barman and lady to see how things were going.

The area the pub is in unfortunately is pretty downtrodden despite being only half a mile southeast from Clarence Dock. I didn't see any trouble, but you saw the hints. Broken bottles, graffiti, but I didn't feel threatened. Still if you're coming here on an evening, I'd make it in a group.

How they will make this place a success I'm not sure. It is aleady a destination pub and just about walking distance from Leeds (10 minutes from the Grove if you know the way and aren't tardy), but they won't be able to just make a replica of the Midnight Bell, Pin and Brewery Tap and expect similar success. They'll have to go one step further. Regular nights, a wider selection of continental ales perhaps (like North Bar), or an amazing reputation for ale like the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield. Perhaps the best method would be to do what was done with Sinclair's Oyster Bar in Manchester and rebuild it in central Leeds somewhere! With it being highly unusual for a pub in having II* listed status, they may be able to persuade the council to put up some signs to the place.

29 Jul 2010 16:26