Hands down my favourite pub in Leeds. Friendly staff and customers, good beer, fun events and -…read moremost importantly - dogs! I will always go out of my way to visit the Chemic if I fancy a relaxing evening. The entertainment they put on too is top notch - local acts and some from further away, including folk music and open mic nights where anyone can join in. It's also next door to the best chip shop in Leeds (which is veggie friendly!), and you can take your chips in to enjoy with a pint. If you're looking for a lovely place to have a nice evening, you couldn't go far wrong with the Chemic.

This is a tough review…read more Not because I'm unsure if I like the pub or not but simply because I fear that my review might attract people to the place and I love it just the way it is. The Chemic Tavern is in the Woodhouse area of Leeds. Woodhouse is not known for it's excellent pubs and neither is neighbouring Hyde Park. They both mainly consist of student pubs with no soul and flat Carlsberg. Not good. The good people at The Chemic Tavern have managed to remove themselves from these other kinds of pubs and have created something bloody lovely. First things first - the beer. They always have a great selection of ales on. Timothy Taylor's Landlord is always there and then usually two or three others. You then have a selection of decent lagers, wines and cocktails - all reasonably priced and well maintained. It's just nice to walk in to a pub, stroll over to the bar, look at the options and not think to yourself 'ahh bugger. .' but instead think 'ooh, what shall I have first?'. The staff are legendary. It seems all to often nowadays that being polite and having a friendly chat with your customers is a bit too difficult for a lot of places. Not with The Chemic. On every visit I have been made to feel like a returning friend and I love that. You instantly feel welcome and relaxed. It appears The Chemic only hire nice, chatty people. This is a very clever move - albeit a very obvious one. The music is always good too. There's no jukebox but you will often hear Motown, Blues and good Indie tunes. They have live music nights there as well, come to think of it. Ska nights, Irish nights and other things will go on in the back room that also features a darts board and an array of board games (if you fancy a geeky night down the pub, playing Trivial Pursuits). The other really nice thing about the place is that everyone who drinks in there appears to be very happy. I think this is because they're all aware that it's the best pub in miles. The Chemic appears to only attract people (and lots of them at the weekend) who are there to have a nice, enjoyable drink (or six) with their mates. I could go on and on but I fear it would just end up sounding like that I was considering proposing marriage to the pub. Which is obviously a ridiculous idea. . . isn't it? Yes, of course it is. How would I fit The Chemic in a church for a start? So I will end this review by adding that the pub has an amazing fish and chip shop (Arkwright's) next door and you're allowed to buy food from there and eat it inside the pub. Good stuff. So if you haven't been here before and you like proper pubs, I urge you to check this place out. Not too many of you, mind. .

Took 30 mins to ask us what we want (they forgot) they are big batty creasesread more

I'm not really a fan of the Black Bull, probably because on two of the three occasions I've been in…read morethere, I've seen a scuffle of sorts. To be fair, both these incidents happened on Friday nights, and are not unheard of for the pubs at the bottom of Town Street - they sometimes attract underage drinkers who love to finish their night with a fight. Go there during the day or during the week, however, and it's likely to be a different stoy, however, as you can get satisfying pub grub at very reasonable prices, along with beers which cost about half as much as they do in Town Street's classier joints. There is also a pleasant beer garden at the back of the joint, making it a fairly nice place to be during the day. But, unless you fancy your chances in a bar-brawl, it's probably best to avoid the place on weekend night.

I remain a huge fan of this delightful old pub. It's a fantastic space to hang out it in, with a…read morelarge group of friends, for a proper catch up. Not only is this a gorgeous space, being one of the older booze houses in town, but it's a friendly one to boot. Exquisite booths, with detailed glass windows, resplendent fireplaces, cosy rooms, and plushly carpeted floors make up just some of the wonderful features in this place. The lamp shades are something else, and I've often coveted one for myself. As for the drinks, as is often becoming the case, there's not much that I can add to the other reviews (and indeed my prior reviews) -essentially, if you're a fan of good beer you're in good hands. Plenty of rotating cask offerings sit alongside a solid lager selection, with all the usual suspects in spirits and suchlike being available to the non-hop-lot. The staff are always awesome, offering up a warm welcome and friendly smile, which always adds to the experience. No one likes a cold fish. I've not eaten here in such a long time so I couldn't comment on the edibles, but it remains an excellent spot in the centre for friendly and creative folk to grab a pint, often amongst the varied friendly locals. And long will it be a place that I shall patronise.

Popped in here as part of a CAMRA day trip. Enjoyed the ales and also the food. I had the…read moreLincolnshire sausage whirl (sausages are a speciality here) which was good and so was the mash and gravy. Can't remember the ale I had as by this time I was too "relaxed" to write it down. Also very impressive building with its ornate fixtures and fittings. Great resource for Leeds.

I personally think that The Royal Park gets a bit of a bum rap. It's not bad for a local pub, it's…read morefairly cheap and the entertainments pretty good - although unfortunately that seems to peter out when the students go home for the summer. Personally, I love a pub quiz, and the pub quiz at The Royal Park is good. It has changed recently and I was devastated to find out that there is no prize for best team name (after a particular good effort on my part), but it's still run by Will who is one of my favourite quiz masters, and is a bona fide Egg Head winner. The pubs boasts the smallest music venue in Leeds - The Royal Park Cellars, which receives some good lesser known alternative bands in, reminiscent of the smaller, darker venues you went to as a teenager which let you let loose to loud music, it is a particularly good space for catching a punk or metal band. As for the bad smell and the bad pints - I've not really noticed this myself, but then I'm not much of a connoisseur. It's not a beauty, it's just an honest, low market Mitchells and Butler pub. It's a great place for groups, especially in the summer as there's a large enclosed beer garden. Recently it's started to feel a bit like a sinking ship, and I think that's because of the ever increasing popularity of the Brudenell Social Club next door. But if you're looking for something a bit less densely populated than the Brude and you're in the area then it's worth a shot.

Ok, I'm a little torn on this one because on the one hand I would say that the royal park is one of…read moremy least favourite pubs in the area, on the other it apparently hosts high quality music events in the cellar (which I have never been to) and that must elevate it over the other crappy pubs in some way. Here's the thing, the beer is bad, the atmosphere is bad and the place smells pretty bad. It is quite crowded with students, which isn't always a bad thing but in this case I am referring to "that kind of student" you know, the over enthusiastic about the ideas of alcohol and being allowed to go out kind. The kind that make you wonder if those freedoms have been so wisely given. So all in all, even entering this pub involves picking your way past vomiting teenagers and people stapling each others scrotums to various items of lawn furniture. Alright, I admit it. I'm exaggerating a little but to be honest I don't see why anyone would drink here when the brudnell social is next door. As I said at the beginning I feel I should give some credit to them for offering music events but having never been I won't be that generous. Again the brudnell does music and events VERY well so I can't imagine this hateful place winning me over. I don't think that I have ever sounded old and grumpy before. Oh well I'm off to a 'proper pub' to drink mild and talk about the war and how young folks don't know they're born. grumblegrumblegrumble

It's alright is The Eldon, that seems to be a typical response to, whaddya think of The Eldon? It's…read morealright it is. Hmmmm. I can't quite decide if The Eldon tries too hard or doesn't try enough. It is a bit student central, as Rowena said it's not far at all from the main Leeds campus, and many of the students tend to pour into here of a dinner and evening time. Which is pretty odd, because minus the student blood, there's a lot of old timer regulars propping up the bar and generally killing time, discussing how unfair everything is and sucking air through their teeth. It's definitely cheap and cheerful, and would have probably appealed to my 18 year old self, with the £1.50 nights, open mic nights and quiz nights when the prize is beer, cheapo pub grub and gathering for the big screen viewing of the footy matches, but now, it's a bit not to my liking, for all of the reasons above, it appeals to the fresh out of college crowd, which is fine, and also irritating when the place gets a bit alcohol fuelled lary. It's alright for a post work day pint, it's alright for food and cheap beer, it's alright for lots of things, but it doesn't go beyond that for me.

To me, all the pubs between Hyde Park and town are somewhat of a let down, which is bizarre as this…read moreis the exact area where the university is located. The four or five pubs on this stretch of road are all a little bit confused - they are old man pubs full of students but with a very local feel. This should work well really, but for some reason, it doesn't. The Eldon is perhaps the best example of this - right opposite the uni and near a few colleges, it is always bustling during term time, and the fact that it's on the Otley Run means that even at non-term time weekends, there's usually a lively atmosphere. It can be a bit too full on sometimes, especially if there's a football match on, but, on the upside, it is darn cheap and it is a real pub. Probably better to stop off here on the way into down rather than to finish up here, though.

Not a pub for those who like ale. Mostly lagers and the obligatory John Smiths for the ale crowd…read more The faint smell of urine is the smell here. Rather the the smell of ale & good times. I've got used to it to be honest, but for those of you who are not that used to working class pubs it will bother you. The friendly locals is what makes this place tolerable. The folk of Leeds Market decamp over here on a lunch or a quick post shut up half. There are better pubs in the area, even within a hundred yards. Best to try them out if you're after ale, instead of a quick pint.

I love traditional pubs. The smell, the range of local ales, the distinguishing characters propping…read moreup the bar, regaling the masses with hilarious anecdotes - these factors always combine to create a stunning atmosphere, worthy of praise. Located on Kirkgate, The Regent is the direct antithesis of this. Normally I do not take such a defamatory stance, I can usually glean some optimistic details from a place, but The Regent is unlike the other more traditional pubs in the city centre. Although the drink prices cannot be quibbled with, the overall experience is severely lacking. The locals are more intimidating than endearing, the windows are broken more often than not, and the regular police presence makes for an altogether hideous ambiance. With the plethora of high quality traditional pubs in the vicinity, I have no idea why anyone would prefer to frequent The Regent.

I really wanted to enjoy this local more than I did, and should perhaps go back for a second visit…read morebeing as this was a swift one, but it wasn't my favourite. The outdoor area has a few tables out the front, next to the busy road, but it at least has somewhere to sit and sup out in this warm weather. The bar inside seems decent, and cosy for when it gets a bit more wintery, but I didn't get to see the whole of it as it was a quick pint before moving on. As for the range, it appeared there was a good selection of ale, for those who like cask, and a mixed range of other lagers and soft drinks for those who don't. Standard spirits, if memory recalls. The thing that put me off was the service. It wasn't rude, per se, but I noticed that despite having waited before several of the local bar flies, I was still last to be served. The chap was nice enough, but having worked in a bar before, I considered it good etiquette to serve in order of arrival. It was disappointing, as the rest of the experience was rather pleasant. Perhaps an off night, so as I say, a return may be in order.

This area of Horsforth is rather trendy nowadays dontchaknow, which has led to The Fleece standing…read moreas the lone pub on New Road Side. It looks like a proper Yorkshire watering hole from the outside, with nothing fancy or gimmicky on show to detract from the old stonewall charms. Inside, you'll find a very pubbish-pub if you know what I mean. If you don't, I'll try and explain. Nowadays, pubs are either closing or being bought up by chains, leaving little chance for uniqueness or character. The Fleece, however, has its own distinctive charms (including a pleasing selection of real ales) and it's the sort of place that you imagine hasn't changed in half a century. Commendable.

A refreshingly welcoming and fun local…read more We popped along to The Horsforth a few days after moving into the area. It had all the atmosphere and charm you expect from a good local, with very reasonable pricing on pints, bottles, wines and shorts. It was so unbelievably refreshing to actually feel welcomed by bar staff, having spent several years frequenting the pubs of Headingly (whose staff seem intent on bullying you out of the door at 10:55 after paying upwards of £3 for a flat pint of Carlsberg). There is also a very nice decked and heated beer garden to the rear that would seem surprising when you see the front exterior. Bottom line, if you're in Horsforth and fancy a friendly pint off the usual haunts of New Roadside or Town Street then give The Horsforth a go.

As far as a warm welcome goes, this gastro pub has to have the best I've experienced in recent…read moretimes. I'd popped to Horsforth on errands with my housemate and so we walked across town to meet a friend and my stomach clock was chiming lunchtime. We'd had a quick drink across the way, and I'd already been sucked into the tempting world of clothes shopping nearby, so we wandered up to The Horsforth for a cheap bite. The promise of various value eats was welcome, since Pooky and Grumps was too busy for us to find a seat, so we stepped in and grabbed a table here. On approaching to order the lovely lady behind the bar gave us such a lovely greeting; did we have a good Christmas? How was the new year going? Tired to be back at work? Our orders were taken with lots of giggles and smiles and we were delighted with the service. As far as décor goes, it's the usual pub scenario -rustic type furniture and brickwork. There are tables outside for the summer months, although sadly not much to look at but roads and paving. Our fare arrived promptly and I can't say it was the best pub grub I've ever had, although it was a solid burger and huge to boot. The 50p extra for the somewhat stingy slice of cheese was upsetting, although there are plenty of places playing the same game, so I knew what to expect. The portions are mega generous too, so much that I couldn't finish the food, and the waitress was lovely as well. They'd forgotten my friend's coffee, and as with all mistakes it's not the actual fault but the way staff make up for it that counts -the lady who served us personally came up to apologise and delivered a freshly made coffee, which was lovely. Basically, the staff in here really make the visit. Whilst the food is no worse than the usual pub fare, it's nothing to rave about but you'll soon forget that in the friendly atmosphere and happy vibe. Also, the best bonus - you'll not walk out feeling a humungous hole in your wallet, nor your stomach neither. Lovely!

The Bridge Bar is an LBGT bar in Leeds City Centre. It's good fun, really relaxed and there is no…read morecharge on the door. They do Happy Hour 7 days a week and on Wednesdays you can enjoy happy hour prices all night. It is one of the most popular bars on the Leeds gay scene and has live entertainment and music every night of the week. Also, a good tip, the custom of OTT aggressive homosexuality is generally scarce compared to some others, and so if you are new to the gay scene, have just come out, and/or are looking for somewhere not too scary then here would be a good choice. If they close too early and you want to carry on the party The New Penny round the corner is open later.

So everything goes down on the Calls. It's as upmarket as you like but it's also not restrictive…read more Whether you're straight, gay or from whatever background, there is something for everyone and it's not mutually exclusive. The bridge is predominately a gay bar but that doesn't stop anyone from going there and why should it. It's a funky place to chill out and get the disco boots out in. You've got your usual mix of drinks to aid along that Saturday night fever but it's all about the atmosphere in here. Really friendly and really eclectic. For me it's a great stop off point for a drink or two before moving on to rip up some serious moves elsewhere. Be warned though, anyone with any bigoted views or aversion to anything goes should not even bother going through the door. Spread the love, be happy and enjoy.