Live Music Pubs in Leeds

George Inn

Lower Street, Leeds ME17 1RN

Former coaching inn dating from 1652. Some would describe the pub as a single room, the steps, partial walls and beams give the effect of a myriad of separate secluded areas, some laid out for meals, of which a large choice is available off the blackboard including daily specials. A few sporting (mainly cricket) memorabilia adorn the bar. The adjacent hay barn is now used as a function room with its own bar.

Myrtle Tavern

Parkside Road, Leeds LS6 4NE

Busy local with regular quiz nights.

Original Oak

2 Otley Road, Leeds LS6 2DG

Although in a heavily populated student area, traditional style decor has been retained. Dark brown leather fixed seating is around much of the perimeter of the room on the left with many black and white photos of Leeds. The fireplace and one original wood dividing screen between seats remains intact. The long bar also serves the tiled entrance corridor, opposite which are two opened-up small rooms. There is further seating upstairs while outside is a large grassy beer garden.

Royal Park

39 Queens Road, Leeds LS6 1NY

Large pub with high ceiling which aims mainly at the student market. The main room has several games machines, televisions and four pool tables. The room to the left of the main room winds around behind the bar whilst the small Roy Castle Suite (used to be the no smoking room) is also off the main room. There is outdoor seating to both the front and rear of the pub. Food served until 7pm. Occasional live music.

White Swan

Swan Street, Leeds LS1 6LG

Part of the City Varieties complex. On the wall behind the long bar are lights reminiscent of a performer’s dressing rooms. Opposite are a couple of high tables. One seating area is raised while another hosts a large piano. Elements of the decor, such as the wallpaper and lampshades, are 1930s styled. There is seating outside in the ginnel. Three still ciders, usually from Lilley's and fruit flavoured.

East of Arcadia

607 Meanwood Road, Leeds LS6 4HQ

This modern bar occupies a prominent corner position with Monk Bridge Rd, in the heart of Meanwood. The open-plan design, which follows the sweep of tall windows curving around the pub, is on one level but with contrasting areas.

Black Sheep Tap & Kitchen

16/18 Stainbeck Lane, Leeds LS7 3QY

Refurbished in February 2020 and reopened as Black Sheep Tap and Kitchen. Numerous exposed light bulbs provide a light and airy feel with pillars and a short wall breaking up the single room. There is a mix of high and standard tables and chairs plus some fixed seating against the walls. Brown floor tiles and wooden strip flooring lead to the long bar against the rear wall. A large blackboard describes the brewing process and history of the brewery with a merchandise cabinet nearby. There is a sizeable outdoor area at the front. Disabled accessible toilet on the ground floor

Abbey Inn

99 Pollard Lane, Leeds LS13 1EQ

A stone-built former farmhouse, dating from 1714, nestles between the River Aire and Leeds-Liverpool Canal. A local community pub, The Abbey showcases a selection of predominantly local ales, with pumps dedicated to dark ale and Westons Old Rosie cider. Also available is a range of keg beers, wines and whiskies. The Abbey bustles with friendly locals throughout the week with annual celebrations and with a folk night on Tuesday, live music on Saturday and quizzes on Thursday and Sunday. Ample seating outside attracts dog walkers and cyclists and large annual events draw a crowd. The pub is accessible by road from Pollard Lane, Bramley and on foot over Pollard Bridge from Horsforth or along the canal from the Kirkstall Forge Train Station.

Primrose Inn

280 Meanwood Road, Leeds LS7 2HZ

Two-roomed local dating from the mid-Victorian period.Regular live music. Pool table.

Thomas Osborne

Sutherland Avenue, Leeds LS8 1AP

Busy local.

Fountain Head

120 Becket Street, Leeds LS9 7JX

Two roomed pub opposite St James's Hospital.

Hope Inn

74 York Road, Leeds LS9 8ES

Busy two-roomed local.

Chemic Tavern

9 Johnston Street, Leeds LS6 2NG

Community pub with regular live music and events.

Broadway Hotel

Dewsbury Road, Leeds LS11 5LD

Busy local pub with regular live entertainment. Pool table. Children allowed until 6pm, but must remain seated with parents in the big screen area.

Old White Hart

45 Town Street, Leeds LS11 8BZ

Large two roomed local pub. Pool table.

Tommy Wass Hotel

450 Dewsbury Road, Leeds LS11 7LJ

Large roadside pub. Two pool tables.

Hanover Arms

65 Lower Wortley Road, Leeds LS12 4SL

Large local pub dating from 1940. Pool table.

Oldfield Hotel

146 Oldfield Lane, Leeds LS12 4EU

Busy local. Pool table.

Queen

134 Oldfield Lane, Leeds LS12 4EU

Three-roomed pub with tap room, snug and lounge. Sheltered beer garden.

Beacon

Broad Lane, Leeds LS13 3ER

Two-roomed estate pub.

Crown & Anchor

104 Town Street, Leeds LS13 1HP

Two-roomed pub with lounge and public bar.

Leodis

Green Lane, Leeds LS15 7QH

Two-roomed brick-built pub. Pool table.

Woodman

Selby Road, Leeds LS15 7JS

Multi-room pub dating from the late eighteenth century.

Moot Hall Arms

11 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ

After various reincarnations, has settled down as a competitively-priced, no-nonsense, well furnished pub that attracts a regular clientele. Beyond the triangular main room with the bar is a smaller room and entrance to the small outside yard. A few tables and chairs are at the front on the pavement.

Scarbrough Hotel

Bishopgate Street, Leeds LS1 5DY

The Scarbrough is possibly the most misspelled pub in Leeds as it is named after its first owner, Henry Scarbrough, rather than the seaside town. The building, with its impressive tiled frontage, dates from 1765, becoming a pub in 1826. It is a busy ale house that provides a convenient spot to wait for a train from Leeds Station across the road. One of the few places still serving Tetley Bitter in central Leeds, the selection of guest ales is sourced from around the country. Westons cider also available at cellar temperature on handpump. Live acoustic solo musicians play on Sundays from 3-7pm. Food can be ordered from the pub via Deliveroo (off Nicholsons Pie House and Fish Plaice menus) from 12 noon until 30 mins relevant day's closing time.

Ship Hotel

Ship Yard, Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LL

Long narrow pub with a single room on two levels with the bar next to the main door. Decorated with nautical memorabilia in keeping with its name and has brass fittings, period lighting and an impressive wall clock. Live music on Saturdays an open microphone night on Tuesday evenings. The raised area to rear of pub is reserved for diners until 3 pm.

Friends of Ham

4-8 New Station Street, Leeds LS1 5DL

Since opening in 2012 this bar and charcuterie has supported brewers who are not afraid to use their skill to challenge taste buds. A large blackboard provides information (brewery, ABV and price) on the both the cask and good range of keg beers that often includes foreign, sour, strong and dark offerings. Usually one of the cask offerings is a dark beer. A three or six sampling tray of third pints is available. Usually available are two ciders (one traditional and one fruit flavoured) alongside a perry. Around the scaffolded bar is a modern shabby chic interior with diners and drinkers sharing the same space. The downstairs area hosts events such as beer tastings.

Dry Dock

Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 3AX

Old ship turned into pub which is popular with students and young people. The upper open air decking is accessed via stairs that go up via the back of the boat.

Fox & Newt

7-9 Burley Street, Leeds LS3 1LD

A short walk from the city centre, this is the home of Burley Street Brewhouse. Downstairs is wood-floored, with a raised section at one end. The upstairs rooms are reserved for live music and entertainments. There is a small outdoor seating area.

Viaduct

11 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6ER

Lively show bar with cabaret and live entertainment.

Editor's Draught

88 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4LT

A modern pub offering a drinks, food and entertainment range which appeals to a wide range of people. Expect it to be busy on quiz nights and major sporting occasions, some table even come with their own TV screens for such occasions. Chunky wooden furniture is much in evidence in this modern airy pub. The upstairs function room (no disabled access) caters for all sort of events from parties to formal business meetings. One of the guests will be a dark beer. The pub has had quite a few different names in the past and was the birthplace of Leeds CAMRA.

Nation of Shopkeepers

27-37 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AG

Quirky bar with outdoor drinking area at rear of building.

Head of Steam

13 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ

The central island bar is surrounded various semi-separate seating areas. The handpumps on the bar dispense a variety of cask beers, one of which is normally a dark beer. There is also usually a cider available on handpump and there many keg fonts serving beers from around the world. In the large fridges behind the bar there is an extensive range of bottles and cans. The walls are decorated with various beer related paraphernalia. Empty beer boxes are artistically displayed on an inaccessible balcony above the spiral line of empty bottles leading from the bar. Regular live music (mainly jazz). May close up to an hour early if quiet.

Leeds University Union (Old Bar)

Lifton Place, Leeds LS2 9JZ

Dating from 1939 the Old Bar still manages to have a pub feel especially on quiet nights. It is located downstairs below ground level and is the only bar in the Union serving real ale. The guest beers normally come from microbreweries in Yorkshire or the North of England. Opening hours shown only apply during University term time.

Phranakhon

11 York Place, Leeds LS1 2DS

Thai tapas restaurant and cocktail bar.

Crossgates & District Recreation Hall

Poplar Avenue, Leeds LS15 8EB

Duck & Drake

43 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DR

A fine example of a two-roomed Victorian corner pub retaining some original features. Wood-floored throughout and some of the floorboards have survived two hundred years of trade. The central bar with fifteen handpumps sits in between and serves both rooms. There is live music most nights from a small stage in the corner of the front room, which also features a mural on the back wall depicting many blues and rock legends and is decorated with various music memorabilia. May close early on nights when a band is not on.

Popworld

43-51 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AW

Bar and nightclub. Free admission before midnight.

Wardrobe

6 St Peter's Square, Leeds LS9 8AH

Bar and restaurant with a nightclub downstairs. The building used to be used to store costumes for the West Yorkshire Playhouse hence the name. High tables and stools in the main drinking area and stools at the end of the bar. There is also a raised area at one end with comfy sofas. Includes the Soul Kitchen restaurant.

Fenton Hotel

161 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 3ED

A traditional multi-room pub layout with some original fixtures and fittings in place. It is popular with workers from the University and locals as well as students. Five real ales are available: the permanent competitively priced house beer alongside four guests mainly from small or micro breweries in Yorkshire. Four cellar-cooled ciders are given prominence and usually offer a mixture of fruit flavoured through to traditional styles. Winner of Leeds CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year every year since 2016. A board above the bar displays pumpclips of ales and ciders coming soon. The upstairs room hosts local bands and life drawing classes. There is a dartboard in the front room with a pool table and juke box in the right rear room.

Hunslet Carr Sports & Social Club

Moor Road, Leeds LS10 2JJ

BrewDog Leeds

Unit 2 White Cloth Hall, Crown Street, Leeds LS2 7DA

Due to close on 1st December as have been unable extend lease on the premises.

Rum & Reason

57-59 New Briggate, Leeds LS2 8JD

City centre cocktail bar with a single small room. Upstairs function room.

Lazy Lounge

Unit D2 West Point, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4JY

Modern bar which offers a large range of alcoholic drinks and majors on gin and whisky. The ground floor has an eclectic range of furniture whilst additional seating is available above the bar.

Pack Horse

208 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9DX

Grade II listed, traditional, brick-built, multi-roomed pub opposite the University, which attracts a mix of locals and students. The bar serves the tap room, corridor and the rear lounge area. There are two smaller rooms off the corridor with traditional seating and bell-pushes round the walls. The tiling in the main entranceway indicates the pub's past as a hotel. To the rear of the premises is a covered beer garden where live music takes place. There are function rooms upstairs.

Crowd of Favours

4-12 Harper Street, Leeds LS2 7EA

Relaxed and welcoming many-windowed pub takes up most of the street. Dim and woody inside, the pub is replete with candles and quality junk shop furniture. Around the central bar the wobbly floorboards take you from nook to wood-panelled cranny, with ever-changing murals and proper prints on the walls. Downstairs are whopping sofas, fairy lights and the weekly Cinema Club. Poker nights, comedy and video and board games provide further entertainment. The guest beers include seasonal and special beers from Leeds Brewery and a dark beer will always be available.

Orchard

Dib Lane, Leeds LS8 3HL

Large community pub set back from the road.

Old Peacock Real Ale House & Kitchen

Elland Road, Leeds LS11 8TU

Pub dating from 1963 which has undergone major refurbishment and is now run by Ossett Brewery. An L-shaped bar stretches between the front room, with emphasis on beer and football and a larger area to the rear. The front bar has three Ossett Brewery beers and has Leeds United memorabilia around the walls. Live music on match days. Kitchen serves Thai food.

Star Inn

205 Tong Road, Leeds LS12 4NA

Busy local. Pool table.

Black Lion

Broad Lane, Leeds LS13 2NJ

Refurbished in 2016. Pool table and dartboard in sports area of pub.