Leeds Arms, Scarborough

Date of visit - September 2013 In a residential area of Scarborough up a short, but steepish, hill away from the seafront is The Leeds Arms, a traditional, welcoming, community orientated, local. It’s a cosy, carpeted, single room, with a small L shaped bar server. Seating consists of padded banquettes around the perimeter of the room supplemented by the usual circular bar stools. Old style circular copper topped tables complete the traditional feel. A nautical theme dominates with a giant fishing net and a collection of oars suspended from the ceiling. The walls are wood panelled and are decorated with a fine collection of fishing / nautical photos and prints. One corner is devoted to the RNLI, the local lifeboat station being close by. Rather tackily, certain internal doors have circular portholes and are labelled as though we’re at sea ( eg – “Engine Room “ for the cellar and “ Captains Accommodation” for the landlord’s private quarters upstairs ), but the overall theme is not overplayed and I found the interior to be characterful and interesting, on the whole. A Moors and Robsons brewery mirror in one corner perhaps gives an indication of previous ownership. A framed newspaper article recounts the day when someone threw acid over the landlord in 1892, but the present bunch of regulars seem to be more kindly disposed. 4 real ales were on- Copper Dragon, TT Landlord, Wharf Chalkie White and Great Newsome Otchen, but, on two consecutive early evening visits in late September, beer quality was only marginally acceptable on both occasions. Perhaps tellingly, whilst the pub and customer profile clearly gave me the vibe that this should be a beer drinkers pub, sales of lager and cider clearly dominated. The pub is not in the 2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, although I note it was in earlier editions and, on the basis of my visits, I can see why. I think this is a really nice pub, but, at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if you want to take a chance on the beer ( PS - not to be confused with the Leeds Hotel, a few doors further down, a pub which I was advised to give a wide berth, for reasons which it is not appropriate to formally record here )

good little pub but beers a tad over priced

Bass, Tetley's and guests.