The Griffin, Leeds

Old Leeds City Centre pub now leased by Greene King, whatever it was in the past about all that remains are the Griffins holding the foot rail, further back some vestige of an older pub remain but it’s fleeting to say the least. The tiled columns are nice additions the profusion of machines perhaps less so. Beer wise you have six pulls and unusually for Greene King as they normally keep their own beers away from pubs in Yorkshire, Greene King IPA is on one, Greene King Yardbird on another, Leeds Pale, Kirkstall Dissolution, Landlord and a coming soon on the rest. There’s a large old OS map of Leeds on one wall but otherwise it’s fairly interest free in here, maybe just a venue for the stag and hen parties that frequent Leeds at the weekends. Trip to Narnia like journey to the bogs.

The Griffin is a Greene King high street pub located in the ground floor of the former Griffin Hotel. This was a luxury hotel built in 1872 that catered for wealthy railway travellers, and there is a railway theme throughout. The building was awarded Grade II listed status in 1975. The long bar runs down the right facing benches that run between thick supporting columns down the centre from the entrance to the rear. Booths and high tables run along the left wall under the windows. There are some high benches along the mirrored and tiled rear wall and in the right rear some steps lead down to a sunken area with banquettes along the sloped white tiled walls. This area is akin to an underground station. Televisions are found throughout for airing live sports. The bar counter supports six hand pumps, but only three were in operation drawing Greene King’s IPA and Rocking Rudolph alongside Butcombe’s Chris Moose. Premium keg is also available alongside a couple from Beavertown. GK’s food menu is in operation, the burger is £11. For a high street pub I thought this place was pretty good and I’d return.

This Greene King pub occupies the ground floor of some grand Edwardian office buildings not far from Leeds City station. It's a vertical drinking bar, to judge by the amount of furniture in the huge space. The bar counter is huge, with just six hand pumps over its generous length. As well as a cider there were Greene King IPA and a house beer, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Ossett Silver King. My half of Silver King was very good - at £2.55 it certainly should be - though in fact I got lucky as I saw a guy before me with a particularly cloudy pint of what I guessed was the GK IPA and made a point of going for something else. I was here early in the day, only just gone noon, and it was fairly quiet for a Saturday. There's no way I would even dream of coming in later in the day. Date of visit: 30th July 2022

Official site of The Griffin - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of The Griffin - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

A large town pub with mainly traditional furnishings and a few modern touches, like shiny tilework. There are a couple of sports screens, but some nice corners to retreat to. A Greene King pub with IPA and what is presumably their House Beer on draught, but also TT Landlord and Tribute. It generally seems well run but I get the feeling the place could be horrendous on a Saturday night. Live music at weekends.