Midland Hotel, Leeds

Official site of Midland Hotel - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Official site of Midland Hotel - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Fairly basic locals pub on the main road, one corner is a coffee shop while the rest is a former multi room railway hotel now knocked into an L shaped bar with various seating areas. Mostly banquette seating at small round or square tables with smaller armchairs on the outer side. Decorated in various shades of grey interestingly clashing with the tartan carpets and upholstery. Big clear windows with fake lattice, naturally there’s constant music and a good collection of screens, there’s a weird gantry running round some parts and a strange arch presumably where a fireplace has been removed. Being a Stonegate local the beer choice is dispiriting, two T-Bars of usual keg tosh, a couple of solos, one being a small post box dispensing Camden Hells. It has a pair of handpumps hidden on a corner of the counter and rightly so as the only cask beer was Wainwright Gold, possibly the “Fresh Ale” version, aka Handpump Hijack. The staff were largely absent as well. It is reasonably popular with the friendly locals however.

Recently revamped, both outside and in, and much more modern than I was expecting. The new version probably won't appeal to all, but there was a good mid-week crowd in dining and drinking when I stopped by. The interior may now look a little gastro-pub, but the atmosphere remains a friendly local (and with one of the older regulars talking me through the various local history B&W photographs this proved an interesting visit). Two real ales on handpump - Doom Bar and (thankfully) Leeds Pale (£3.90) - plus a mini-cider festival from a few boxes perched on the counter.

Busy pub with no real ale and very limited parking. One bar but several seating area, Sky Sports available.