Scarbrough Hotel, Leeds

A nice enough Nicholson's pub. It has a long, lengthways bar with 9 handpumps in the middle. Apart from the Nicholson's usuals it had a decent selection of beer. Black Wolf Florida Black stout was decent. The decor is wood panels. There did, however, seem to be limited seating as the pub is thin.

This place started life as a manor house before converting to a pub in 1826. It takes its name from an early owner, Henry Scarbrough, although perhaps its best known proprietor was Fred Wood, owner of Leeds City Varieties theatre. Nowadays, the pub is run by the Nicholson's chain and it offers visitors to Leeds a good starting or finishing point for those passing through the train station which is just over the road. The glazed tile exterior is a real highlight and makes for an enticing prospect as you approach. You enter into a spacious, wide bar area, which has been remodelled in recent times, with the line of the previous servery still apparent on the floor. The present day servery is now compactly fitted along the back wall with ample space for vertical drinking opposite and some high table and stool seating under the front windows. On either side of the bar, the room offers sizeable seating areas. To the right there is a bare boarded space with a large display cabinet on the wall and an upturned barrel with stools around it acting as a focal point. The wall panelling here is particularly attractive and this extends into a rear segment of the room which has been carpeted and boasts a comfortable padded banquette as well as a collection of pictures and posters for the City Varieties. Boards here explain that the pub was often used to audition potential acts and it has been suggested that the local name for the pub, 'Taps' or 'Scarbrough Taps', derives from the days when tap dancers would audition in this room. To the left of the bar is a bright and spacious area with lots of standard seating and another banquette along the front wall. There is a display case full of champagne bottles and a small tiled fireplace at this end of the room. The whole pub is fitted with dark wood, most notably the panelling and the servery, and this is complimented by a decorative ceiling painted in similar shades. The usual strong Nicholson's ale range was evident and options on my visit were Nicholson's Pale Ale and Porter, Great Yorkshire Yasigi, Andwell Krystall Weiss, Tetley's Cask, Hilden Twisted Hop and Great Heck American Classic. I opted for the latter, which I've enjoyed in the past, and I was not disappointed with the quality. For visitors to the city, it is a bit of a no-brainer to incorporate this exceedingly handily located pub into your itinerary, as it ticks pretty much all of the boxes - good location, beer and interior. Thankfully, this is much more than your usual station-side pub and is far preferable to the offerings inside Leeds station.