Whitelocks First City Luncheon Bar, Leeds

It's not often I say there was unfortunately a beer festival was on but that fact meant the pub and entire alleyway outside were full to the brim, preventing a realtime impression of the pub. I managed to get a pint of Kirkstall Mitigating circumstances which was exactly the case here. I will revisit when next in Leeds.

Located down a narrow alleyway just off of the Briggate shopping area, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to just stumble across by accident, but was nonetheless pretty much full to capacity on our recent Friday evening visit. There is an adjacent pub further on down the alleyway called the Turks Head, but I notice that some of the signage on this pub also references the Turks Head, so presumably they are, or were at one time, related in some way. Internally it’s one single, fairly long room although there are some small pieces of glazed wood partitioning to break up the space slightly. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with old wooden boards on the floor at one end and red patterned carpet at the other. There are black beams on the ceiling along with embossed brown wallpaper, and the bar counter was elaborately clad with Victorian style tiling. Plenty of large brewery mirrors were around the walls, many of them fitted so as to cover the whole wall, and there was some attractive stained glass in the windows at the front. Beers on tap were Ilkley Alpha Beta, Elusive Brewing Roots, Fell Tinderbox, Kirkstall Ruby 4X and Pale Ale, Sunbeam Black Forest Gateau Porter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Old Peculiar and Five Points XPA and Railway Porter. After that lot, the only cider was a distinctly disappointing Aspall’s. Overall I thought this was a lovely pub with a great atmosphere, and despite the poor cider choice, I’d certainly make a point of returning next time I’m in the area.

Not been here for some years and I can't say it's changed a great deal, although the yard outside is more regimented nowadays. The selection of beers is pretty good, with several specimens of different styles rather than a barful of hop-forward stuff. Perhaps avoid at the busiest times but otherwise a must-do.

I lived in Leeds from 1985 to 1997; my daughters were both born in this city and we often used to come here after doing our shopping in Kirkgate Market. I always liked the fact that it was not only a unique and wonderful pub, with a yard in which it was possible for the kids to have their coke and a packet of crisps, but it also had a unique and wonderful name: Whitelocks First City Luncheon Bar. The interior was wonderful too, though of course if they were sitting outside then so was I. The yard is a bit more presentable these days - a benefit of the Covid restrictions - but I drank my beer inside as it was quite busy at around 7pm, but quieter indoors. A massive choice of 10 or so hand pumps, and it was good to see the bar staff dealing in a friendly and helpful way with enquiries from what were obviously first time customers. It's usually said that this pub is hard to find, though with a map on every phone that no longer applies, and this is now a bit of a tourist attraction. My half of Elland 1872 Porter was as good as I can remember - I had several bottles at home during the second lockdown, but this is my first from the cask in about three years. I'll have to come back soon, and if the 1872 is not a regular there's always Old Peculier.