Whitelocks First City Luncheon Bar, Leeds

A nice pub situated down a side alleyway and by God is it expensive. There are 8 handpumps dispensing some interesting beers and all jaw-droppingly expensive. There are several taps for crafty and generic beers. The pub is lovely and ornate but sadly my vision was blurred due to the prices bringing tears to my eyes. An 8 for the look of the pub but reduced down to a 4 for the rip off prices.

Whitelocks is a Leeds Institution and is regarded as the best of the four alleyway pubs of Briggate. The outside has been retained in a great old traditional style. The pub is long and thin with the bar along the back wall as you enter. The pub has maintained its old fashioned perfectly and is a real treat to visit. Old carpets, Copper topped tables and rustic beams and fixtures give this place real character. Small tables and chairs/stools are along the left hand side of the pub and are like goldust, once you have one do not let it go as these are very sought after as this place is always packed. To the right is more of a dining area with a big food trade that has built up Over the last few years but there are only around 7/8 tables as space is limited here. Aside from the wonderful interior bee is the big selling point in here and punters are greeted with a plethora of hand pulls. Landlord (£3.90) , Old Peculiar, Ilkley Mary Jane (£3.60) and Theakston Best seem to be the permanent beers with the rest constantly Rotating. The only thing that was not entirely up my street was on my last visit all the guest beers seemed to be hoppy pales or strong hoppy ipa’s with high ABV. I had a pint of the landlord (ok, not top notch but pleasant) and Mary Jane (pretty good) but couldn’t get over the fact I was charged such high prices in such a traditional old school boozer such as this, £3.60 for a 3.5% beer I thought was really pushing it whereas you expect it from Taylors but it still stings. Overall an enjoyable experience was had in here and the great ambience that comes with it makes it instantly returnable. I would like to see a bit more variety of styles on my next visit but I think I was just a little unfortunate this time. Beer is usually of good/great quality it’s just a little annoying when they know they have something good to charge what I see as unwarranted prices. But if it’s always packed and people keep paying who can blame them. Worth a visit.

I visited Whitelocks on Saturday 9th January and found it clean and tidy with a great choice of well kept beers, still the best of the Briggate alley pubs by a long long way.

not been in this fine old pub for quite a while and it was quite sad to see it in decline the place seemed dirty with brasses not polished the same with the mirrors not very clean and the beer was mediocre it could do with some TLC